I think the ENTIRE COUNTRY of Australia must be UPSIDE DOWN. I mean, they ARE on the OTHER side of the world from us, and they do everything different from us. For one, they have that weird accent, they are big into FOSTERS beer, and there is that annoying Kelpie thing.

Yeah, those Kelpies. Them dumb Australians actually believe that the Kelpie really is the best dog for the work in Australia. Seriously it is true. Working Border Collies are very new there, and for real work, you will still see the Kelpie as the true blue mate working with the Jillaroo, or the stockyard master. GOD how un-educated they are. It must *really* annoy some of the "BORDER COLLIE IS THE PRE-EMINENT sheepdog doncha know???!!!" people. Wow, the temerity of the Ozzies to believe that the KELPIE is anywhere remotely as good as the Border Collie. So what if they have been around as long as the Border Collie, so what if they are used at myriad studs, and acreages on thousands of sheep. Don't you KNOW that Border Collies are THE BEST sheepdogs?

Well, I am here to say that that simply is not true. It just isn't. Let's compare straight up sheepdog work- no trials, as the Border Collie trials were developed for the Border Collie. No, let's say we just set some sheep out there and just shush our dogs. No other commands. That is one part. Then, let's ask the dogs to drive the sheep into a paddock through a gate, with MINIMAL commands. Then, just for kicks, let's ask that dog to force the sheep, without DAMAGE to them, through a race.

At any given time the BC or the Kelpie as individuals will excel, or fail, but make no mistake, NEITHER breed will predominate as the PRE-EMINENT/BEST sheepdog. It's just that simple.

Many people prefer their breeds, I know I prefer the Kelpie. I think both breeds have what it takes to be our best partners out there. There are no absolutes. None. The best sheepdog is the one that gets the WORK done best, not the trial course.

Amen.