The Australian Kelpie is one of the most versatile, functional and adaptable dogs available today. This working dog is tenacious, has a conviction to work and is very loyal to master and family. The Kelpie adapts well to all circumstances and is still able to fulfill the requirements it was originally intended to perform.
The Kelpie was bred to herd sheep, often over great distances, in the harsh environment of Australia. They are intelligent and active, this can make them a handful as youngsters but with a little work and effort at nurturing that intelligence, the rewards will be immense. A Kelpie left with nothing to do will be unhappy and may create its own diversions.
The Kelpie has a short fairly dense coat and comes in many colours, black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate and blue. They require little grooming as the coat naturally sheds off dirt, however regular grooming helps remove dead hair, especially during the seasonal shed.
Although the Kelpies main purpose and goal is herding, they do well at many things, obedience, agility, fly ball and tracking, to name a few. They are quite social and get along well with other dogs. Some may be indifferent to strangers but are seldom aggressive.
The Kelpie is not fully recognized by the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) yet but they can be miscellaneous class certified so that they may compete in CKC events.
They are a relatively healthy breed and have a good longevity.
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