Kamura Beauty

Kamura Beauty

Price and conditions

The price for each dog increases as the dog's skills improve. The following list shows the approximate price range for each training stage (a description of each stage is shown further down page) and reflects the type of prices paid at a working dog auction.

  • Just Started - $1000-$1500
  • Started - $1500-$2000
  • Well started - $2000-$2500
  • Trained, with limited experience - $2500-$3500
  • Trained, with experience - from $3500

The price also includes:

  • micro-chipping
  • council registration arranged in NSW
  • all vaccinations and worming
  • collar
  • Working Kelpie Council registration (where possible).

Payment:

  • must be made in cash when the dog is taken (real money or direct deposit in advance; NOT cheques or credit card).
  • An invoice will be provided; no GST is charged.
  • Dogs cannot be taken on trial without payment; however, there is a return policy if the dog is not suitable (see further below).
  • All transport/freight costs associated with you getting the dog is at your expense (DogMovers picks up at Guyra regularly).

No unstarted pups are available.

Training stages and starting prices

Note that these are approximate descriptions. There will be variations depending on the individual strengths and weaknesses of each dog.

Just Started (JS) ($1000-$1500)

  • Good obedience away from sheep in a confined, low-distraction area.
  • Poor obedience elsewhere.
  • A few sessions with sheep only to ensure they are keen to work.

Started (S) ($1500-$2000)

  • Good obedience away from sheep.
  • Fair obedience with sheep in the training paddock (restricted area).
  • Poor obedience in the open paddock (unlikely to have done work in the open paddock).
  • Will balance sheep to handler in the training paddock.
  • Started to learn commands for sides (round and back), stop and to come away from sheep, but these will only be fair, and the further away the dog is the worse they will be.
  • Learning to stay at the back with the handler to drove the sheep along, but will still be eager to head the sheep every chance it gets.
  • May have started to work in a race and forcing pen or with cattle, but may not be confident or correct.
  • Ready to start work ONLY if you are prepared to provide plenty of supervision and guidance/training.

Well started (WS) ($2000-$2500)

  • Very good obedience away from sheep.
  • Good obedience with sheep in the training paddock (restricted area).
  • Fair obedience in the open paddock (less reliable when things get exciting or when they are further away).
  • Good with sides, stop and recall when close by, but still makes mistakes and still likely to have a 'preferred' side.
  • Can bring a mob behind the bike, though may overpush at times.
  • Good start on droving sheep, but generally only reasonable when I'm on foot; the degree of control declines if trying to work the dogs from the bike, at which time they'll be more inclined to go to the head or less sure about coming across behind me.
  • Starting to work in a forcing pen and in or beside the race; may be starting to back and come under (but will depend on the nature/style of the dog), but still needs plenty of guidance
  • May be working cattle in a team
  • Ready for straightforward jobs under supervision and ideally with a backup dog available. But will probably get you out of trouble if you have no dog, but remember to patient and there will be plenty of mistakes.

Trained, with limited experience (TL) ($2500-$3500)

  • Very good obedience away from sheep.
  • Good obedience in the open paddock.
  • Good obedience in the yards.
  • Will have done some real sheep work and cattle work, not just on a training mob.
  • Will do short casts and works well with easy mobs in open paddocks, including droving the sheep.
  • Likely to still make mistakes with more difficult sheep, out of sight or in paddocks with trees, gullies and other difficulties.
  • Brings sheep through the yards, and works in a forcing pen and in or beside the race; may back and come under. The level and enthusiasm of force, backing and coming under will be very dependant on the dog's style.
  • Ready to work, but will still be making some mistakes, especially in challenging situations.

Trained, with experience (TE) (from $3500)

  • Very good to excellent obedience.
  • An effective dog that works well without supervision.
  • Usually only needing guidance when in a new place or doing things differently.
  • May be able to be sent into difficult terrain out of site to look for stock, if the dog has this trait of a searching cast.

PLEASE NOTE: Trained, experienced dogs are in short supply everywhere and most of mine sell before reaching that stage. 

Obedience assessment

I define obedience by how often the dog responds correctly to the basic commands: here, stop, sit, down, stay, c'mon (walk with me on or off lead), and once sheep work has commenced: round (clockwise) and back (anticlockwise].

  • Excellent: almost always correct (>95%)
  • Very good: correct most of the time (>90%)
  • Good: correct much of the time (>75%)
  • Fair: correct over half the time (>50%)
  • Poor: correct less than half the time (<50%)

The obedience assessment is an average across the commands for each dog (some skills may be excellent, but others only fair).

Guarantee

All dogs will be guaranteed to work as they will have already been trained or started.

Return policy

All dogs can be returned within 1 month if the dog does not suit you.

However, dogs cannot be bought to use for a short period when you need an extra dog and then returned because you no longer need them.

A full refund of the purchase price (minus $50) will be given provided the dog is in good health and condition, is not injured, sick or pregnant, has been well-treated (e.g. has not been made shy or reluctant due to poor handling) and has been maintained on heartworm treatment in areas where heartworm occurs.

Where these conditions cannot be met, or the 1 month has passed, a refund price can be negotiated.

Return transport costs will be at your expense.