Winnie & April

I wasn’t expecting that 🤯🥹 Just a few days out from the Dock Diving comp in Toowoomba, we were encouraged us to sign on to try Extreme Vertical. For those that don’t know, EV is where the dog jumps from the end of the dock and grab or knock a bumper that’s suspended over the pool. The dog gets to make two attempts at each increase in height but if they miss both, they are knocked out. We had one opportunity to practice before the round! After lots of encouragement, Winnie made one proper jump attempt into the water, but missed the bumper. There was talk of scratching her from the wave 😂 but we decided to give it a red hot crack, fully expecting Winnie not to jump and time out, or to jump and miss. But Winnie shocked us all, successfully grabbing the bumper and making it through not one, not two, not THREE, but FOUR rounds successfully 🥹 resulting in an end score of 5’02”! Winning her second place in the Cadet division, and getting herself a cheeky ribbon for something we weren’t even going to try 🥈 I am so proud of Winnie for the whole weekend 😭 she not only exceeded my expectations, but watching her have the time of her life flinging herself into the water made my heart burst 💗 How do you think Winnie went? Would you ever try Dock Diving with your dog? 🐶 #extremevertical #extremeverticaldockdogs #dockdogs #dockdogsau #dockdiving #dockdivingaustralia #redheeler

Light work 😮‍💨 Winnie’s appetite for running is simply insatiable 😍 this was the perfect way to end her 5th birthday! #australiancattledog #heeler #redheeler #cattledog #redcattledog #fastdog #dogrunning #dogsoftiktok

She truly is something out of the ordinary 🥹⭐️ #dogrunning #australiancattledog #highenergydog #dogs #dogstory #dogbestmoments #doggiesoftiktok

Which one’s your favourite? 😂 Personally I love the kangaroo, but the worm is pretty up there too! 🤪 Did we miss anything from her DNA results? 🤣 #australiancattledog #dogdnatest #dogdnaresults #dogsoftiktok #doglovers

Watch my heeler improve her dock diving skills 😍 Next weekend we’re headed to our second ever dog docking competition! Winnie tends to dive VERY downwards when she jumps, which means she doesn’t get as much distance as she could. So we thought we’d try building more height into her jumps with this little set up & I was AMAZED at how well she took to it! She was absolutely FEARLESS 💪 The key was definitely using our very own @apawlopets Active Ring, a super high value toy to maximise her drive - honestly anything is possible for Winnie if I pull out these rings 😍 If you wanted to give these floating rings a go, there’s currently an AfterPay Day sale on where you can save 25% on Active Rings (and on all other APAWLO Pets products!). Don’t miss out, head to the link in our bio! Sale ends in tonight at 11:59pm AEST 🩵 #dockdiving #dockdogs #dockdogsaustralia #australiancattledog #redheeler

Tink 🕊️ I never would have never imagined I’d be writing this today. This morning, I shared on our Instagram stories that we woke up to find our sweet girl Tink with an abnormally high respiratory rate. When we got to the vet, they found her temperature was dangerously high. Despite their best efforts to bring it down, she wasn’t responding. Her bloodwork came back normal, but her body wouldn’t stabilise. Her heart stopped beating on the table, and there was nothing more they could do. The vets have no clear answers, which makes this even harder to process. There were no signs of a clear infection or poisoning, and she was in perfect health the day before. The sudden onset and how quickly it progressed have us wondering if it was something hidden — a genetic condition that remained silent until now. But we’ll likely never know. Tink was our best working dog on the farm and the kindest soul you could ever meet. I’m so grateful I got to spend these last few days with her. It’s hard to believe she’s really gone. Her last full day was spent doing everything she loved — working cattle with her team, swimming, running, and living life to the fullest. We laid her to rest this morning next to Kip, who was also taken from us far too soon, also our best working dog at the time — almost a year ago to the day. All we ever want is for our dogs to grow old. Even though Tink’s time was cut short, I know she had a full and beautiful life in this paradise she got to call home. She sure did fit a lot into her three short years ❤️ Run free, sweet girl. You’ll always be with us 🤍🌈

What is it that makes Australian Kelpies one of the best herding breeds in the world? 💪 Australian Kelpies are built for endurance, intelligence, and versatility, making them the go-to herding breed for livestock work in Australia. They can cover massive distances in harsh conditions, working long hours without tiring, which is essential for managing livestock on Australia’s vast stations. Kelpies use an exaggerated stalking action known as “eye” and controlled movement to guide stock with minimal stress, making them ideal for low-stress stock handling—a method widely increasing preferred by farmers, not just from an animal welfare point of view, but from a profitability perspective. Reducing unnecessary stress in livestock prevents the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can negatively affect weight gain and overall profitability. Farmers increasingly prioritise dogs that can move stock smoothly without panicking or scattering them, and kelpies excel at this — guiding animals with precision rather than force. In saying this, they can be fast and forceful when needed, applying pressure through biting the nose, front foot, sometimes the back foot, or use their bark to push a stubborn animals. This adaptability means they excel in both paddock and yard work, on a wide variety of livestock, in all types of terrain. Their ability to work independently means they don’t require constant handler intervention, making them highly efficient and cost-effective for large-scale operations. Their intelligence, trainability, and natural instincts make them the dominant herding breed used in Australia. Whether working sheep, cattle, or even goats, kelpies consistently prove why they are the backbone of Australian livestock management. What are your thoughts? Which herding breed do you think is the best? 💬 #herdingdog #workingdog #dogherding #kelpie #australiankelpie

One brain cell, endless energy 😂 How would you describe what it’s like living with your dog? 🙈👇 #australiancattledog #redheeler #dogsoftiktok #heelersofinstagram #cattledog #heeler

Who can relate? 😶‍🌫️🙋‍♀️😅 Honestly, there was a point during my early uni days where life was one big bender 🫠🤮 Now, I couldn’t think of anything worse 😂 I much prefer my early morning adventures with Winnie, and if I DO go out, you can bet I’m sitting there counting down the minutes til I get to go home and see her again 😅 I can’t be the only one, right? 👀 #highenergydog #workingbreeddog #doglover #australiancattledog

Happy 5th birthday to the dog who changed my life forever. You’re my adventure buddy, my greatest teacher, and the best part of every single day. I couldn’t imagine life without you by my side ❤️ Thank you for your unconditional love these past 5 years and for always keeping life interesting with your little quirks 😂 Here’s to many more years of being by your side and never, EVER, slowing down 💪💨 Love you forever, my wild, fiery girl 🐾❤️‍🔥 P.S. I can’t decide which photo of these two photos is my favourite! Which one would you pick? 💕 #happybirthdaywinnie #5yearsofwinnie #bestgirl #girlsbestmate