Find the Right Breed of Dog for You
Dive into over 300 breed in our all inclusive online resource
Australian Kelpie
Small Breed
The Australian Kelpie is the quintessential worker, the most popular and successful working dog which will carry on going until it drops, enjoying the work it is given to do and ready to respond to any command in an instant.
Breed standards
Country of origin
Australia
Weight
11-20 kgs/25-45 lbs (standards may vary)
Height
Males 46-51 cm/18-20 inches;
Females 43-48 cm/17-19 inches (Standards may vary)
Coat
Double coat, top coat is flat, hard, straight and close, with a short dense undercoat
Markings
Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate, and smoke blue. No markings.
Lifespan
Average 10-14 years
He is an attractive dog which will love his owner unconditionally and can be trained easily. He is not only a talented herder but can also perform well as a seeing-eye dog and watchdog.
Temperament
The Australian Kelpie has a hard working attitude and it genuinely loves to work. They are devoted to their masters, showing them loyalty and love whenever they are around them. They are highly intelligent and can be easy to train, making them fantastic pets as well as working dogs. They require regular and sufficient daily exercise to keep them happy. Early socialisation and training is required.
-
PoorChildrenGood
-
VeryCombativenessNot very
-
VeryDominanceNot very
-
Not veryFriendlinessGood
-
Not veryIndependenceVery
-
LoudNoiseQuiet
-
Not veryTrainabilityVery
Good to know
The Australian Kelpie is a hard working, loyal dog, sure to be loved by those who own it. Extremely alert with abundant energy, this breed has an intense loyalty and devotion to work.
- Makes a good companion
- A very good working dog
- Performs well as a watchdog
- Highly intelligent and versatile
- Does not require trimming or stripping and needs very little grooming
- Not recommended for apartment lifestyles
- Not a dog recommended for novice owners
- Requires sufficient daily physical activity and mental stimulation
- Best with acreage
- Can be prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy