Working Kelpie
- Medium
- Foundation Stock Service
The Working Kelpie is a lithe, muscular Australian herder bred for stock work. Alert, intelligent, and eager, it stands 19 to 25 inches, weighs 28 to 60 pounds, and needs purposeful work, exercise, and company.
- Height
- 19 to 25
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 28 to 60
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 15
- years, median 13.5
- Senior from
- 10.1
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Alert, intelligent, eager
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Origin
- Australia
The Working Kelpie is a medium-sized, lithe, strongly muscled dog built for untiring work. It stands about 19 to 25 inches tall and weighs roughly 28 to 60 pounds, with a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Developed in Australia, Working Kelpies have managed reindeer, goats, cattle, and sheep. In Sweden, they have earned police-dog titles and pulled sleds. They also work in search and rescue.
Working Kelpies are alert, intelligent, eager, and gentle. They bond closely with the people they work and live with and can live as family dogs.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family5 out of 5
- Good with young children5 out of 5
- Good with other dogs3 out of 5
- Openness to strangers5 out of 5
- Playfulness5 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature4 out of 5
- Adaptability4 out of 5
- Trainability5 out of 5
- Energy level5 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs5 out of 5
- Barking level3 out of 5
- Shedding3 out of 5
- Grooming frequency1 out of 5
- Drooling2 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
A Working Kelpie should receive complete and balanced food suited to its life stage. Treat the amount on the package as an approximate guide, then monitor weight and body condition before adjusting the portion. Livestock-working dogs with higher work rates need more food, but that guidance applies to working dogs rather than every pet Kelpie. Hard work should not immediately follow a large meal.
Keep unsafe human foods out of reach. Keep fresh water available at all times. Ask a veterinarian for help if the dog's weight, condition, or feeding needs are uncertain.
Grooming
The Working Kelpie has a smooth coat with little undercoat. An occasional pass with a hound mitt removes dried dirt, and baths keep the coat clean when needed.
The strong, fast-growing nails need trimming with a clipper or grinder before they overgrow, split, or crack. Check the ears regularly for wax and debris that can lead to infection, and brush the teeth as needed.
Exercise
Working Kelpies are very energetic and need a lot of exercise. A bred-to-work dog left without an outlet will find an occupation on its own, which can mean chasing cars and trying to herd them the way it would control sheep.
Good options include play in a fenced backyard or walks several times a day, plus outdoor activities like hiking and retrieving balls or flying discs. On low-key days, exercise can come indoors through hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks.
Training for dog sports such as agility, obedience, and rally gives the breed both a physical outlet and the mental work it needs to stay content.
Training
Start training at home or in reputable classes from about 16 weeks of age to teach basic commands. Keep sessions short and regular, let the dog's reactions and condition set the pace, and avoid overworking the animal. If a behavioral problem appears, seek good advice early from a reputable livestock working dog handler or trainer, a veterinarian, or a dog behaviorist.
Working Kelpies generally live well with children and other family pets.
Health conditions
1 condition is documented for the Working Kelpie.
A predisposition is not a diagnosis. Ask your vet which screenings make sense for your dog's age.
- Cerebellar AbiotrophyNervous System & Behavioral
Sources
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