Kelpie Dog Books

This is the 6th edition of this popular book. Not just for Kelpie owners starting out but for everyone who owns a Kelpie.... from beginners to professional trainers and breeders. Great for puppies but also for adult dogs. Most of this also is good for understanding and training other dog breeds too.

We have worked on producing this detailed manual for many years. We have had 45 years of training dogs with thousands of Kelpies and most other dog breeds. This vast practical experience has been put together to bring out this guide which should greatly help anyone who owns a Kelpie from raw beginners through to seasoned professionals. We have also used the questions and the feedback we get from our customers. This is a large book of over 100 A4 pages. It is designed to be used mainly as a practical training manual.

This is not a book on doing stock work!

.... It is aimed at new Kelpie owners and anyone who is starting another Kelpie or has problems with an older Kelpie. The manual deals with everything from general training for a family dog, through to basic foundation work before beginning stock work. It includes everyday thing such as feeding, crating and bathing your dog through to personalities, understanding your dog and problem behaviours.

The book includes information on controlling puppies, doing obedience, puppy phases, socialising, trick training, retrieving, commands, toilet training, puppy types, Noonbarra Down lesson, nipping and chewing, children and Kelpies, exercise, dog pack mentality, fear, swimming, Kelpies with chooks, horses and cats, dog fighting, jumping and climbing, digging holes, chasing bicycles, separation anxiety, car travel and much more.

Over 100 large pages … $36 (Posted anywhere in Australia)

OVERSEAS: $50 International Registered Post (Most countries within 14 working days)

We accept direct deposit (Australian Customers) and Paypal.
You can use credit cards through Paypal from any country in the world.

Direct deposit is; Account name: Noonbarra
St. George Bank. BSB: 112 879
Account: 0396 195 64
European customers only: Swift Number: SGBLAU2S
(More payment details at bottom of this page.)

All prices are in Australian dollars
Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.
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Male or Female? / When you can’t get to a breeder /Puppy Personality Stages

Dog Fighting / Using a Kelpie as a Guard Dog/Jumping and climbing problems / Digging Holes

Obedience Training Lessons / Teaching your dog to tie up /Preventing food stealing

Heeling (Walking on a lead by your side) /Getting Your Kelpie to Come to You

Teaching Dog Tricks / Retrieving balls and objects / Kelpies travelling in the car

List of commands for your Kelpie / Kelpie Facts / Dog Behaviourists
________________________________

OVERSEAS: $50 with International Registered Post (Most countries within 14 working days)

We accept cheques, moneyorders, cash, direct deposit and Paypal. (Australian Customers)
You can use credit cards through Paypal from any country in the world.

Direct deposit is; Account name: Noonbarra
St. George Bank. BSB: 112 879
Account: 0396 195 64
Swift Number (for overseas customers) is: SGBLAU2S
(More payment details at bottom of this page.)

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

" I immediately read Kelpie Basics from cover to cover, and read the Noonbarra Down section twice. I have a brand new Kelpie pup from Simon Leaning, and I am having wonderful success with him using your Noonbarra Down method. Simon was here in the US recently giving a Clinic, and brought 4 beautiful pups to four lucky US Herders, of which I am fortunate to be one. Having owned Australian Cattle Dogs for 25 years, I am fascinated at the differences in a Kelpie!

"Your wonderful book Kelpie Basics is the most concise, clear, down-to-earth and logical piece of writing I've ever read on the subject of dog & puppy training. I must say that so much of the good information in it would benefit not only Kelpie owners but most dog owners as well. Even folks that have had dogs for many years can certainly benefit from the rock solid information you've put down in this book. I want to thank you for writing it, and to let you know how much you are helping me to get off to a good foundation and start with my first Working Kelpie. A link to your site was passed along to me by Simon Leaning, and I'm so happy he sent it to me, as I have enjoyed reading your website - and now, your books as well ".- Shirley (USA)

"I have found your book to be superb and have been hard at work implementing the 'Noonbarra Down' command, I only wish I had sourced this book earlier." - David Stuffins

