Australian Kelpie

Herding Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Australian Kelpie originated around 1870 and played a major role in the development of the sheep and wool industry in Australia. Descended from the British and Scottish "working Collies" (an origin shared with the Border and Scotch Collies and the English Shepherd), the Kelpie was developed to handle the harsh, hot landscape, extensive acreage and unruly Merino sheep on Australian stations.

The Kelpie is a gathering style dog, using eye, bark and bite (grip) to move stock, as conditions warrant. In the Australian bush, Kelpies often worked unsupervised, relying on their own wits to find and gather livestock. Kelpies are keen and active dogs, always ready to work.

The foundation of the Australian Kelpie breed came from the Scottish Rutherford, or North Country strain, of working collies. This included smooth-haired, prick or semi-prick eared dogs, which were black and tan in color. The foundation female was born from an imported pair owned by a Mr. George Robertson of Victoria, Australia. This female came into the possession of J.D. Gleeson, who named her "Kelpie." Mr. Gleeson's friend, Mark Tully, had an outstanding black dog named "Moss", bred from imported Rutherford stock. Kelpie was mated to Moss and produced an extremely good line of working sheepdogs.

Two other imported black and tan dogs named Brutus and Jenny were also mated, and their pup, Caesar, was later mated back to Kelpie. From this litter came a black and tan female, also named Kelpie, who went to Mr. C.W. King and later made the Kelpie name a household word by winning the Forbes Sheepdog Trial. Stockmen everywhere wanted a "Kelpie" pup. By the 1890's the "Kelpie” as a strain was well established.

The Australian Kelpie is primarily imported and bred by ranchers and farmers for use as a working stock dog. Australian Kelpies in the United States are used on all types of livestock, on large and small operations. They are also entered in various herding trials, as well as participating in Obedience and Agility.

General Appearance

The general appearance shall be that of a lithe, active dog showing hard, muscular condition, and conveying the capability of untiring work. It must give the impression of suppleness, and be free from any suggestion of weediness.

Characteristics

The Kelpie is extremely alert, eager and highly intelligent, with a mild, tractable disposition, marked loyalty and devotion to duty. It has a natural instinct and aptitude in the working of livestock, both in a confined area and in open country. An open, friendly, alert but placid disposition is essential, with a good balance between keenness to work and ability to rest.

Head

The head is in proportion to the size of the dog.

SKULL

The skull is slightly rounded and broad between the ears. The forehead remains straight in profile to a pronounced stop. The cheeks are not coarse or prominent, but round to the foreface.

MUZZLE

The muzzle is cleanly chiseled and defined. It is slightly shorter than the skull, with tight, clean lips.

NOSE

The color of the nose harmonizes with the color of the coat.

TEETH

The teeth should be a full complement of strong, white, evenly spaced teeth meeting in a scissors bite. Dogs displaying broken or extracted teeth due to herding injuries should not be penalized.

Undershot or overshot bites are serious faults.

EYES

The eyes should be almond shaped, of medium size and widely spaced; clearly defined at the corners. The color of the eye should be brown, harmonizing with the color of the coat. In the case of blue (gray) dogs, a lighter-colored eye is acceptable. Expression should be intelligent and eager and is somewhat fox-like.

EARS

The ears should be widely-spaced, pricked, and running to a fine point at the tip; inclining outward and slightly curved on the outer edge and of moderate size. The ear leather is fine, but strong at the base.

Neck

The neck should be of moderate length, strong and slightly arched, gradually molding into the shoulders. It is free from throatiness, and has a fair amount of ruff.

Forequarters

The shoulders should be clean, muscular and well sloping, with close-set withers, the upper arm forming a right angle with the shoulder blade. The elbows set parallel to the body.

FORELEGS

Straight and parallel when viewed from the front, with strong but refined bone and good musculature. The pasterns should slope slightly for flexibility.

Body

The length of the dog from the point of the breastbone, in a straight line to the buttocks, should be greater than the height at the withers, as 10 is to 9. The chest is deep rather than wide and the ribs are well-sprung. The topline is firm and level. The loin is well-muscled, with good depth at the flank.

Hindquarters

These should show breadth and strength. The rump should be rather long and sloping, the upper thigh set into the hip socket at the pelvis at a corresponding angle to the shoulder blade.

HINDLEGS

The stifles should be well turned, and the hocks fairly well let down. Viewed from behind, the rear pasterns should be parallel.

Feet

Round and strong, with deep pads, and tight, well-arched toes. Nails are strong and short.

Tail

Set on to follow the natural line of the sloping croup, the tail should be long enough to reach nearly to the hock. At rest, it hangs in a very slight curve. During movement or excitement it may be raised, but it should never be carrier higher than horizontally. It should be furnished with a good brush.

Coat

The outer coat should be moderately short, flat, hard, straight and weather resisting, with dense undercoat. On the head, ears, feet and front of the legs, the hair should be short. The coat can be longer at the neck, showing a ruff; and at the rear of the thighs, forming mild breeching; the hair on the tail sufficient to form a brush.

Color

Black with or without tan markings; blue (gray) ranging from dark to light, with or without tan markings; red ranging from chocolate to light red, with or without tan markings; tan ranging from dark to cream.

Minimal white markings such as a spot, strip, or at most, a blaze on the chest are acceptable. White stockings are a serious fault.

Height

Approximately 18-20 inches at the withers for males, approximately 17-19 inches at the withers for females.

Gait

It is essential that the Kelpie be perfectly sound, both in construction and movement. The gait should be smooth, free and tireless with the tendency to single track becoming more pronounced as speed increases. There must be ability to turn suddenly at speed, and the capability of crouching, stealthy movement demanded by its work. Any tendency to cow hocks, bow hocks, stiltedness, loose shoulders, restricted movement, weaving or plaiting is a serious fault.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.