It is wonderful for us as breeders to have a customer like Helen who is willing to put the effort and time into their Kelpie and also give so much of the credit back to the breeder. We really appreciate all her letters and photos and for allowing us to share them with our readers. Over the years Helen has become a good friend to us and that is something that is very important to us.

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" Cruiser has been on three hikes and has attended one session of Puppy Kindergarden. Everyone loves her! She is such a smart and well behaved pup. At night she sleeps in the bedroom with me and does not make a sound all night. On my hikes she wants to herd all the hikers along and makes sure no one lags too far behind."

".. It is not by chance that Cruiser is a great pup. She had the love and nurturing in place long before I arrived in Australia. The Bilson's take so much time in finding the right dog for their customers. I know of few other breeders that put so much love and energy into their dogs."

"She has made herself right at home and is very happy. We are having a great time together. She loves playing with all her toys and is doing great with retrieving! Thank you for matching Cruiser and I up, we are both very lucky."

She is a very clever pup." ... "Yes, Cruiser has adapted extremely well, and is by all standards the perfect pup, but this goes back way before she ever met me. It goes back to the Noonbarra Bloodlines and most importantly the excellent care given to her by Mary and Stephen Bilson." - Helen Roseberry. San Diego. USA.

Part of a few letters from Helen about Noonbarra Cruiser.

"Cruisers' personality is so much like mine it is uncanny. Our energy level is perfectly matched. In the morning when it is time to get up she glances at the radio alarm (with much disgust) puts her paw over her eyes and lets out a sigh. Or she will peek at me when she thinks I am not looking and then closes her eyes real fast and plays possum, thinking I might let her sleep in. She is a very clever pup."

 "On a recent hike she found a pine cone and carried it the entire time. She insisted we bring it home. It is now part of her toy collection. As for her collar and lead collection. She has three collars and four leads, all different colours and styles. Quite the fashionable trail dog."

"Cruisers' social calendar is very booked with hikes and puppy kindergarten. The other night she had her first ice cream cone. The people in the ice cream store could not believe she got one all to herself. She ate the whole thing. You don't think she is spoiled do you ?"

"She is very happy just hanging around with me and does not have much interest in being outside unless we are hiking or doing some other social activity. One of her ears is now up and the other is half way up."

"Every night we take a three mile walk in the park across the street from my house, she loves that. She has got the sweetest face. When she looks up at me as we are hiking along, it is like she knows everything I am about to do, she always remembers a trail once she has been on it. All the hikers love her. Cruiser's social calendar is never lacking. She went sailing for the first time last weekend....

"We attended agility trials and all the handlers said she is going to be superb. Everyone says she is the smartest dog around. They cannot get over how I get her to retrieve and how she learns her commands so quickly. I have been training her everyday now for three weeks and handlers tell me that she is doing things that take dogs months to learn. but, I have to admit, I work with her a lot. Cruiser and I are very close and she understands me very well."

"Her favourite thing is when I massage her front paws. it puts her right to sleep. When she extends her paw people think she wants to shake, then I tell them, "no, she wants her paws massaged."Ah yes, she is spoiled but she deserves it!"

Noonbarra Cruiser very comfortable in her home in America

"Yes, Cruiser has adapted extremely well, and is by all standards the perfect pup, but this goes back way before she ever met me. It goes back to the Noonbarra Bloodlines and most importantly the excellent care given to her by Mary and Stephen Bilson."

"Potential customers may think that breeders just view selling a dog to a customer as just that, sell the dog, end of story. It my be true with some breeders, but I can assure you that Mary and Stephen spend far more economically, emotionally and physically then they could ever recoup."

It is not by chance that Cruiser is a great pup. She had the love and nurturing in place long before I arrived in Australia. The Bilson's take so much time in finding the right dog for their customers. I know of few other breeders that put so much love and energy into their dogs.

Mary and Stephen, I hope somewhere in the comments you already have of mine on your website, you can edit and squeeze in some of this. You do not give yourself any credit. I noticed there are a lot of praises about your dogs, but come on, give yourselves a little credit, Cruiser insists!

Noonbarra Cruiser learning to back the sheep in the stockyards

Noonbarra Cruiser working sheep along with Noonbarra Dusty III

"Cruiser is now nearly seven months old, hard to believe. She is the best pup around. I love her so much. We go everywhere together...Everyone says she is such a happy pup. She is so well socialised, she likes everything, other dogs, children, adults. She still loves retieving all her puppy toys. When I throw them, she races after them and at the last minute does a big jump and pounces on it. She loves bringing the toys back to me. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning she has placed a few toys on my pillow, legs, head etc. I guess it is her way of saying "Lets play!"

Thank you for the wonderful update on your pups and all the great feedback you are getting. I sent some pictures of Cruiser working some sheep last week over the internet. Here is my website where you can view them: http://www.pixelmover.com/helen

I have been in contact with alot of people sending me e-mails wanting info. on getting Kelpies for agility. I guess once I posted on Leslie Means Kelpie Registry it spured interest from those considering getting a Kelpie. I tell all of them the best they can do is to secure a pup from you. I told them I really could not reccommend a U.S. breeder. I hope you do not mind me referring them to you. Cruiser is doing just great, she has really gotten to be a good size girl. She is up to 30 lbs. , sorry I do not know kilograms. I hope you will enjoy the pictures of her.

Noonbarra Cruiser with her hero, Noonbarra Dusty III

Another nice photo of Cruiser and a very young Dusty

"I am glad you enjoyed the pictures of Cruiser. She is such a good girl. We were scheduled with her trainer for a second go on the sheep last weekend. But the woman had a sheep auction to attend in Los Angeles so we will be going out again this weekend. In the interim I am working on Cruiser's stay and down commands. I am hoping this weekend to go in the yard with her so I can learn more. I need a lot more work than Cruiser. Ha!

