Working kelpie
Kelpies are dogs originally bred in Australia, used there to manage herds of sheep and cattle. Over time, they split into two branches: the australian kelpie (the “show” type) and the working kelpie. If you don’t have your own sheep or cows but you’re drawn to kelpies, take a closer look at the australian kelpie. Maybe because they’re not exactly glamorous-looking 😉 they’ve remained active, agile dogs – perfectly suited for all kinds of sports and physical activities.
Working kelpies have mostly remained true working dogs on farms, and they’re rarely sold to people who don’t own sheep. Or cows. And that’s a good thing – let’s keep it that way. If you’re thinking about getting one, think three times. And then three more. Keep in mind: a dog that can move a herd of cows – each weighing 20 or 40 times more than he does – will have no trouble moving you. He’ll pin your kids to the wall. He’ll corner your cat. Keep in mind: a dog who sprints a kilometer to reach 200 sheep, then guides them several kilometers from one pasture to another, won’t be satisfied with a leash walk around the block. Actually, he won’t be satisfied with a leash walk at all. A dog who understands what the farmer expects and can figure out how to get it done on his own won’t be happy lounging on your couch — unless his brain gets a proper workout. This is a dog made for work and in love with work. He’s happiest when he gets to do the job he was born to do.
As a herding dog gifted with exceptional talent and sharp observation skills, a Kelpie may struggle with city life, where there’s just so much movement. Movement he’ll notice — and try to stop. Yes, if your Kelpie has what’s called “the eye,” expect him to try herding cars. To try stopping those running children. To want to halt cyclists and joggers. The sheer number of stimuli in the city might completely overwhelm him.
A working kelpie is intelligent and eager to cooperate – but he’s not a servant. He has his own opinions and his own ideas about how to get things done. If the task involves herding, he probably knows better than the human how to do it 😉 They’re dogs with a sense of humor – and sometimes totally goofy. They won’t believe that the speed of their sit will determine the fate of nations 😉 They also have no concept of “personal space.” They jump, climb on people, and cuddle with their whole bodies. And yes – they have hands. All my Kelpies tried to catch toys and treats with their front paws before they figured out that mouths work better for that 😉
On farms, working kelpies are used for a variety of tasks – and because of that, they can show very different working styles. Some working kelpies resemble border collies in their approach: they work at a distance from the handler, perform beautiful outruns, approach sheep with a lowered posture, and use their eye. But there are also those who bark, move sheep through close physical presence rather than visual pressure, and – if needed – will run across the backs of the flock.
Can you find a working kelpie who’ll do well as a family dog, handle city life without trouble, and be a cheerful companion for sport? Yes, you can. But I’d treat that more as an exception than the rule. And I wouldn’t look for such dogs among those whose parents are actively working on farms.
On a formal note, working kelpies are generally bred under the WKC (Working Kelpie Council of Australia) and are not registered with the FCI. There are some exceptions (like Tammi, for example), but the vast majority are dogs with WKC pedigrees – which are not recognized by organizations affiliated with the FCI.
When it comes to appearance, working kelpies are medium-sized, well-balanced, athletic dogs with short coats and usually upright ears. Most commonly, they’re black and tan (like Tammi) or chocolate/red and tan (like Raca), but they can also be solid-colored – black, chocolate, or red. Cream-colored ones exist too, like Lina. The basic coat colors can also be diluted, so you’ll find blue (with or without tan markings) and fawn/lilac (also with or without tan).
But a good working dog doesn’t come in a color 😉 And it doesn’t need to match any beauty standard — so don’t expect a uniform look among these dogs.