Australian kelpie dog

History of origin

Kelpies are descended from dogs that came to Australia with the Scottish settlers. The harsh climate of the new continent greatly influenced the first shepherd dogs, making them more hardy, unpretentious and smart. The ancestry of the Kelpie is mainly Collies, Old English Sheepdogs and possibly Dingoes. The breed got its name from its ancestor – a bitch named Kelpie, the very word refers to the mythology of the ancient inhabitants of Foggy Albion. According to their legends, kelpies are water spirits that take the form of black horses and carry careless travelers into the abyss of rivers and lakes.

These dogs have become invaluable helpers to farmers and it is they, and not American Aussies, that are actually Australian Shepherds.

Today, kelpies are the pride of their country, they are the undisputed favorites of many sports, such as agility, freestyle and others. In 2011, Australia even released a feature film dedicated to a real kelpie named Red Dog, who wandered the continent in the 70s of the last century.

In our camp, Australian Shepherds have also gained great popularity precisely as excellent shepherds.

Breed description

A dog of medium height (does not exceed 50 cm at the withers) of compact build – the length of the body exceeds the height at the withers 10 to 9. The ears are erect, sharp, the tips are slightly bent forward. Muzzle moderately long, bony, with tight lips, scissor bite. The tail is set low, usually carried down or carried in line with the back, but not higher. Eyes of medium size, look attentive, friendly, intelligent. Kelpie vision is unique in its kind: the viewing angle of these dogs is much higher than the standard, due to which they can simultaneously monitor almost the entire herd. The paws are strong, very flexible, the movements are swift, but at the same time smooth.

The coat is quite short, but has a thick undercoat that protects the dog from the scorching heat of the Australian desert.

Color black and tan, black, chocolate, red, brown and tan, fawn, blue.

Photos

Character

These incredibly smart dogs have done one thing with a person throughout their history – they grazed cattle, which is why they cannot be considered as servants who will bring you slippers and wait for the next order. Kelpies are friends, partners, colleagues. They act with their master on an equal footing, sometimes making the right decisions for him. And if Kepley called you his friend, rest assured that he will not betray you until the end of his days.

In work, these dogs are completely tireless and very responsible. Due to their energy, plasticity and small size, they deftly maneuver among hundreds of flocks, often running right on the backs of sheep.

Kelpies are very fond of movement and can walk many tens of kilometers with herds. But they are unlikely to be suitable as watchmen, because they are friendly to all people.

Care and maintenance

The Australian Shepherd Kelpie is one of the most easy-to-keep breeds. The only thing they really need is long active walks. Without exercise, these dogs become depressed and waste their energy destroying their own home. Otherwise, there are no worries with them, because they are not demanding on food, do not take up much space, and their hair is quite short, so there will be no shreds of long fluff in the apartment. Kelpies can tolerate both extreme heat and cold, so keeping a private home is ideal for them, especially if they can run freely around the yard. By the way, the harsh climate of arid Australia awarded them with a unique quality – these dogs can do without water for a long time without harm to themselves. However, this should not be abused.

Education and training

Kelpies are incredibly smart creatures, so there are no problems with training. Moreover, they can be taught not only the usual teams, but also various circus tricks and even dances, it is not for nothing that they are recognized champions in freestyle dancing with dogs. But first you need to win the respect of a four-legged friend, for which you need to show yourself as a strong and balanced leader. In no case do not try to show violence, do not raise your voice to the dog – this will only show your weakness.

Training should begin from the first minutes the puppy appears in the house, and soon there will be a creature nearby that seems to understand your every word.

Health and disease

With excellent health and stamina, kelpies still have a number of hereditary diseases, such as joint dysplasia and a tendency to dislocation. Therefore, when purchasing a puppy, be sure to ask the breeders about what his parents and more distant ancestors were sick with.

Do not forget to treat the dog from parasites (both external and internal), as they spend a lot of time in nature. Also, annual vaccinations should not be neglected.

As mentioned above, Australian Shepherd Kelpies need great physical and mental stress, and if they are not there, neurosis, obesity and other diseases can develop in the Kelpie.

Word to the breeder

Olga Lyashenko, Belgorod region, breeder:

– The Australian Kelpie is a wonderful herding dog, unique in that it is able to cope with huge flocks of sheep on its own and almost without human intervention. Australian kelpies are used in grazing not only sheep, goats, but also successfully cope with grazing cattle, poultry (ducks and geese, even driving them out of the pond if necessary). Attentive, lively, active, very intelligent; with a soft accommodating character, almost inexhaustible energy, faithful and devoted.

Popular questions and answers

Questions about the content of the Australian kelpie, we asked to answer zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.