"Very positive & Very interesting, Our Kelpie thanks you, Maybe a puppy in future." - David Cray

"I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of Kelpie Basics about a month ago. I have read it from cover to cover and wanted to congratulate you on such a well written and useful book. It should be made compulsory reading for anyone thinking of buying a pup regardless of breed. I now look forward to hearing from you when you have a suitable pup for our family so that we can put all of your great advise into practice." - Karen Bennett

"Because I found your site so helpful I bought your 'Kelpie Basics and Beyond' book. This has been the best book I have ever bought and must have read it cover to cover several times already. We followed your instructions with all the Kelpie do's and don'ts and nailed the Noonbarra Down-Stay within a few weeks.... I just love my puppy and can't wait till he grows up. Thank you for all your help with my pup because without it I'm sure he would have been out of control within a few weeks." - Dom Barnes

"I am really enjoying reading the book so far. There are so many beginners coming down to agility training who would benefit from reading it, kelpie or no kelpie !" - Julia Lewis

"G'day, just a short thank you. I have received the training book and it is wonderful. I am working on the Noonbarra Down - Stay at the moment and it is great." - Daniel and Barry

"Mary and Stephen, Got the book a couple of days ago and am about half way through….loving the read. It has become clear that it is definitely possible to have a well trained kelpie…even in the city."

"I have started on the Noonbarra ‘Down-Stay’ and have had success so far….I am a very determined person…fortunately more determined than Pippa. The first time I tried it, I only had to push her down about 10 times, then she went off to sleep….success…stayed there an hour.... WHAT A GREAT TRAINING TECHNIQUE !

"I am thoroughly enjoying the book learning heaps and will let you know how I go with things. Thanks again for everything, Cheers, Mark"

"Thank you I received the book last night and had trouble putting it down. I have a 9 month Kelpie - Scout and she is my first Kelpie " - Michelle

"I really enjoyed reading Jillaroo and the Kelpie Basics book has been a great help with my pup (who looks just like the picture on the front !). I look forward to getting the next book." Regards, Suzy Gnaraloo Station

"Hello there! Many thanks for your great book...I love it...it's one of the best if not THE best books I've read on training dogs.. Kelpies or otherwise! So well done! I am looking forward to reading your book in depth. I was so excited when it arrived I skip read it. Regards and again my thanks and congratulations on such an excellent publication." Anne Lawler

"We’re really disappointed to have to wait and sooooo looking forward to getting our pup. But meanwhile we both want to thank you both for the splendid Kelpie Basics book – best source of information and sense that we’ve found, and our favourite read! - Lyn

I'm just writing to say how impressed I am with your book! The book is informative and written well, easy to understand, and obviously written by people who love their dogs! - Joshua Duroux

Over 100 large pages … $36.00 (Posted in Australia) All prices are in Australian dollars

OVERSEAS: $54.00 International Registered Post (Air Mail) (More payment details at bottom of this page.)
If buying multiple books please email us for cheapest pricing to your country.

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

I just thought I’d let you know, I purchased this book from you about 14 years ago when I bought my first Kelpie and found it a great aid in training him. I have miss placed it and we’re looking for a new kelpie pup and I need your book to help raise it to be as good as my last boy. Thanks again - Scott

I wanted to thank you for the book, there is so much practical no nonsense advice that has helped me so much. I feel like I am the one getting the training! - Sara

Many years of research have gone into this book on the famous Australian Working Kelpies from the past. We have sourced information from thousands of letters, diaries, newspaper reports and articles. We have also included passages from many interviews we conducted with the legends of the Kelpie world such as Frank Scanlon, Tony Parsons, Jack Mills, Les Tarrant and others.

We have set out the book in a chronological order and each dog has their own section, sometimes a page, sometimes a few pages. This makes it a very easy book to read. It can easily be read dog-by-dog if you don’t want to read it cover-to-cover.

