Fast, smart and always raring to go, the kelpie has been a fixture on Australian stations for more than a century. These days, the canine icon is not just a working dog but also a showman and beloved pet to many.
AUSTRALIAN WORKING DOGS breeds were made to be tough, smart and loyal. The kelpie, cattle dog (heeler), koolie and smithfield were all bred here for skills that are useful on cattle and sheep farms. Many farmers say these breeds are harder workers than many men. Other working breeds such as the border collie were perfected in Scotland in the 18th century, but have done well on the arid Australian land. Andrew Chapman and Melanie Faith Dove have produced these images for their book, Working Dogs.