Revealed: 20 of Australia’s best working dogs

Bred for grit, instinct and endurance, elite working dogs are commanding prices of up to $50,000. See the elite Kelpies and Collies that are the best in the business.

Bred for grit, instinct and endurance, elite working dogs are commanding up to $50,000 – arguably making them Australia’s most valuable animals, kilo for kilo.

Kelpies are neck and neck when compared on a financial basis at auction sales and some dog owners will say despite a flurry of record prices in recent years, they could still be worth even more.

Aticia Grey from Pilbara Kelpies at Glenforrie Station, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, bred the highest priced working dog, Pilbara Brutus, which sold for $50,000 at auction last year.

She says a good team of dogs can be “life changing”.

Aticia has been breeding dogs since 2014 and said it wasn’t unusual to have a team of up to 10 dogs working with her on a station at any one time.

Aticia Grey and a team of her working dogs.

Large crowds gather at the Casterton Kelpie Muster. Picture: Nicole Cleary

She said it was good to see the value of working dogs rising.

However, she credits generosity and the support for charity auction Kelpies for Kids as getting Brutus over the line for a record price.

The winning bid for Brutus ultimately came from a mining company but he is in the hands of Western Australian dog handler Blythe Calnan of Uduc.

“He is an awesome dog and he is currently earning his place,” Aticia said.

Aticia said the majority of dogs were undervalued when their importance in agriculture was truly considered.

“For what they can give back, their contribution is enormous,” she said.

“I think nowadays you would be looking at around $2000 for a quality working bred pup.”

The Weekly Times has listed 20 of the highest priced Kelpie and Border Collie working dogs that have sold at auction in Australia.

Record crowds of spectators flocked to the annual Australian Kelpie Muster at Casterton this year.

The Australian and world record-priced working dog Pilbara Brutus sold for $50,000 at auction. Picture: Supplied

Pilbara Brutus – Kelpie – $50,000

Brutus was sold at a charity auction at the Perth Royal Show in 2024. The black and tan Kelpie was secured by mining company Alcoa. The auction for the Telethon children’s health charity, conducted by AuctionsPlus, raised a total $70,000. Emily Houston, 8, a leukaemia survivor had formed a strong bond with Brutus before the auction.

Capree Eve, the 18-month-old Kelpie that set a world record price of $49,000.

Capree Eve – Kelpie – $49,000

Eve sold as a 20-month-old black and tan Kelpie from the famed Capree Stud at Newbridge, NSW. At the time of sale in 2022 she made the Australian record for the highest priced working dog. The sale took place at the Capree Poll Merino Ram Sale and Invitational Working Dog Sale, at Mudgee. Ross Gilmore from the Tattykeel Australian White and Poll Dorset stud at Black Springs, NSW placed the winning bid.

Capree Brooke – Kelpie – $48,000

At the same sale, and on the same day, Capree Brooke, also a black and tan bitch from Capree Stud made a stellar $48,000.

Cabra Glebe Liz sold for $40,000 at the Ray White Livestock Rockhampton Working Dog Sale. Picture: JEM Photography

Cabra Glebe Liz – Border Collie – $40,000

Cabra Glebe Liz was sold at the Ray White Livestock Rockhampton Working Dog Sale in Queensland on May 5, 2024, for $40,000. Liz set a Guinness World Record for a working Border Collie, surpassing the previous record of approximately $38,893 set by a dog named Kim in the UK in 2021. The buyers were Helen and James Parker from Monto, Queensland, who had previously purchased Liz’s half-brother, Sid. Liz is now working on the Parkers’ Wagyu cattle operation. She was bred by Joe Leven of Cabra Glebe Working Dogs in Casino, NSW.

Cabra Glebe Jenny – Border Collie – $38,000

Jenny was sold at the same sale in Rockhampton as “Liz” and was bred by Joe Leven’s Cabra Glebe Working Dogs.

