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My husband, Peter and I live on a 1/2 acre property in the small village of Woodstock NSW with our Kelpie/Collie/Coolie X - Croftie, our Labrador Retriever - Tua (aka Diacas Tua Tahi) and the matriach of Mimbil Kennels: - Dixie (Ch Mimbil Burnt Offerings)

I have been breeding Australian Kelpies since 1991 however my involvement with dogs began in 1976 when my X-bred mutt Monty and I attended obedience at Centenial Park, Sydney, Aus. This began my interest in dog training and later led to trialing in obedience and the training of service dogs.  In 1978 I lived in Germany for 2 months and attended a number of German Shepherd Dog Speciality Shows and Trials Hannover and further north near Bremen. It was a extreemely memorable experience and reinforced just what can be done with a dog when you have the right trainier. Every second person in Germany has a GSD as a guard-dog and I was taught various techniques in handling and training. I have owned numerous GSD's over the years and have I bred Australian Cattle Dogs and Border Collies under the Mimbil prefix however my prefered breed is the Australian Kelpie more recently we have become involved with Labrador Retrievers and we are finding this breed fascinating.

In 2003 I was diagnosed with a Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma (EMC) which invaded the bone in my left tibia which resulted in multiple & major surgery to retain the lower leg, chemo and radiotherapy. In 2005 I finally managed to get out of the wheelchair and began walking although my walking has been permanently compromised by my leg. Our beautiful Croftie dog helped me to walk better. Croftie is such a clever boy he deserved to be obedience trained and his willingness and bidability encouraged me to try and train him for the trail ring. In February 2006 we entered Bathurst Royal, skipping the CCD level and gained our first pass at our first trial. I have since then returned to full time work and have had limited opportunity to trial again. However in at Mudgee in 2006 we won the ring which was fantastic. I will get around to getting his CD because Croftie deserves the title - but for me I achieved what I wanted - to get out of the wheelchair and back in the ring with our dogs.

Our Lab baby Tua is currently being trained for the obedience ring and I hope to get both Crofties CD and Tua's CCD this year. Sadly I cannot handle a show dog with safety since the leg is not strong enough to move smoothly at a sustained run so I have given up the show ring. Friends handle my dogs for me and I am very greatful for their assistance. I have bred and shown dogs with success under our prefix Mimbil since 1991, our Kelpies have won 3 RUBISS winners and 1 BIS winner and over 150 classes in group & show, I am equally proud of the fact that their progeny are multiple BIS, BISS winners for other successful kennels, I have also trainied and trialed numerous dogs in obedience and as service dogs for the disabled. My foundation bitch Biddy (Ch Spectre Leah's Dream CD pictured above) and her daughter Emma ( Ch Mimbil Biddy's Daughter) were accredited assistance dogs and Dixie (Ch Mimbil Burnt Offerings) is the matriach of Mimbil and displays the intelligence and sound temperament of her mum and grand-mother. IMHO it is vertually pointless owning a ribbon winner if the dog or bitch cannot produce sound progeny with a tractable temperament and sound health regardless of the breed.

At this point in time I consider Australian Kelpies to be at a cross road. Unfortunately the obsession to 'win ribbons' has in some cases created 'pretty dogs' that are genetically and temperamentally unsound. Coupled with the recent emergence of Cerebellar Abiotrophy in  Kelpie show-dogs (bench kelpies) as well as the working lines, the future health of the breed is a major concern.  Dog showing is a valid hobby however it is just a hobby and I place little importance on the title of an Australian Champion or Australian Grand Champion attributed to a dog or bitch in any breed. Far too many human factors influence the making up of a titled dog these days and the Australian judging system is too open to manipulation by exhibitors and judges unlike the Europen system. In my opinion an Australian breed title has next to no value in any breeding program. Whilst I will continue to breed Kelpies on a limited basis (2 Blues from the  lastest the ANZAC litter, will be in the ring in 2008) my husband Peter and I will be focussed on Labrador Retrievers for the next few years.

CA is a lack of certain brain cells in the Cerebellum of the brain, it affects the movement and is recogisable by a consistant bobbing of the head. It occurs in horses, dogs, cats cattle and humans, CA is incurrable. Members of the Australian Kelpie Club of NSW Inc are well informed of the existance of the condition now and a number of ethical breeders here and overseas have submitted blood samples for testing.  To the best of my knowledge I believe our lines to be clear of CA and Mimbil Kennels have never produced any affected pups. The latest litter's sire and dam, as have my co-owned dogs in Grafton, Harry & Katya, have had blood submitted  for testing. Hopefully within the next 12 months our dog's status regarding CA will be clarified. Hopefully then breeders will be able to present a clear CA certificate and clear/clear can be bred with confidence.  Until the CA status of our dogs and proposed sires is clarified we do not plan to breed any Kelpies in 2008. Our breeding stock have been routinely hip & elbow scored since 1996. The breed average for HD is 12.85, although Pinn Hip Scores appear to be a more current trend in hip scoring.

Our foundation Lab bitch is Diacas Tua Tahi. A beautiful black Lab who is genetically tested for PRA and is cleared by parentage also, Tua has an exceptionally gentle temperment and is a delight to own. With a strong working lines and some sound conformation lines behind her Tua is a solid foundation bitch. We hope to breed her in late 2008/9. I will be campaigning Tua to title in 2008 - if I could be bothered going to any shows that is! In 2008 Pete and I plan to do some tarveling ( not just to dog shows) and if I get the time between travel and work some obedience trails. The information in this website pertains to Kelpies primarily however if you watch the 'Latest News' section on our website you will get a monthly update on Pete, myself and our furry family thoughout 2008. Plus there will be constant updates of pics on our Family Photo's on our website too.

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