intelligent, courageous and extremely alert. Constantly aware of what’s going on around them, they are quiet companions yet brave and very protective when necessary. They are not guard dogs, but they are usually suspicious of strangers, remaining alert to activities around them and constantly watching their owners for signs of approval toward newcomers. Absent those signs of approval, the dog will defend his master and family with his life.
Although working ability is valued over beauty points in this breed, the Kelpie does have a range of striking colors, including solid black and all shades of red.
On the job, he is always eager to work and anxious to please. While he is an independent thinker, he does develop a good working relationship with a master who has established himself as the boss. Kelpies are much sought after by sheep farmers because they are noted for not pulling out wool or biting the sheep when working the flock. Pulling and biting are extremely undesirable traits in herding dogs and can prove costly to the farmer and painful to the sheep.
Some Kelpies are used for droving yearling cattle. In the US and Australia, they are known to ride atop the fuel tanks of their masters’ motorcycles as they round up the herds and drive them to new pastures. Once at the new grazing sites, the Kelpies jump off the bikes and race around behind the cattle to move them as one unit through gates and fencing into the pastures.
When used as sheep herders, some Kelpies will jump up onto the backs of the sheep to move them along. This behavior seems innate in some Kelpies while totally absent in others; it is not a behavior that can be taught. A dog either rides the backs of sheep or he doesn’t. Either way, he moves the herd efficiently and with seemingly little effort.
While we are on the subject of herding, let us mention again that the Kelpie is a herding breed. In a pet home, this can translate to the Kelpie’s viewing everyone and everything as part of his flock. Some Kelpies nip while herding, and this behavior appears in the pet home, too. The dog can be trained not to nip, but he can’t be trained not to herd! Pet owners must put their dogs’ safety foremost, realizing that a Kelpie will be off and running after anything that he thinks needs “rounding up,” which can be dangerous. Intense herding instincts are bred into this dog, which is why the Kelpie is such a wonderful working dog but is typically a less-than-ideal pet.
The active and independent-minded Kelpie likewise is affectionate and enjoys attention from the owners to which he is so loyal.
STOCKDOG CLUBS
In addition to Working Kelpies, Inc., there are specialty stockdog clubs throughout the US, such as the Red River Cattle Dog Association and the Western Cowdog Association. These associations are open to all breeds used to work livestock, and they promote the development of the dogs’ natural abilities through competitions, trials, educational activities and training programs. The WKI’s website (www.kelpiesinc.com) is a wonderful source of information on the breed and links to other clubs, organizations and points of interest for those dedicated to the working stockdog.
Being a highly intelligent and independent breed, the Kelpie is able to think on his own. For this reason, the breed is not highly successful in sports like obedience, freestyle, etc., which require repetition. The Kelpie seems to wonder why he has to do the same thing over and over again. His independence means that he will travel far to retrieve a stray cow or sheep, not tiring or giving up until the job is done. While this is a great benefit to the farmer, it is not a desirable quality in a pet dog.
While the Kelpie obviously is on his own when working, he should not just be “left loose” at other times. Usually Kelpies are kept in secure kennel runs or fenced areas when not working or inside the home with the family.
There are many books written by farmers and drovers about their working dogs. Many of the stories in these books are about the unique devotion, endurance and courage of Kelpies who have made a difference in the lives of the writers.
Take Jip, for example. A solid black Kelpie, Jip often moved a flock of sheep all by himself from one farm property to another while the farmer did other chores. The distance between the two properties was a little more than 4 miles. Once Jip got the flock moving, the farmer would call ahead to his other farm and arrange to have someone open the paddock gate for Jip. Once the dog moved the sheep into the paddock, he’d wait by the gate until the farmer came to pick him up. Jip also proved himself indispensable as a helper around the farm. He would frequently carry the farmer’s lunch in a basket out to him as he worked in the field.
A large, dark mahogany Kelpie, Drummer was his master’s constant companion. He loved to ride in the farmer’s truck each day as they moved about the property. Once, when the farmer had to go away on business for two weeks, he left Drummer on the farm to guard the family and property. When the farmer returned, he stopped overnight at another one of his family’s homes about 2 miles from the farm where Drummer was on watch. The next morning when he went out to his truck, Drummer was in the back of it, waiting to go to work with his boss. No one ever learned how the dog had known his master was back in town. Yet the dog had walked the miles from the farm to the town home and found his master’s truck to take up his vigil.
HEART-HEALTHY
In this modern age of ever-improving cardio-care, no doctor or scientist can dispute the advantages of owning a dog to lower a person’s risk of heart disease. Studies have proven that petting a dog, walking a dog and grooming a dog all show positive results toward lowering your blood pressure. The simple routine of exercising your dog—going outside with the dog and walking, jogging or playing catch—is heart-healthy in and of itself. If you are normally less active than your physician thinks you should be, adopting a dog may be a smart option to improve your own quality of life as well as that of another creature.
While the Kelpie is typically bored with the repetition of obedience training, he must learn the basic commands for his safety and good behavior.
These stories are just samples of Kelpie behavior that demonstrates their loyalty, intelligence and eagerness to please their owners. These stories and hundreds like them give solid testimony to the fact that Kelpies do not like to be separated from their masters. Consequently, they are not ideal pets for people who must leave their dogs at home for long hours each day while they go off to work. The Kelpie’s devotion to master and family, combined with the breed’s desire to work, makes him a poor candidate for suburban backyard pethood. However, Kelpies’ mild dispositions and tractable intelligence, along with their inexhaustible energy, make them ideal dogs to work livestock and do chores around the farm.
Though breeders of working Kelpies prefer that their dogs be used for work, Kelpies have the potential to be successful in a number of dog sports. Of course the breed excels in herding events; breed clubs and multi-breed stockdog clubs offer these as ways to test and develop the Kelpie’s innate skills. The sport of agility is another arena that offers exciting activity to Kelpies. Due to their athleticism, they quickly learn to master the art of jumping, climbing and making quick, sharp turns as they move from one obstacle to another. Running through long tunnellike mazes is barely a challenge to these quick and agile dogs, and maneuvering across a seesaw becomes child’s play once they learn how to do it.
BOREDOM SPELLS TROUBLE