"The woman who trains stockdogs said Cruiser really takes no training at all, I am the one that needs all the work. Cruiser did so well her first time. She was no nonsense, did not back down from an old aggressive ewe. One young lamb broke away and Cruiser got her back quick , fast and in a hurry before the other sheep knew what was up. It ended with Cruiser herding them right into their pen, no muss, no fuss. Cruiser was quite professional about it all.

"Afterwards her little mouth was quivering she was so excited. We cooled her down and then let her have a go at them again. Again, she was perfect. Cruiser is also going to begin her agility training. The place I checked out a year ago is the best California has in agility training and I am fortunate it is very close to where I live. The trainers do not start pups out until they are one year old. Cruiser is now 15 months and is ready. As you can tell, Cruiser has a far more social life than I do."

A young Cruiser having fun with a hiking group in America

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness and always remembering Cruiser and me. I know you are very busy . I cannot believe you were not mentioned in the magazine. Hm..........I may just have to contact them regarding their oversight of the world's finest breeders of Kelpies. I can tell you, you get very touted up by me here on the internet. I receive e-mails from perspective Kelpie owners and I always tell them the best they can do is to secure a pup from Noonbarra. There is none finer.

Cruiser sends puppy hugs and kisses.

Cruiser as a puppy playing with a toy

Melinda owns a fawn & tan Kelpie from Australia called Meson Mudgee. Mugee and Cruiser have been on hikes, picnics etc together in California USA.

Cruiser is such a character!! She first lays the dirty, mud lodden rope toy at your feet, or I should say BETWEEN your feet, and looks strong eyed first at it then you.. if this doesn't work the item is retrieved and put, dirt and all on your lap...now mind you.. this is as you are eating lunch and trying to converse. Well, usually this prompts you to hand her the sodden rope and she takes it and shakes it violently almost knocking herself out.

She then goes over to 'Mom's" morning glory plant , that has been painstakingly trained up the fence, and thrusts her head thru and poses with the most innocent face as if to say "what ...did I do something? " Mind you she remains in this pose until mom goes inside and retrives the camera and takes her photo. (photo to arrive at your doorstep soon) I have never seen a dog pose for the camera like this one. Her legs are solid as are her muscled hindquarters and she has a face full of expressions.. WHAT A WONDERFUL DOG !!! - Melinda Smith

Jan 2001

Mary and Stephen: We had the pleasure of meeting Cruiser today and acompanying her and Helen on a hike. She exceeded our expectations! She has a great disposition and is beautiful to boot! She even did some fetching in the water! After seeing your video and meeting Cruiser in person we totally understand the quality of your Kelpies. We would love to have an opportunity to own one ourselves. Please stay in touch.

Dana and Darla Duplan Ramona, CA, USA

NOTE: Dana and Darla now own Noonbarra Scamper (see their section on this web site)

2003

Remember a  few weeks back I posed the question about whether or not Cruiser would be too old to start training? Ha, my question should have been, am I too old.  Cruiser had her instincts test and of course had no problem showing everyone that she was keenly interested on the sheep. Last Sunday she had her first lesson. She did great. Then the trainers told me it was my turn.  What??? Me??? Well yeah, you need to learn what to do when you are in the pen.  What pen, what sheep, me? I thought Cruiser would be the one working. Next thing I knew I was in the pen with crook in hand and the sheep looking at me like, where did they get this one.  Well, all I can say is I have my heart and spirit in the right place.  It is my brain and legs that are not cooperating.  You have to understand, I have the coordination of a penguin.  No one is worse than me. I guarantee you, if I am pointing the crook left, I will go right, if I am fetching I will be going sideways.  It's awful and I am not exagerating.  The trainers said I am the worse student ever.  They just shake their heads.  I am sure they are considering charging me double for lessons.  I am also sure Cruiser is embarrassed. Poor dog.

Noonbarra Cruiser at home in the Uniters States

I got a clear message from Michael last weekend that if Cruiser did not lay-down next training session with him she might get hit with the crook.  Then of course, I would have to shoot him and that would look real bad on my resume.
LOL,Helen

Cruiser and I sure are enjoying our herding lessons.  She is such a good dog. I am having some film developed and as soon as it is ready I will forward you pictures of her at work.  The trainers have also posted pictures of her on their website, www.stockdogranch.com

Cruiser was purchased in Australia and taken to the USA and is quite adored by her owner, Helen Roseberry. Helen has been good enough to keep us updated and has sent us over a few photos and drink coasters with a photo of Cruiser on them. She writes often:

" Everyone loves her! .. At night she sleeps in the bedroom with me and does not make a sound all night.."

".. It is not by chance that Cruiser is a great pup. She had the love and nurturing in place long before I arrived in Australia. The Bilson's take so much time in finding the right dog for their customers. I know of few other breeders that put so much love and energy into their dogs."

" ... "Yes, Cruiser has adapted extremely well, and is by all standards the perfect pup, but this goes back way before she ever met me. It goes back to the Noonbarra Bloodlines and most importantly the excellent care given to her by Mary and Stephen Bilson." - Helen Roseberry. San Diego. USA.

".. She is the best pup around. I love her so much. We go everywhere together...Everyone says she is such a happy pup. She is so well socialised, she likes everything, other dogs, children, adults. She still loves retrieving all her puppy toys."

Helen with Cruiser -  Christmas 2004

Noonbarra Cruiser having fun !!

Helen playing with Cruiser at beach 2010