The book starts with Jack Gleeson’s terrific little bitch, ‘Kelpie’, and shows how the breed came into being. We look at the ‘Immortal’ Coil and his unsurpassed performance at the 1898 Sydney Sheepdog Trials. We get some insight into the renowned King & McLeod Stud, breeders like Frank Scanlon, Jack Goodfellow and the Tullys. Why was Scanlon’s Dell regarded as “the greatest brood bitch in history” ? Could today’s Kelpie owners handle a hard-headed dog like Porter’s Don ? Was the ‘Barb’ a separate breed ? Why did Les Tarrant consider Kalari Basil his best dog ever ?

Is there Dingo in the breed ? Was ‘Johnny’ the greatest Australian Trial dog of all time ?

It is not just hard cold facts. Where possible, we have included stories and anecdotes about the dogs and the owners, to give a better understanding of how important these Kelpies were.

This book has the most up-to-date information on the historical aspects of the Kelpie breed and sets straight past inaccuracies such as the date of the famous Forbes Trial and the circumstances of Jack Gleeson’s death. Some of the information in this book, (often quotes from the owner’s themselves), has never been in print before and hopefully will help the reader to get a better understanding of these famous Kelpies and the times they lived in. The book also contains dozens of photos; some are quite historical and not seen by the general public before.

OVERSEAS: Total cost $50 including International Registered Air postage. (Payment details at bottom of this page.)
If buying multiple books please email us for cheapest pricing to your country.

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

"I've finished Famous Kelpies and I just wanted to let you know that I loved it. It is a credit to you both that a book on so many different dogs was still able to read like a story! It all just flowed together so well and was at times hard to put down but could be picked up again and continued on with ease... I still think you could easily go to $39.95 delivered, no one could ever complain about paying that for a book with so much historical information. Thanks again and congratulations on the new book." - Greg McDonald & Noonbarra Matti

"Actually bought 2 copies about a month ago. By the way a fantastic book, you must have done an amazing amount of research. Good work! I bought the 2^nd copy as a Christmas present for someone." - Regards, Tibor Hernyak

"Famous Kelpies is a real nail biter. Stephen & Mary, on behalf of Kelpies everywhere, I think they owe you a big thank you." Len. 'Success Dog Training'. Victoria.

“Great purchase, very highly recommended” Dan. Jerry's Plains 2007

"I am a huge fan of the breed having owned four of them. Famous Kelpies is a wonderful book, I've read through it several times now. It's nice to be able to reference the dogs in the pedigrees of mine to some extent. I also really enjoy the photos! I am thinking of breeding my female and am using it for research right now. I will most definitely be trying to get my hands on more books like this. I want to make sure I make the best decisions possible and the only way for me to do that is to do my homework! The book Famous Kelpies is an excellent resource both for reference but for overall knowledge of the breed. I found it easy to read and well written.
Thanks again, Bobbi

Mary and Stephen, I received my copies of Kelpie Basics and Famous Kelpies a week ago and have been poring through them ever since. I'm sure the Cavanaugh book will be here very soon too, can't wait! I love the stories in Famous Kelpies!

"The books (Rockybar Kelpies & Famous Kelpies) are well put together and you can be proud of your effort. It will be very easy to read them over again any time. I found them very interesting and I enjoyed reading them both. I must say you both have met very interesting people and also interesting Kelpies who have their own personalities I reckon." - Les Mc Mahon.

We have been working on this book for many years and now finally we have it done. More or less a follow-up to our popular book, 'Famous Kelpies' which looked at Kelpies up until the late 1960's. This book continues on and shows many notable Kelpies right up to the present day.

Some of these Kelpies have had enormous influence on the breed in the last 40 years and some say these dogs completely changed the breed. Kelpies such as Barambogie Mack and Glenlogie Lucky, Liscannor Pace, and Capree Watch. We go right up to well known sires and trial winners of today such as Karrobar Sargeant and Capree Boss II.

Wherever possible, we have tried to put in information directly from the owner or the breeder. Many of these great dogs we saw ourselves and can give first hand accounts. On some pages we have various newspaper reports. Lots of photos and many never seen by the public before.

OVERSEAS: Total cost $50 including registered Air postage.
If buying multiple books please email us for cheapest pricing to your country.

