Muster Dogs. Reality Show on Netflix

[betonbill]

Chanced upon this while checking out Netflix. It’s an Australian reality show where a well known breeder takes 5 kelpie pups from a litter and distributes them to 5 stock people. Evidently it takes around three years to develop a stock dog. These 5 are tasked with seeing if the time frame can be shortened to one year. Progress is measured at ages four months, six months, nine months and 12 months.

I knew absolutely nothing about stock or muster dogs, as they call them, with the exception of some border collie trials. It was fascinating to see the different training techniques and the progress as the year progressed. Would definitely recommend this.

[LaurieB]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Bicoastal]

The group feeding blew my mind.

[MunchingonHay]

I started watching it the other day. I love watching dogs work. It makes me cry. Its so dumb, I know, but its so beautiful.

I would love to have a dog with a brain like a working/herding dog, but super laid back and chill. Those Kelpies are like Border Collies. They need a job. They are a great size, not too big, short coat, smart, all of the things I look for in a dog, but I don’t have livestock to drove.

[Polydor]

I haven’t watched it yet but have seen clips since I have a bunch of aussi friends and im in a kelpie group. My kelpie is passed out beside me on the couch… living the high life. She is originally from Australia got imported to a ranch in the british columbia interior and i got her from there when her owner wanted her gone.

So she’s has worked sheep and cattle. She has an off switch! LOL She comes to the feed store 5 days a week, an off leash walk after work and then hiking on the weekend. She’s the best.

If you want to check out one of the trainers , Pilbara Working Dogs (facebook) has a station in western australia and she has Gossip Girl (along with 9 kelpies and 5 livestock guardian dogs).

Can’t say enough good things about the breed. LOVE them !

P.

[Jealoushe]

Oh my gosh I need to see this! Thanks for sharing. Kelpies are kinda like cattle dogs and I love my cattle doggies ahah

[Horsecrazy3]

Try a Standard Poodle. It’s smart like a Border Collie but without the constant need to have a job. My standard is slightly bigger than a border collie. He’s been so easy to train and loves to be with his people.

Love the show. Rooting for Annie and have a soft spot for Lucifer. Find it interesting that the hardest dog to train went to the least experienced trainer.

[Polydor]

Kelpies are cattle dogs They also work sheep or poultry. Super smart dogs and amazing to watch them work.

P.

[DMK]

I think she was referring to the breed, Australian cattle dog, or what I grew up calling a Queensland heeler

[Horsecrazy3]

Do Not Read if you haven’t watched the final episode.

Major respect for Rob. Lucifer showed that he is a cattle dog and Rob gave him the best home to do his thing. Annie and Frank were poetry in motion to watch. All the dogs and handlers did an amazing job.

[thatmoody]

What an awesome show. We’re really enjoying it. I used to raise and train catahoulas as cattle dogs and these dogs are a lot more naturally talented! The catahoulas were good for Florida, where it’s all heavy brush and totally wild cattle (plus you could also hunt hogs with them), but wow, these dogs are fast learners!

In something related, my grand puppy looks so much like Annie it’s eerie. She’s a pure mutt from Kentucky (we DNA tested her and she’s mountain cur, border collie, and doberman, of all things) but that combination came out so kelpie looking it’s eerie.

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[Jealoushe]

Yea exactly thank you haha

[skydy]

Thanks @betonbill. I enjoyed the program.

[ThatBayHorse]

Cool show but kelpies are NOT for the faint of heart. I’m on my second one but it’ll be my last one. They have the brains of border collie or ACD but none of the biddability or obedience. VERY independent thinkers. I’ve had ACD in the past (and actually adopted a ACD puppy last year). ACDs are significantly easier than kelpies. I love my kelpies but wowza lol

[ThatBayHorse]

everyone on fb thinks every black/tan dog with pointy ears they have is kelpie. In reality they are super rare in the states outside of Texas and are rarely kelpies

[thatmoody]

Yeah, we know she isn’t; it’s just interesting how breeds combine and can look so similar.

[betonbill]

Interesting. I wonder if that’s why they use them as a group rather than singly. More group think than having to be super obedient. I hadn’t thought of training the cattle to come to the human as relief from the dogs, but it seemed to work very well.

Glad you liked it.

[skydy]

Thanks @betonbill, I enjoyed that.

I saw a cattle dog work once, when I was driving on a twisty two lane mountain road and cow hands were moving a large herd. The cattle on my side of the road were herded into the ditch and up a steep embankment by a dog that held them there while I passed. It was very impressive.