Australian Kelpie
A tireless Australian sheepdog with a sharp mind, great heat tolerance and a strong need for real work.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 46–51 cm · Females 43–48 cm
- Weight
- Males 14–20 kg · Females 12–18 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Black, Black and tan, Red, Fawn, Chocolate, Blue
- Bred for
- Herding
- Country of origin
- Australia
- FCI
- Group 1, no. 293 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 5/5 – Very high |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 5/5 – Very high |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- are very active or do dog sports
- live in a warm climate
- enjoy daily training sessions
Think twice if you …
- live in a small flat
- work long hours away from home
- want a calm, low-energy dog
Care
Temperament
Eager, alert and highly responsive to its handler. It is usually friendly with people and gets on with other dogs. It has a strong working drive and finds it hard to switch off without enough activity.
Exercise
Needs well over an hour of vigorous exercise each day plus training. Herding, agility, flyball, canicross and long runs are ideal.
Grooming
The short double coat needs only a weekly brush, with extra attention during seasonal shedding.
Training
Very quick to learn and keen to please. Keep sessions varied and give it a clear job, or it will invent one.
Health
Kelpies are generally hardy; hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and cerebellar abiotrophy are the main known concerns. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow, eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Kelpie was developed in Australia in the late 19th century from working collie-type dogs brought from Scotland. Its name comes from an early, famous working female called Kelpie. It was bred to handle large flocks in heat and dust, often working far from the shepherd.
Kelpies are friendly, keen and almost endlessly energetic. They are easy to train and pick up routines quickly, but they need a real outlet every single day. In an active household with regular sport or work they are pleasant, affectionate companions; in a quiet home they can become restless and inventive.
Did you know?
Working Kelpies are known for 'backing': running across the backs of tightly packed sheep to reach the other side of the mob.