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Sending little Gem over there wasn't without a few problems however. Joy was very excited about buying her and could hardly wait until the arrival date arrived. a few days before she was due to depart we had to postpone as Gem was going through a developmental stage commonly referred to as a 'Fear Period'. We didn't feel happy about sending a little pup like that because if she got really stressed on the trip she could possibly have a permenent problem.

Joy was wonderful about the problem and trusted our judgement completely. Then a couple of weeks later Gem was back to normal and we sent her over. But the problems still weren't finished as Gem was held over a couple of days in Amsterdam because of air problems in the cargo holds. She was nearly 5 days from the time she left our Stud to arriving in Maryland USA.

We spent 8 or 9 months communicating with joy and working out a suitable puppy before she finally received Noonbarra Gem. At one point we explained that Kelpies could not be shown or used in any of the American Show Association events AKC. because the working Kelpie Association in the US did not want the breed to lose their working ability.

"No, I knew that the U.S. Kelpie people were adamant about never allowing the Kelpie to become AKC recognized. And I am in full agreement with them. Whenever a breed becomes AKC registerable then the whole breed ring scenario begins. Then the whole emphasis is on conformation and, as I'm sure you of all people know, then the working characteristics go by the wayside. We have breed upon breed in this country that can no longer do what it was bred to do nor can they do much of anything but gait around the breed ring.

Gem is destined to be a companion dog and a working dog. That is, working in the sense that she will do . primarily agility with some obedience. I know that most of the kelpie people use the term "work" only in reference to sheep herding. There are several agility groups in the US and the two largest and the two best allow mixed breeds and are not interested in whether a dog is AKC registerable or not. They are the agility groups I now participate in, The United Kennel Club recognizes the Kelpie as a Rare Breed . So if I wanted to go after obedience titles with Gem I would do UKC. I will probably do some tracking with Gem also because I have lots of land (by American standards) and it is a fun thing to do . All my dogs have tracking titles. But the titles are not the point. Truthfully, it is the enjoyment that the dog and I get out of doing things (any kind of things) that matters and not titles and ribbons. So you see that I am not a true"competitor."

I thank you for telling me about this and I appreciate your honesty. You do not sound like any of the American breeders I know!!! .. The excitement level about Gem is getting very high! She sounds perfect for me!

29th March 2000

"What a beautifully structured little pup! She is adorable and looks like an angel. BUT I'm pretty sure she has other things in mind besides angelic activities! It is all very exciting and I can hardly wait to add this new and exciting breed to my life."

Dear Mary and Stephen, I can tell you one thing! These are not the kind of pups we have in the U.S.! Loki is the stuff dream puppies are made of! And you surely do have a good home for that little fellow. Over the years, I have only ever whelped a total of five litters ( three GSD and two Tervuren) and it nearly drove me crazy trying to be sure each pup would get a really good home. So I know what you mean, on a limited basis, about the satisfaction you feel when you get a nice letter like Katie's. If Gem just has a FEW of the same genes Loki has, I'll be thrilled!

She sounds wonderful and, although I've had dogs my entire life, this pup is more exciting than any of the others. To be truthful, almost all my dogs friends here are a bit put out that I'm not getting a good old "made in U.S.A. pup". In fact, I got that same thing from two kelpie breeders on the West coast that I came across. So if she turns out to be a real winner of a pup, it will certainly prove my friends wrong. I wouldn't mind doing that!

Seriously though, I love her already from her pictures and I'm not out to prove anything, I just have had an intuition from the beginning, that Noonbarra was the right place.

You are wonderful! I am thrilled that she will be traveling the safest way possible and I am so glad you cared enough to go the extra mile in making plans. THANK YOU.

5th May 2000

Hi Mary and Stephen, Received your email and it sounds like you are doing an absolutely wonderful job socializing Gem! I was speaking with a nationally known dog behaviorist the other day, and I told her Gem would be about 12-13 weeks old when she arrived. In these parts, dog people generally believe that "no one ever gets a working animal any older than the magic 7 weeks." The theory is that they will be deficient in all the learning that takes place at the critical learning stages. Of course, I don't buy that, thats just what they think here. Anyway, I ran this by this expert and she told me that some very well done studies done recently by a famous Belgian behaviorist are indicating that the 7 week thing is untrue.

