Maryheather
Australian Cattle Dog Breeders, Dog Breeders / 862 views
Marykeather Kennels is owned by Dan Murphy. It has been established for over 40 years.
Maryheather Kennels works in conjuction with Mittapark Kennels owned by Diane Murphy. We breed both Australian Cattle Dogs and in the past 15 years Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs. It all started back in 1958 when Dan Murphy recieved his first registered Australian Cattle Dog- Betty. Betty was used as a working dog on the family farm at Baranduda. He used her and short haired border collies to work in the district and at the local Wodonga Sale Yards. From here the working, breeding and love of the Australian Cattle Dog started.
In 1983, Dan and Eileen married, at the time Dan had 2 dogs- Maryheather Betty and Maryheather Biddy. Eileen’s first impression of the Australian Cattle Dogs was ‘Yuk’, well that was until one- Maryheather Betty attached herself to her and only Eileen could show her. Of course that was back in the early days, still to come was the arrival Diane, their daughter and the introduction of a dairy to the Mitta Valley property and the multiplication of the number of Australian Cattle Dogs and addition of Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs.
Today Maryheather Kennels is a consistant winner at local and royal shows. Dan and Eileen have gone their seperate ways, however Dan’s main passion will always be the dogs. With his years of breeding knowledge, he continues to breed the Australian Cattle Dogs and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs
The majority of showing is done by Diane, who won the Victorian Junior Dog Handler Competition in 2000, and shows various other breeds at the shows. We all play a role in the upkeep, showing, training and breeding of the dogs and will continue to do so into the future. We sell dogs throughout Australia and worldwide. We aim to breed dogs which have good temperament, conformation and strong working ability. We have a large number of dogs,which allows us to have a range of lines to breed with and we are constantly looking for high quality stud dogs, of different lines to improve or hold our standard of dogs.
As time has moved on there has been changes with Maryheather Kennels. Diane is now breeding and showing her own dogs, Circlebartee Kennels. Dan Has retired from the farm and moved to Ballarat. He also has a new partner, Fiona. With this new partnership has come the working kelpies – Scotia Kelpies. You will not find these kelpies in the show ring but out in the paddock doing the work that kelpies are know for. These strong, athletic, intelligent dogs are breed to work , registered with the Working Kelpie Council they are an oustanding member of any team.
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