David Lee pictured with Sarah Lee, their children Tommy, 7, and Ivy, 3, with Hoover, and black Kelpie Chief. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Eulooka Hoover – Kelpie – $35,200

Hoover was sold at the Casterton Kelpie Association’s annual working dog auction in 2021 and was secured by an undisclosed buyer. She was offered by vendors David and Sarah Lee of Edenhope. At the time Hoover set a new record price for a working dog.

Cabra Glebe Sid – Border Collie – $33,000

Cabra Glebe Sid was sold in 2023 for $33,000 and was purchased by James and Helen Parker from Monto, Queensland. The same buyers later purchased Cabra Glebe Liz for $40,000.

Carrdoon Della – Border Collie – $32,000

Della holds pride of place in the records because she was under 11 months when making the large sum of $32,000 at the Rockhampton sale in 2024 to Robert Grieve of Westwood, Queensland.

Cabra Glebe Big – Border Collie – $30,100

Cabra Glebe Big set a NSW Border Collie auction record when he sold in 2021 at the Geurie Golden Collar Dog sale, which was interfaced with AuctionsPlus. Big was sold by well known vendor Joe Leven.

Glenroy Dash – Border Collie – $29,000

Sold at the Glenroy Working Dog Auction in 2023, Dash was described as a top-performing young Border Collie with excellent stock sense and yard skills. The buyer was not disclosed.

Talgai Thunder – Kelpie – $26,000

He was sold at the Talgai Working Dog Sale in Queensland in 2022 and offered by the Talgai Stud. The black and tan Kelpie was described as having strong stock instinct.

Eveready Possum – Kelpie – $25,000

Possum was sold in 2019 at Jerilderie by vendor Shane Maurer of Getitdun Working Dogs, Milvale and was purchased by Dwayne Evans from Wilcannia Station NSW. At the time the black and tan bitch set an Australian auction record.

Beloka Rumble – Kelpie – $25,000

Rumble was sold at the Casterton sale in 2023 for $25,000. The dog was sold by Ash Caruana and secured by David Webb of Seymour.

Kelpie 'Seven', broke world record price at the Casterton Kelpie Muster. PICTURE: Supplied / Casterton Kelpie Association

Glencairn Seven – Kelpie – $22,500

Seven was sold at the 2018 Casterton Working Dog Auction, setting the record for the highest priced working dog at the time. The dog was bred by Christian Peacock of Waterloo

Rambo – Border Collie – $20,000

Rambo made $20,000 at the Central Queensland Working Dog sale in 2023. He was sold by vendors John Pointon and Prue Howard.

Oakfield Jay – Kelpie – $20,000

Oakfield Jay topped the 2024 Colin Say & Co Working Dog Auction at Glencoe, NSW. The 12-month-old black and tan Kelpie, was offered by Dan “Milo” Matthews of Woolbrook and bought by Oliver Jeffrey of Guyra.

Zara – Kelpie – $19,000

Zara, aged nearly four years old at the time of sale, was the top dog at the 2024 Nedelle Downs Stock Dog Sale, selling for $19,000. She was described as “experienced and capable in all aspects of sheep work’ she demonstrated strong yard and paddock skills. She was offered by vendor Ryan Lenehan from Penshurst.

Billy – Kelpie – $17,500

Billy sold at the 29th Australian Premier Working Dog Auction at Casterton. The sale was interfaced by AuctionsPlus and he was offered by vendor Jack Leonard from Casterton.

Mandalay Goose – Kelpie – $15,500

Goose sold at the Colin Say and Co 13th Annual Working Stock Dog Auction at Glencoe, NSW in 2024. He was offered by Jeremy and Annie Grills of Eaglehawk Angus, Kings Plains, NSW and secured by Laurence O’Kane of Ben Lomond.

Coopendale Charlie – Kelpie – $14,000

Charlie was sold in 2018 at the Jerilderie Working Dog Auction. He was sold by Shane Maurer of Milvale NSW and secured by Dwayne Evans of Wilcannia Station.