And he actually has found that 13 weeks(!!) is the optimal time for transfer to a new home! And, as she pointed out "it all depends on what the breeders do or do not do during those 12-13 weeks." I thank you and Gem will thank you, for all the time and effort you have put into her early socialization. ..It is very strange, I feel like I you are someone I have known a very long time!

8th May 2000

Dear Mary and Stephen, The reason I felt safe choosing you as breeders was precisely this: I felt from both your reputation and from my own instincts that you had the best interests of the dog at heart. Not your own ego or money. OF COURSE you are doing the right thing by keeping Gem over. She wouldn't be much good to anyone and,or herself, if she gets frightened out of her wits on the flight and never recovers psychologically.

Although, of course, I will have to wait a couple of weeks or longer for her, it is all for the best. I trust your judgement. Take no chances with my little Gem. She will be fine with you until she is ready to travel.

Thank You for taking such good care of her for me!

18th may 2000

GEM'S PEDIGREE

Dear Mary and Stephen, Just received the package with the WONDERFUL album of Gem's relatives! Thank you so much. I have also read all the information in the folder and it is clear to see that you two are very knowledgeable about dog behavior. Your book suggestions are many of the very same ones I have! It truly is a much smaller world than I would have thought.

But your advice, as it relates specifically to Kelpies, is worth a million (in US!!) to me. You have done all your new Kelpie owners a very worthwhile service to put them on the right track from the beginning. I LOVE the way you do not mince words! So many breeders do nothing but extol the limitless virtues of their breed, leaving out the pitfalls that there could be with a particular breed. But you have done this from the start of our correspondence. Thank You.

23rd May 2000

Hi Mary and Stephen,

I can tell you I am VERY excited about Gem's arrival! I received your email telling of all the wonderful things you have been doing with her and how well she is doing just this morning. An hour later KLM called with the flight specifics.

You would think a new real baby was arriving, so much interest has been created here about her. Friends were over yesterday and looked through the album and asked all about her, and her breeders. The people here have gone from thinking I was out of my mind to get a dog from Australia, to becoming rather fascinated with the whole idea. They still think(but don't say it out loud) that I will get inferior dog because that is what one might expect from an American breeder under the same circumstances. As much as I hate to say it, many breeders here are inclined to "stick" buyers who are a long way off, with dogs with problems. A friend of mine got a BC from California (considered a long way off to us). The pup was 9 weeks old and was stone deaf! And the breeder couldn't tell!

I didn't let my friends read your email, I want Gem to be a surprise!!I I just keep quiet about what I know about her.! Anyway, I love her already and want to thank you for being the kind of breeders you are.

'DON'T WORRY'

Hi Mary and Stephen,

You are definitely right about having built up a solid reputation for good dogs in the Kelpie world. I think I wrote about 50 emails to every source I could find and ,even from people on the West Coast who wanted to sell me one of theirs, I got nothing but top quality comments about Noonbarra and "The Bilsons." I prided myself on having some sort of ESP because I never really considered any other breeders. Although I DID check out quite a few.

If there was one thing that convinced me to order a dog from so far away, it was your well-known reputation for doing so much excellent socializing with your pups. And THAT will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. The second thing was your sincere concern for the welfare of your puppies. That, in my experience, is sadly not an easy thing to find in breeders. At least not the the U.S.

I loved reading the comments, most especially the ones about Loki. He is Gem's brother, isn't he? My friends, who are so skeptical, do not know all the background about where Gem comes from. And I guess I AM a little contrary to want to keep her for a surprise!

29th May 2000

'WE DID IT'

THE LONG WAIT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT!!!!!!! Gem is here and she is AMAZING! I was so worried what such a long trip in the hands of strangers would do to her. She is a tough little cookie! You will not believe the scenario since I opened the door of her crate on a large grassy area near the Cargo Buildings! First, she immediately relieved herself, then she wagged herself over to me and woofed! She jumped all over me like she had known me before. Then after looking around the place and barking at the head of a man she could see walking by on the other side of a cement barricade, she started to explode doing leaps and jumps in the air. I pulled out a toy I had and, can you believe it?, she wanted to play!! After what she had been through! She played for about ten minutes, ate a few treats as she was very hungry, drank some water and we headed home.

