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Australian Kelpie

Jalinda Diese

Drovers say a good Australian Kelpie is worth two men on horseback. It is the workaholic of the canine family and an estimated 80,000 are employed on farms In Australia.

Origin

In the 1800s thousands of immigrants and their working dogs travelled to Australia from Europe to take part in the wool boom. It was survival of the fittest and the Kelpie was one of those few survivors the foundation stock arrived in the 1870s. A NSW grazier imported two 'Rutherford fox collies' and a Victorian shipped over two Collies (collie was the Scottish term for sheepdog), through selective breeding, farmers produced an ideal working dog, many claiming "a dash of Dingo" was best for the breed.

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General Appearance

Farmers bred the Kelpie for its working talents but have also produced an attractive breed with a winning smile. It is a lithe, active dog, with hard muscular conditioning. It has great suppleness of limb, conveying its capability for untiring work, but should never appear weedy. The shape and contours of the head produce a rather fox-like expression, softened by the almond shaped eyes. At all times, the Kelpie looks intelligent, eager and alert. Kelpie ears are pricked, the neck is of moderate length, the shoulders are clean and muscular with a deep chest. These dogs must be able to work all day, so their gait is perfectly sound - free, tireless with an ability to turn suddenly at speed. Kelpies have a double coat - a short, dense undercoat and a flat, hard, weather resistant top coat. It is longest under the body, behind the legs and around the neck. Colouring ranges from black, black/tan and red to red/tan, fawn, chocolate and smoke blue.

Size

Kelpies are 50cm tall. Weight is not specified but is about 14kg.

Temperment

Kelpies are intelligent, good natured and alert. Their energy is inexhaustible and they have a natural aptitude for herding sheep. A one man dog, the Kelpie shows marked loyalty and will work for his master under any circumstances. One bush yarn is about Coil, a Kelpie that broke its leg before entering a sheepdog trial. The dog took part anyway and recorded a perfect score of 100 with "an injured leg swinging to and fro".

A courageous breed, they are equally as willing to take on a one tonne bull as they are a sheep flock. Despite its loyalty, the Kelpie is an independent thinker and graziers claim their dogs know what has to be done to the flock just as much as they do.

Care and Grooming

Kelpies are easy to care for, with a water-proof coat and great heat tolerance. They do not suit indoor living and even with a backyard need plenty of exercise each day.