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

Yet again a great book, fantastic fast service, highly recommended - Chris

Haven't been able to put the book down. This book is a must for anyone looking to buy or breed a working kelpie. It proves that you cannot beat inherited working ability. Regards, Bob Hayden

I liked your book "Famous Kelpies" so much, that I decided to order "Kelpie Legends" also. -Ellen Hood

This is greatly expanded from our first small edition some years back. Huge A4 format with 166 pages. If you own a Kelpie you will want to read this book. We think this book would be an enjoyable read for anyone with even a passing interest in the Kelpie but it would be a great guide for breeders and trainers with information that is impossible to get anywhere else!

The Rockybar Stud, owned by Les Tarrant, was one of the most famous in Australia for half a century and their influence can be seen in Kelpies all over the world today.

Les Tarrant started with Kelpies in the 1930's. He led a life of droving, mustering and working with horses and livestock. In 1950, he set up the Rockybar Kelpie Stud in the far north-western districts of NSW. (What most city people would refer to as the outback).

His first top quality pedigree foundation bitch, Elgovers Trim, proved a great investment and bred many outstanding Kelpies for many years. Within a few short years, the Rockybar Kelpies became very well known around Australia and internationally.

Les was a friend of mine. He helped me a great deal with dogs and advice. Today our Noonbarra Kelpie Stud is still run on the old Rockybar lines and his breeding and training tips are still our foundation stone. While he was alive, he helped me work on this book and I had always hoped it would be completed while he was alive to enjoy it. Unfortunately in 2000, he became quite sick and had to close his Stud. He passed away in 2004.

The book starts off with Les's early life with stock and his dogs. We have tried as much as possible throughout the book to keep a lot of this book in Les's own words. He had a wonderful style of telling stories that were like campfire yarns. These early stories take readers back to life in the bush of the 1930's and 1940's.

We look at some bush characters and old dog men such as the remarkable priest of Goondiwindi, Father McCormack, Stanley McMaster, Frank Scanlon, Stan Collins, and more.

We look at the individual dogs in the old Rockybar lines and the more modern lines (after 1980). We have a huge section on Les Tarrant in his own words explaining how to breed Kelpies and the problems and pitfalls to avoid.

We move onto what Les thought of other Kelpie Studs and the association he had with them. There is a section where Les talks about what he likes and dislikes in Kelpies and the affect on the breed. There is a good chapter of the book dedicated to how to train Kelpies the Rockybar way. Another chapter is on yard work and yard trials.

Even though the Rockybar Stud became one of the most famous Studs in Australia, Les still had the same old problems with silly customers and people who could not handle a dog and we have put in a section on how the Rockybar Kelpies were sold and advertised and lots of direct quotes from Les on selling problems and customers.

In the book, there are smaller areas with Les on Border Collies, Show Kelpies, Sheepdog trials, weakness in Kelpies, and much more. There are plenty of photographs and some were very hard to obtain. Some were old and damaged. Many (probably most) would never have been seen by the general public before.

I have spent years organising thousands and thousands of letters, articles and interviews with Les and have tried to make this book very detailed and informative as well as being a great read. The Rockybar Kelpies and Les Tarrant should be remembered. The new, young, generation of Kelpie breeders can learn a lot from the old dogmen like Les.

We originally tried to get this book commercially published but as it is such a niche interest, they would not do it, so we had to save up and get it printed ourselves. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and come to understand something about this very important Stud.

Large A4 format. B/W photos throughout. 166 pages. .... $40 posted (Australia)

Overseas (International Registered Air Mail) ... $57 posted. All prices are in Australian dollars

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

Rockybar Kelpies, a fabulous read and I didn't ever want to put it down. The passion of Les shone through on every page and the book sends a clear message to all, of their responsibility to research and only very carefully breed this wonderful dog, The Australian Working Kelpie in order to retain the integrity of the breed - Sylvia Maguire Tasmania.

After rereading the emails I sat down with your Les Tarrant book. It was the third time I've read it, although when first I read the book it was to try to learn more about Sky and Krypto's genetic backgrounds and the second time was to concentrate on the training information.

