without sufficient work to do can become so frustrated and bored that they begin to exhibit extremely undesirable behavior, such as chewing furniture, woodwork, clothing, etc. A bored Kelpie will bark incessantly for no apparent reason (actually, frustration is the reason) and will sometimes void in inappropriate places, such as in the house, on the porch, around the pool or on the owner’s bed. Before long, the dog is so out of control that the owner decides he can’t cope with the problem behavior anymore. He will then turn the dog over to an animal shelter. If the dog is lucky, he’ll be rescued by someone who cares about the breed and is willing to put the Kelpie to work and help the dog develop a new and better lifestyle. If the dog is not lucky, he faces euthanasia. Therein lies the tragedy of the neglected pet dog or the mismatch between owner and breed.
Tracking, backpacking and scent-hurdle races are also attractive sports for Kelpies. In short, they adapt well to activities that offer fun, active participation and challenges to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Heat, humidity, dry and dusty plains, flat deserts, rolling hills, mountainous terrain—the Kelpie adjusts to all types of climate and landscape. As long as he’s with his master and keeping busy, he’s happy.
The Kelpie’s characteristics are fascinating elements of this unique breed of dog. Provided that the Kelpie owner recognizes and accepts the breed’s natural traits and genetic tendencies, and especially if the owner puts his Kelpie to work, man and dog can enjoy many years of companionship and rewarding experiences together.
With typical herding body language, this Kelpie rounds up a wayward toy.
A breed standard is a detailed word picture of what an ideal dog of that particular breed should look like. Usually a standard comes into existence when breeders and fanciers get together and form a breed club. That organization then proceeds to spell out the details of the desirable physical conformation, temperament and other important points of their breed. Eventually, the breed club applies to the national kennel club of their country for breed recognition and approval of the breed standard.
While proponents of the Australian Kelpie do not stress strict adherence to the standard (as long as the dog’s working ability is exemplified), dogs that are shown in conformation should measure up to the written ideal.
The breed standard for the Kelpie presents an interesting situation, as working Kelpies and show-type Kelpies have diverged much in type. The show-type Kelpies are seen in conformation shows whereas the working Kelpies are not; rather, the working-type dogs are judged according to their performance in trials that evaluate their ability with livestock. Adherence to physical ideals is a secondary concern among breeders of the working-type Kelpie, with working ability and preservation of the breed’s natural skills the foremost concern. Many working-type breeders feel that breeding with an eye to physical conformation is only to the detriment of the breed, believing that things like ears that don’t stand erect or an unrecognized coat color have no bearing on a dog’s capability as a stockdog. When physical traits are the main focus, desirable skills and temperament traits can be lost.
Coat color does not affect a dog’s working ability, and the Kelpie standard allows for a range of striking colors and combinations.
A standard for working-type Kelpies does exist in order to preserve general type in the breed and promote the physical characteristics necessary for the dog to do his intended work. However, it is stressed that the written description is a guideline only and that working ability must never be sacrificed in favor of beauty points. The following description is excerpted from that of the breed’s homeland and used by the Working Kelpie Council of Australia. The full description, complete with further commentary on how these characteristics contribute to the dog’s function and an explanation of undesirable traits, can be found at www.wkc.org.au. Readers interested in examining the differences in the two types of Kelpie should research the Fédération Cynologique Internationale’s standard at www.fci.be, which is used by the Australian National Kennel Council (the country’s main show-dog organization).
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING KELPIE
Characteristics: Extremely alert, eager and highly intelligent, with an open, friendly, active but placid disposition. Good balance between keenness to work and ability to relax. Almost inexhaustible energy; a marked loyalty and devotion to “work” and a strongly inherited natural instinct and aptitude in the working of sheep (and other livestock), both in open country and in the yards.
General Appearance: A medium sized, lithe, active, strongly muscled dog, possessing great suppleness of limb and conveying the capability of untiring work.
Black and tan dog of pleasing balance, substance and structure in profile.
Movement: Gait should be free, smooth and effortless, with a good length of stride, showing a tendency for foot placement to move towards “single tracking” just before breaking into a trot and becoming more pronounced as speed increases. Ability to turn suddenly at speed, capable of the crouching stealthy movement demanded by its work. When walking slowly (and when standing still), the legs seen from front or rear should be four square.
Prick ears and a wedge shape contribute to the typical look of the Kelpie’s head.
Head: Slightly rounded skull, broad between well-pricked ears, forehead curved very slightly towards a pronounced stop. Cheeks neither coarse nor prominent but rounded to the foreface, cleanly chiseled and defined. Muzzle of moderate length, tapered toward the nose and refined in comparison to the skull. Lips tight and clean.
Teeth: Sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper.
Eyes: Overall placement in the skull should provide the widest possible field of vision without the need of head movement. Slightly oval shaped, of medium size and widely spaced, clearly defined at the corners and showing a kind, intelligent and eager expression.
Ears: Widely spaced, pricked and running to a fine point at the tip, the leather fine but strong at the base, inclining outwards and slightly curved on the outer edge. Of moderate size. The inside of the ears well furnished with hair to discourage entry of foreign bodies.
Neck: Of fair length, strong, slightly arched and showing quality, gradually molding into the shoulders.
Forequarters: Clean, muscular, with sloping shoulders close-set at the withers; elbows set parallel with the body.
Shoulders: Clean, muscular, with a long sloping shoulder blade (scapula) set at approximately a 45° angle to the ground. Close-set withers, upper arm (humerus) forming a near 90° angle with the blade (scapula) and appropriately angulated to the forearm (radius and ulna)
