With their blue eyes, glossy coats, trademark eyebrows and irresistible bounce, it's hard not to fall in love with an Australian kelpie puppy.
A decade since the Australian film Red Dog captured hearts across the nation and prompted a boom in kelpie ownership, the ABC's new television series Muster Dogs is tipped to do the same.
But can a kelpie be happy in a suburban backyard without a mob of sheep to round up? We asked the experts what questions you should ask yourself before you start searching the internet for local breeders.
Can I give my kelpie the exercise it needs?
The bottom line is, working dogs want to have a job to do.
Dog behaviourist Guy Hull said that meant spending quality time with your pup was critical, but a mob of sheep was not.
"All those things are a job for a dog."
Mr Hull said it was a misconception that working breeds required excessive exercise compared to your average pup.
"If you want your working dog to be happy every day, you take it for an hour's walk in the morning," he said.
"Hopefully you'll have a yard, [so] you throw its food around the backyard and let it forage for the food and then take a while to eat that food.
"They will then sleep and be happy dogs."
Gold Coast dog trainer Brittany Young specialised in training working dogs for life in an urban backyard and agreed adequate exercise was key.
"They don't function well in a home that we like to call the weekend warrior home," she said.
"If you're an active person all the time and not just on the weekends, then they do make great dogs."
What will my kelpie do all day while I'm working?
Mr Hull said working breeds do have a strong instinct to be doing something, but that didn't mean they needed to be constantly active.
"Keeping the mind active is far more important than keeping its body active," Mr Hull said.
Mr Hull said one option is to send your pup out bush for the day.
"There's places all around now where you can take your dog hobby herding and it's a great thing for them to do," he said.
Can I establish a bond with my dog?
Brittany Young said forming a bond with your kelpie was essential.
"You can establish a really strong connection, bond and relationship with them," she said.
"It's our job to make sure that we're helping them see things clearly and we're communicating clearly with them.
"They understand what their job is, what their role is, in any given time [and] place," she said.
Will a working dog fit with my lifestyle?
Not everyone's lifestyle will suit a working breed, and Mr Hull said that is something that must be carefully assessed.
"Do you have the room? Do you have the time?" he said.
"Even if you do have a big backyard, they still need to get out, they need to go for long walks and runs and have something to do so you need to keep that in mind."
Ms Young said it's about considering your lifestyle as well as the dog's wellbeing.
"If it means that it's going to put stress on you and your family's life, just because you like the idea of one of these dogs, and then that dog has to compromise a little bit of their life, it's probably not the right breed," she said.
But Mr Hull says for owners willing to put in the work, a working breed could be a perfect addition.
"You can definitely adapt your lifestyle to suit the breed," he said.
How will I make sure I get the right dog?
While farmers often consider an animal's bloodline when deciding on a potential purchase, suburban owners may be less inclined to look into breeding and reluctant to spend thousands of dollars.
But central Queensland kelpie breeder Julie Turner said potential owners should carefully consider their pup's background.
"If you're wanting a puppy, if you think you have the time and the space in your yard and you're able to take it for walks and stuff like that, find a reputable breeder," she said.
Ms Turner advised a few simple checks when choosing your forever friend.
"I would make sure the dog is microchipped, vaccinated and has its vet checks."
"Does the breeder have a registered breeder number to make sure they don't come from puppy farms … because there are a lot of puppy farms and people are getting tangled up in scams online."
The new ABC TV series Muster Dogs follows five graziers from across Australia who take on the challenge of training a kelpie puppy from the same litter.
Each grazier must pass incremental assessments across a 12-month period to compete for the title of champion muster dog.
Watch Muster Dogs, Sundays at 7.40pm on ABC TV and iview.