Last night, the third time I looked at the book, I read it from cover to cover. When I reached the last page, I cried at the loss of a great great trainer who lived and stood, side by side with kelpies, and improved the breed. The book is marvellous, and represents a tremendous amount of knowledge and work, on your part and Tarrant's. Thank you for
devoting the time and energy to writing it. - Sallie USA

Book & DVD purchases can be paid with Paypal, Personal Cheque, Cash, Direct bank deposit, or Money Order. Credit card payments can be made through Paypal. Postal discounts are often available on more than 3 books but not on 2 books and only sometimes on 3 books, due to the Australia post system. This is why we can send them so cheaply. Sorry.

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by paypal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.

Paypal is very easy and quick. You can even use your credit card over a secure page if you prefer. If you haven't used it before just go to www.paypal.com and follow a few simple directions. Our PayPal account is mary1@noonbarra.com This is the only account that payments can be made to.

So you just make a payment to that account and it is available to us within minutes. (Please contact us when a Paypal payment has been made to avoid any delay in posting your purchases.) Go to www.paypal.com to make a purchase with Paypal.

We can also accept direct deposit. This takes 2 business days to be available from our bank. There is no bank charge in Australia but there is for international deposits.

Direct deposit is;
Account name: Noonbarra
St. George Bank
BSB: 112 879
Account: 0396 195 64
Overseas customers only: Swift Number: SGBLAU2S

Postal discounts are often available on more than 3 books but not on 2 books due to the Australia Post system. Sorry.

Purchases from international customers can be paid with a PAYPAL or direct deposit (Electronic Money Transfer).

Electronic (international) transfer is possible but incurs a $20 bank fee this end and may incur a fee your end as well. Please make sure the full amount arrives this end.

Our PayPal account is mary1@noonbarra.com This is the only account that payments can be made to.

(Please contact us when a Paypal payment has been made to avoid any delay in posting your purchases. Go to www.paypal.com to make a purchase with Paypal. Paypal will automatically convert currencies and give you amounts in Australian dollars as well as your own currency.

Sorry - We cannot process personal cheques from overseas or foreign currencies without incurring huge process fees from Australian banks.

I received Kelpie Basics the other day and have read it right through. I'm just writing to say how impressed I am with your book!

I grew up with a pair of German Shepherds, my last dog was a Kelpie cross, and my last bitch was a bitser .. I'm no expert, but I've learnt a few things over the years about basic dog training. Yet you have opened up a completely new philosophy of dog training to me, that of giving the dog a choice, as opposed to just making them do a certain thing.

I realise now that I taught Buck a lot of things this way without realising it. But I'd never actually thought about it. Just the fantastic Noonbarra down/stay command has shown me a lot, and I realise that there are so many ways to teach my dog by giving him a choice, as you have shown in many of the other commands you detail in your book.

We had our first down/stay lesson the day I got the book. Of course, it took a while! Our 8 week old pup is a bold fellow, and willing already to challenge you somewhat. The next day we had two sessions, each one better than before. And in our session today it only took him a couple of minutes to do it, staying down for well over half an hour. In a few more days, if he's got it down fairly well, I'll try him with some minor distractions. I see how the down/stay command will be so beneficial in not only my Kelpie's training, but in his life in general, and will make a good basis for learning many other commands.

Of course, this is not the only good aspect of the book! I've learnt a lot about kelpies. As I mentioned on the phone, this is my first thoroughbred Working Kelpie, and with our last dogs having long happy lives, it's been about 17 years since I had a little puppy, although I have helped Mum train her dog, who is now about 5.

The book is informative and written well, easy to understand, and obviously written by people who love their dogs!

I just have to comment on one thing that puts a fantastic picture in my mind, and I'd love to see it. When you talk about training a litter of pups to stay out the back door. I can visualise all of them being swept outside, again and again. He he!

Let us know as soon as you have made a payment as in some cases we are not informed by PayPal or bank and we want to get your book out to you as quickly as possible.