Ruby was my NAAKR registered black & tan female Kelpie. The black pup [Reba] is one of many that Ruby produced in her lifetime. Most of those pups are working now - some for Montana Department of Livestock brand inspectors - many are working on ranches.
       Ruby was my old pal, and she helped me with all of my livestock chores on the ranch. She would help gather the chickens and put them in the chicken house at night, or, help me sort cattle in the corrals. She helped me in the spring, when I gathered the cow herds for A.I. heat detection each morning and night. Ruby had those duties down to an art. She had a natural outcast and a wonderfully natural sense of balance. (There is no doubt of this, as I am sure no trainer.) She also helped me move my horse herds from pasture to pasture, stayed out of reach of the occasional flying hoof, and knew the difference between herding the loose horses and accompanying riders on horseback.

       Ruby was a proven producer. The summer of 1999 a 1 ½ yr old registered Ruby son, "Rooster," sired by Dean Delp's Fritz, owned by Tana Skidmore, placed high in a stockdog trial in Washington state, second only to an old veteran trialing border collie.

       I lost Ruby Feb 2, 2002, after a C-section with her last litter. She was 7 years old. 3 puppies survived; the only female was a red & tan that I raised on the bottle and kept and named Ruby Two-Two. Ruby 2.2's sire is Dub, a red Kelpie x Border collie (same as Reba, pictured at top of page). But Ruby 2.2 does not look much like her previous sisters & brothers... she seemed to inherit more of her father's Border Collie background.
       2.2 has developed into as loyal a friend as her mother was. She has the possessiveness of a typical Kelpie, with the obsessive compulsive Border collie attitude spurring her loyalty, which makes her somewhat a pain but mostly a pleasure. I have rarely seen this degree of dedication. I miss her momma, but am so grateful Ruby left me 2.2 to help keep me company.

       In the left photo is Ruby 2.2 behind a gate, about the only way I can get a photo of her, she sticks so close to me. 2.2 looks like a crazy-eared red & tan border collie, and acts like one too. She has lots of instinct but sure wants to mind. The lower right is both her parents - an old photo of Ruby and Dub.
     I have been mourning Ruby all year, and since her loss put me out of the registered Kelpie business, I had dropped this webpage. Now I have decided to revive this page since I still get emails asking if I know of any Kelpies for sale, or other Kelpie breeders or other good working cowdogs. I do know 2 ladies, both whom I consider friends, who raise what I believe are top quality Kelpies:

• Molly Wilson, WA, Seth Creek Ranch, wilsons@lewiscounty.com
  
  
• Jan Davis, LA, Horse Latitudes, jandavis@idesignoffice.net   (I have lost track of Jan...)
  

And Hope Hanson - a real neat lady who lives in the next county - occasionally has a litter of serious working quality Border Collie puppies.

       If you write to Hope to inquire about her BC puppies, tell her Donna sent you.  Email Hope at:  wildwestdog@yahoo.com 

 Buy & Sell Stockdogs - the Stockdog Sale page

Sheep Game - this is just too much fun! The ever popular game of sheep herding. Sheep Game 3 - SheepGame is getting an update! Here you can view the new game's progress. DogGame You are a dog with a nose for bones so dig up as many as you can in 1 minute