The Kelpie

Get to know more about our Dog of the Month, Fendi the Kelpie!

The Kelpie, also known as the Australian Kelpie if a fast, intelligent breed of dog that is longer then it is tall. Their compact build enables them to most quickly through packs of sheep and be as flexible as they need to be.
It is unconfirmed the exact origin of the Kelpie, some believe they are a cross of a Border Collie with a Dingo but other documents show they were developed from English North Country Collies, who were a great herding dogs throughout Britain. It is believed they imported, like many other sheepdogs, to Australia in the late 19th century and the breed has continued to be developed here in Australia to handle the harsh working environments of Aussie farms. Today they are used all throughout the country as both working dogs and pets.
The name ‘Kelpie’ comes from the novel ‘Kidnapped’ written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish writer, who mentioned the water kelpie throughout his book.
The Kelpie we know today is a very smart dog, who always needs a job to do. For this reason, if not working on a farm, they need a lot of mention stimulation and a strong, confident, calm pack leader to show them the way. Without rules and a job to do, the Kelpie can become very destructive and with a build and stamina like theirs, can very quickly learn how to climb fences and entertain themselves if they are allowed to be become bored.
They fit will into a pack and if socialised correctly will welcome other animals into their pack including cats and smaller pets.
Aside from their high need for mental and physical stimulation, the Kelpie is a rather easy breed to keep. Their short coat is easy to maintain with brushing only required as needed. The coats can come in a variety of colours with the most common being Red and Black and Tan but they can be found in Chocolate, Blue, Fawn or a combination of these colours too.
Being an active dog a high quality diet will ensure a healthy dog that can live over 12 years of age. They are a breed that is prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which is retinal degeneration causing partial to total blindness but other than this are not prone to any other major health issues.