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On the 3rd Feb 2000 we got this
letter about Noonbarra Tui.
"In three days of training the
response from Tui is remarkable and amazing. She is a natural, with
lots of power ... She has learned that she MUST come when called (in
only five days) and that she must lie down when told to do so. She
has also gone from being a bit quick on her feet to being thoughtful
in her approach to sheep. She is a very natural heading dog with a
lovely was of moving OFF her stock as well as ONTO her stock. She has
a natural sense of distance (these are very heavy sheep-quite
dog-broke and not at all flighty) and she is very calm in her
walk-up, which goes right to the sheep's nose."
"Personally, I think she is the best pup I have had since
Joes Tara (Older sister to Emma) who was a lovely sort of pup in
nearly all the same ways. She reminds me of that bitch (who is a
great worker; one of the best Kelpie bitches I have seen in the US)
and she has the same relaxed manner."
Loren Holmes is pleased with her and I am ecstatic with her
progress. I think she was "taken in hand" at just the right point in
her life. She really wants to learn and to please and she is just a
really natural worker. You will be very proud of her. And I promise
to tell people where she came from! " - Dr. Bill Davis DVM
A little while later we got
this nice email from Bill about Noonbarra Tui:
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"Noonbarra Tui continues to progress well. She is definitely
a dog with a bit of her own mind but also more talent than any of my
dogs. You can just see it all in her: cover, break-out, walk up and a
real sense of what she is supposed to be doing."
"Now if we can just get her to come a little more
consistently at the end of her training session, we will have it all
in one package."
"I think you will be really pleased with her in the finish:
I know I will be!"
Bill Davis (USA)
In February 2000 we received this email. It goes to show how
quickly Noonbarra Tui progressed when handled by a man who has had
experience with training and handling Working Kelpies. Note also in
the previous correspondence that it wasn't all plain sailing.
"Stephen, If this pup is any indication of the
consistent quality you are producing, your head should be swelling up
fiercely! After two weeks, Tui is showing an incredible array of
natural talents PLUS an unbelievable ability to take training."
"She is a very FAST dog, she has an amazing sense of balance
(If she were long-bodied, I would be afraid that she would throw it
out; she stops dead-center so fast she whips her rear end around);
she has a very strong walk-up, she has break-out to boot and she has
a very good sense of the mob."
"She is EVERYTHING I was hoping for, Steve, and I feel
blessed and very fortunate that you have sent such a nice pup over
here." - Bill Davis (USA) Feb
2000.
June 2000
We recieved an email from Mel Smith in
the USA who owns a Kelpie called Meson Mudgee.
" I was there when Vicki's pup TUI saw
her first USA sheep and what a smart little girl !! Yes, as you
stated, we were all impressed !! I have since heard thru the
channels that she attended a clinic of sorts and the people there
were also quite impressed. That was about a year ago, so I am sure
she is a star by now...well, I love reading your news on your web
site...Keep up the good work...."
27th May 2000
Hi, I want to tell you that Tui is doing really well. She is
a wonderful working dog with a lot of sense and talent. You would be
really proud of her. Again, thanks for a great dog! Bill
Bill Davis is a Vet in the USA and he
bought Noonbarra Tui in a partnership with another Vet, Vicki Douglas
of Missouri. Bill has imported more than six Kelpies from Australia
in the past as well as bred his own in the USA. He has also lived in
Australia and New Zealand and been to see many Studs, so he knows a
bit about Kelpies.