Frank Kelm

Frank Kelm has bred Koolies and from Koolie bloodlines dating back over eighty years. The famous Weed, bred by Frank, owned by Morrie Oxley

In 2005 the Koolie club of Australia was fortunate to have Frank Kelm graciously accept the position of Patron and add his personal thoughts on Koolies in our video interview for our historical records.

Here is his story.

Frank was a dairy farmer for 42 years.

As a child living in Japarit in Victorias North West, Frank first saw Koolie pups when his uncle gave one to his father which turned out to be not a bad little dog.

Over the years Frank was to get quite a lot of good Koolies from over Japarit way.

Frank got a male from Hopetoun which sired many a good litter.

Bowser sired the renowned Nelsons Bluey, a famous Koolie Australia wide.

All his Koolies were bred from the McGenniskens bloodlines, who are still actively breeding Koolies today.

Frank always bred for working Koolies with strong blue merle colours, one blue eye, pricked ears and a short coat.

It was Franks practice that if he had a dog that was giving you the results you were after you pretty much used him until he was a grandfather.

Frank also understood the need to occasionally introduce other bloodlines, “It’s no good sticking to one line all the time you have to branch out or white pups become a problem.”

No one ever questioned a dogs linage or background, their only interest was if the dog worked and if it did then they would breed on with it.

In his time of breeding Frank feels that the Koolies in the area have bred true to type and have not changed overly much since his first sighting as a child. Breeders in the area followed Franks lead and bred from good Koolie types and good working dogs only.

Franks Koolies are much in demand and sort after for every type of work situation, from trucks to stations, he has sent his pups all over Australia, - to Tasmania and across to new Zealand.

Franks Red male sired his only full blue Merle litter.