She slept on my lap most of the three hour drive home. We stopped once to get something to drink, she got out and peepeed on the grass at McDonalds and barked at a motorcycle group passing by. Not in the slightest intimidated!!

By the time we got home, she was raring to go. After a walk, she went inside and she went nuts over the toy box.! Pulled out everything and raced around tossing toys in the air and batting them around!! She is SOME puppy! She has met the quietest of my two Tervs and was very friendly. I could see that if I had let her loose with Devon the house would have been in a shambles, because they were both ready to go at it! She has been very hungry, although she is in excellent condition and has obviously been eating on the trip. Right now she is sound asleep in her crate all cuddled up with a bunch of new (to her) toys.

Mary, she is a beautiful, healthy, and very sound little girl. She is also going to be alot of dog, and that is how I have always liked them. The people who cared for her on her trip certainly treated her well and for that, I will be forever grateful. And to you and Stephen, for all the good genes and good upbringing that are so in evidence.

In a day or so I will send you one of the sort of silly announcements of Gem's arrival that I made on the computer. It will probably give you a good little chuckle, particularly the kangaroos and the aborigines. I hadn't a clue what sort of sound a kangaroo makes, and so I made one up. But it was fun to make. With appreciation for my little "Gem".

---

31st May 2000

'THE GEM'

Your little girl has been here not quite 48 hours as I write this and so far she has accomplished the following: she comes on her name and sits directly in front of me, she will "take" the tug toy when I ask her to and not before, she will release it to my hand when I say"drop", she has allowed me with minimal difficulty to grind her nails with a grinder (that's how I do nails),AND she has herded my Terv Devon until Devon couldn't stand it any longer and "busted out." When Devon finally realized that she wasn't a sheep and decided to just bust past Gem, who kept corralling her no matter where she went, Gem seemed mortified. I don't know if this is a good thing for Gem's herding ability but it was a sight to see!

Gem is a firecracker and I can tell, thinks that these American dogs are total wimps! Her house (toilet) training is very,very good for a little pup. Thanks to you. I will have to say that you have done a wonderful job with her. Someone I know got a kelpie, and although they love the dog to death and all is fine now, told me of the absolutely horrible time they had touching the dogs nails, ears, etc. They said it was like taming a wild dog.

The only problems I foresee with Gem are out thinking her and keeping her active little mind busy! I can't wait until she is old enough and trustworthy enough in the "come" area, to begin a little agility work with her. It will be awhile before I will be confident enough of her recall to let her loose in my 7 acre yard. It is fenced and no dog has ever jumped it, but it is only 4 feet and I have heard some wild tales of kelpies clearing much higher fences.

I will keep you updated on her progress. She is a great little dog and I am thrilled to death with her!!!!!!!

Attached is a card I made to announce Gem's arrival to my friends who are constantly wanting to know if she has arrived.

THE OPINION OF AN AUTHORITY'

Thought you might like to hear this comment about Gem. Dr. Sue Ann Lesser is a nationally known veterinarian and animal chiropractor. She, in addition to being an expert in her veterinary work, is known for her writings on "What constitutes the perfect jumping dog?" and research dealing with sound structure. We crazy agility people have discovered that our dogs stay sound and are able to perform much longer if we take our dogs to Dr. Lesser for regular adjustments.

Today was my day for taking my dogs to see her. So , of course, Gem went along and got her first "adjustment'. It was a surprise to me when I found out that Dr. Lesser had spent a considerable amount of time in Australia, teaching your vets. to do the chiropractic. She was very knowledgeable about Kelpies (VERY rare here) and raved over Gem's structure!!!!!! She loves the breed anyway, and said I got a bargain! She said that "Gem was absolutely beautiful." ... I thought you ought to hear that!

Gem is learning INCREDIBLY fast! But she IS a scallywag!! But a very cute one!

