Who are we, anyway?
Let us introduce ourselves. We are Theo and Greet van de Veerdonk. We’ve been together for over 40 years, and for just as long, our lives have revolved around dogs.
Greet grew up with dogs and—apart from her university years—has always been surrounded by them. Theo was naturally drawn into this passion and quickly embraced it as his own.
Our Journey to the Kelpie
We always had shelter dogs until our last one passed away in 1998. Since our four children were still very young at the time, we decided not to get another dog. Naturally, that was a promise we couldn’t keep.
We decided to look into purebred dogs this time. What were we looking for?
A loyal, intelligent, and social dog
Energetic and highly trainable
Preferably short-haired
We soon discovered the Australian Kelpie, and in 1999, we brought our first one home. What a remarkable breed!
An Active Lifestyle
For us, our dogs are not just pets; they are full family members who accompany us in every aspect of life. Alongside long walks, hikes, and bike rides, we are very active in dog sports.
Our main sports are:
Agility
Sheepdog Herding
Our Vision: Building a Healthy Future
Out of love for the breed, we began breeding. However, it quickly became clear that the Australian Kelpie has a relatively small gene pool. As a result, more health issues are emerging—something we believe stems partly from this limited genetic base.
In 2008, we began exploring the Working Kelpie. These dogs share the exact same ancestors as the Australian Kelpie. However, because there are significantly more Working Kelpies, we saw them as the key to expanding the gene pool. Expanding this base allows us to work on the breed’s health while preserving its working ability.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTH: By broadening the gene pool, we actively contribute to the health of the breed and the preservation of its natural working drive.
Jelle: The Start of a New Chapter
In 2009, we acquired our first dual-registered Kelpie: Jelle.
Our initial doubts
To be honest, we had our reservations at first. Could we provide enough stimulation for a working dog? Would he be hyperactive? Could a dog like this even live calmly indoors?
Looking back, we can laugh about it now. They were completely groundless fears! In fact, Working Kelpies are often calmer indoors than show-line Kelpies and don’t require more activity than the others. They can, however, be a bit more sensitive.
Jelle’s impact
Jelle turned out to be a fantastic addition to our pack. He had a massive will to please, was loyal, and independent. We saw far more similarities to our other dogs than differences. Jelle went on to make a significant contribution to our offspring.
Today, we have several dual-registered (WKC and FCI) Kelpies. All of our puppies come with FCI pedigrees.
