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Use: The Australian Kelpie is an independent dog breed that is known to herd other animals when not out in the field herding with its master.
History: The Australian Kelpie dog breed has been known since the 1870s. Documentation shows the Australian Kelpie dog breed was developed in England from English North Country Collies of the Rutherford strain. The breed was imported to Australia during the later part of the 19th century. In Australia, they played a major role in the development of the sheep and wool industry. The dog was bred to withstand all climates and landscapes. The Australian Kelpie dog is bred almost exclusively for working environments in North America.
Conformation: Australian Kelpie dogs have a compact, muscular frame and well-developed legs. They have broad, deep chests and are slightly longer than they are tall. Their outercoats are hard, straight and weatherproof; while their undercoats are short and dense. The Australian Kelpie dog breed’s colors include black and tan, red and tan, blue and tan, fawn and tan, black, red, blue, fawn and cream. They can have minimal white markings, usually a spot, stripe or blaze on the chest. Males measure 20 to 23 inches in height at the shoulder and females measure 17 to 21 inches in height at the shoulder. The breed’s weight ranges between 35 to 45 pounds for males and 26 to 36 pounds for females.
Special Considerations/Notes: The Australian Kelpie dog breed is known to be dependable, friendly, intelligent and focused. Its life expectancy is about 10 to 14 years. They are easy to groom and require an occasional combing and brushing. Bathe them only when necessary, as the soap could remove their natural oils in their weather-resistant coat and dry out their skin.
