About Australian Kelpies

Years ago, my Dad had a farm at Murray Town and one also at Fullerville.

Dad owned a black kelpie dog, Jip, who at his command would take a mob of sheep to the Fullerville property completely unaided. The distance between farms was about four and a half miles. Dad would arrange for someone at Fullerville to open the gate. Jip would drive the sheep the distance, put them in the paddock and drive them to water. She would then wait at the open gate until Dad came and picked her up.

--from "On Her Own" by Mary Noll in Great Working Dog Stories, edited by Angela Good and Mike Hayes, ABC Enterprises, Crows Nest NSW, Australia, 1991.

Kelpies are:

Kelpies are NOT:

Kelpies can be:
  • Medium-sized short-haired dogs
  • Athletic and alert
  • Many colors
  • Very intelligent
  • Hard workers, high energy
  • Capable, independent working dogs that can manage all types of livestock
  • Intense, upbeat, kind, fun
  • Extremely active, needing HOURS of exercise each day
  • generally a healthy breed with excellent stamina
  • Great companions
  • Locked into a rigidly standard "type"
  • Lazy, laid-back, couch potatoes
  • Slavishly obedient
  • Low maintanence
  • Tolerant of being tied up, crated, or left out without supervision
  • Good guard dogs
  • One walk-a-day dogs
  • Free of genetic problems such as hip dysplasia (HD)or progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  • Ordinary pets, suitable for everyone
  • Long-legged or shorter legged, weigh 30 lbs or weigh 55 lbs, have prick ears or drop ears
  • Relaxed when necessary
  • Black, black and tan, red and tan, blue and tan, cream or buff
  • Biddable and obedient
  • Good companions given enough physical and mental exercise
  • Good with children and other dogs if properly socialized and trained
  • Great farm, ranch, herding, performance, and trial dogs
  • Screened for HD and PRA

Australian Kelpies in the USA and Canada

(Coming soon.)