'THE AWESOME AUSSIE'

Hi Mary and Stephen, Just a short one to let you know how wonderfully well Gem is doing. She has been in the USA just two weeks now and is an amazing little puppy! I truly CANNOT believe two things, in particular, about her! The first is how quickly she learns what you want her to do, and what you don't want her to do! In two short weeks, she waits before going out a door (this WAS our hardest lesson), retrieves beautifully, sits, downs, and responds to her name by sitting directly in front of me and looking up. She is completely housetrained (toilet) having made no mistakes since the second day after her arrival. She sleeps all night. I KNOW how much work you put into her before she left Australia, and NO ONE could or would have done as good a job of preparing a young pup for life in a new country.

The second thing that totally stuns me is THE PHYSICAL PROWESS OF A MERE 14 week old pup!!!!! The little bugger probably could outrun one of my two Tervs right now and her AGILITY knows no bounds!

I have begun to let her free ( with me) on my fenced 7 acres and she is a sight to see! My priority number one is to work on a recall, because I can see that she could probably make it back to Australia before I could blink my eyes! She IS coming at the moment, but we all know that the novelty of that will wear off as she gets more at home.

I will tell you one last things that has taught me a first, of what will probably be many "Kelpie lessons". The lesson is" Don't make Gem think you want her to do something over and over again, unless YOU REALLY want her to do it over and over!! Using a clicker ( which she now knows means, "she did right", I clicked her repeatedly for running through the agility tunnel repeatedly. I THOUGHT I was simply reinforcing a new skill. Well, I couldn't (and still can't !) STOP her from running through the tunnel. OVER and OVER and OVER until she has done it 20 or more times in a row!! I was about rolling on the ground laughing at her, until I realized she wasn't ever going to STOP! She is going to be SO much fun to train!

The good advice on developing a relationship with your Kelpie was very much appreciated. Quite obviously, both you and Stephen are VERY sincere about wanting all your pups to succeed in their new homes. I have read every word of it and will keep it on file.

It is so nice to have gotten Gem from people like you who REALLY care.

Gem is doing well and I am sure will do even better and better as she matures, gains confidence in her new life and grows accustomed to all the multitude of new exposures. She is as cute as a button and getting to be SO much fun to do little agility stuff with.

We arrived home last week after three months on our "Robinson Crusoe" island in the Gulf of Mexico. We had 7miles of nearly deserted beach for the dogs to run on. Gem is now an accomplished beachcomber, having decided that she could just live there forever. My fears about her not coming when off leash proved unfounded, although we did have a couple of close calls when the seagull, pelicans and herons refused to turn when Gem thought they should.

We only had a limited number of opportunities to do much agility so I thought she would lose a lot of her puppy skills. Wrong. The first day we were home, she did her A-frame contacts like we had never been away. And she had not seen an A-frame in 3 months. Now if we can conquer her dislike of the seesaw (and any moving boards), we will be on our way. ... As for her ability to read body language on jumps and tunnels, SHE IS SPECTACULAR! She has gained so much in physical maturity in the past three months and it was so apparent when we got home and could do a little agility. She runs like a gazelle.

She is now bonding very well and is becoming rather a love bug! If she improves as much in her next year as she has in the past few months, she will be all I ever dreamed of.

We just got the tape of Noonbarra Stud and absolutely loved it. It was SO much fun to see all of her relatives in action. It is a GREAT tape! Gem is the spiting image of one of your young dogs called Libby. She and Libby could be twins. They move exactly alike as well.

I was astounded to see the Kelpies work the sheep by going over the backs of the sheep. I knew, of course, that they did this but had NEVER seen it!! It is amazing!

At the campgound where we stayed all the people were there for several months and so everyone got to know everyone else and all the dogs as well. Gem soon got the nickname "Gemaroo" because everyone was convinced that she was crossed with a Kangaroo!

YIPPEE!!!

Gem just did the seesaw all by herself! She ran on, off leash, tipped it herself, stopped with two feet on and two feet off at the bottom, waited for me to say "go," ran off and ignored the seesaw bouncing back up by itself!!

Of course, the seesaw was as low as it can get, and there was a pad under the end so it didn't hit too hard. BUT, she tipped it herself and it didn't faze her!

Just had to let you know this astounding happening!

Joy and Gem (who is very pleased with herself, but not as pleased as I am!)

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