| The Kelpie is an Australian breed that was | | | | States as the Border Collie and has not been |
| developed, it is said, from mixes with the wild | | | | recognized by the A.K.C. Many fanciers of the |
| dingo and the Collie for the purpose of creating a | | | | Kelpie are pleased that it has not become an |
| breed that could herd sheep and be resilient | | | | overly popular breed because in the end they feel |
| enough to withstand the extremes of climate in | | | | that the standard is more "protected" from |
| Australia. A dog that works sheep needs to have | | | | irresponsible breeding and that the dog will remain |
| quick movement and great speed, but must be | | | | true to the purpose for which it was bred if it is |
| soft enough not to bite or terrorize the flock. It is | | | | less popular.The Kelpie is a highly devoted dog |
| also a dog that should respond to the commands | | | | with a strong sense of duty and has made its |
| of its human master with alacrity and yet needs | | | | mark in obedience, as well as tracking. It is a dog |
| to have the intelligence to work independently a | | | | that is easy to train and always ready to go. Like |
| good deal of the time. The Kelpie fits all of these | | | | most herding breeds, the desire to give chase is |
| necessary requirements plus it has the addition of | | | | instinctive and the Kelpie if it is kept as a pet |
| a marked devotion to its master and a strong | | | | needs to have a fenced in area and plenty of |
| desire to perform the work required of it.It has | | | | exercise. They are great companions to people as |
| been said that without the Kelpie, the livelihood of | | | | well as excellent herding dogs and settle into a life |
| Australia's sheep ranchers would be greatly | | | | in the home as a pet as happily as they settle |
| endangered, for a good Kelpie can do the job of | | | | into the life of a sheep herding dog.The colors of |
| six mounted men. They muster the sheep into | | | | the Kelpie can be red, red and black, black and |
| pens, they drive them out onto the range, they | | | | tan, chocolate, fawn, or smoke blue. The coat lies |
| are indispensable in rounding up the strays and | | | | flat to the body and is short with weather |
| finding the lost or weakened sheep before | | | | resistant harsh outer guard hairs and short dense |
| predators can arrive on the scene. The job that | | | | undercoat for insulation. The chest is deep and |
| they do is instinctive in nature and they take | | | | legs are straight without a steep angulation to the |
| easily to training and can compete with the best | | | | shoulders. The body is of moderate length and |
| of the herding breeds at sheepdog trials. However | | | | build, this is a dog that must be capable of speedy |
| the breed is not as well known in the United | | | | dashes and quick turns. |