Working Dogs

FALKLAND ISLANDS WORKING DOGS

In the Falkland Islands, working dogs are used for a variety of roles. For local farmers, dogs are of valuable assistance in managing large numbers of sheep over vast areas of land. Other working dogs are used to protect the local wildlife - particularly ground nesting birds - from invasive species. Dogs are also a crucial part of military and police operations within the Islands, such as patrols, tracking and drug detection.

35p Shiba Inu

Sammy is a 7-year-old Shiba Inu trained to detect rats and mice. He originally came from America in 2018 and his first job was working to protect the island of South Georgia after eradication there. He checks cargo and boats that go to the island to ensure they are clear of rodents before they can travel south. He also works around the Falklands checking the Inter Island ferry and cargo that goes to rodent free islands, making sure rodents aren’t accidentally introduced. He checks our valuable tussac islands such as Kidney every year to protect the birds and biodiversity that live there.

50p Kelpie

The Kelpie originates from Australia and is a superb working dog that possesses remarkable intelligence, an unwavering work ethic, boundless energy, and impressive agility. The Kelpie is capable of lightning-fast movements, allowing it to swiftly manoeuvre and control livestock with great precision. Its natural instinct for herding, together with its problem-solving abilities and independent thinking, make it an invaluable asset to farmers. Kelpies are a relatively new addition to the Falkland Islands. They didn't appear until the mid 1990s, when the first two dogs were brought in from the UK by John Morrison. These two dogs, a red female and a black and tan male, can in fact be traced back to the first Kelpie bloodlines from the late 1800s.

80p Border Collie

Border Collies, Bearded Collies and Welsh Collies have all been used as working dogs in the Falklands. Collies arrived much earlier than the Huntaways and Kelpies, with the Border Collie still being the most widely used working dog on farms across the Islands. They are often used to compete in dog trials. The Border Collie is an outstanding sheepdog, a true workaholic considered to be the most intelligent of all the dog breeds. They are exceptionally easy to train, very energetic, agile, focused, and always ready and alert to any commands they are given. Unlike other sheepdogs, the Border Collie doesn't rely on its bark to herd livestock, but instead uses body positions and anticipates the sheep's movements. They are known for their intense stare with which they control livestock, intimidating the sheep into moving in the desired direction, or preventing the sheep from moving.

£1.09 Huntaway

The first Huntaways were brought into the Falkland Islands in February 1974 by Tony & Lyn Blake. They arrived from New Zealand aboard the Lindblad Explorer. Since then, Huntaways have widely been used across the Islands for herding sheep. The Huntaway originates from New Zealand and is a loyal and rugged herding breed. Large and strongly-built, they were specifically bred to use their loud, deep bark to drive sheep. It is this ability to use their bark for herding that sets this breed apart from other working dogs. Their quick wits, athletic ability and stamina make them well suited to their job, and their good nature means they fit in well to the farming family.

£1.40 German Short-haired Pointer

Tyson, a 3-year-old German Short-Haired Pointer is a Drugs Detection dog in the Royal Air Force currently deployed at Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC) or a 6 month tour with his handler. His role is to passively search for controlled substances, and he is trained and licensed to search everywhere and anything. Royal Air Force Police assist that work alongside the Falkland Islands Police and Customs. Tyson is trained daily to keep his skills sharp, either with training searches or work on obedience and agility. In 2022 Tyson and his handler came 1st place in Drugs Detection and 1st place in the McConnell Cup for obedience and agility.

£1.55 German Shepherd

Beni is a two-year-old German Shepherd. He was recently certified as a licensed Police Dog and is now currently deployed with his handler at MPC in the Falklands. He is part of the vital security team that provides 24/7 security on base at MPC during his 6-month tour. He has gone through many multitudes of training such as tracking and man work, and can conduct area searches for people and evidence. He can chase and detain threats and assist in crowd control, all whilst providing assurance and safety to personnel at MPC.

About the Artist

Local artist Louise Clarke, originally from Northern Ireland, has been living in the Falkland Islands since 2013. She specialises in highly detailed and life-like coloured pencil drawings of animals. Her original drawings and personal commissions of wildlife and pets sell locally and internationally.

Technical details:

Artist Louise Clarke

Printer Cartor Security Printing

Process Lithography

Stamp Size 42 x 28mm

Perforation 13 ¼ x 13 ½ per 2cms

Sheet Layout 10

Release date 20 January, 2024

Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd