Dog Breed

Australian Kelpie

BraniacFarmhand
Primary image of Australian Kelpie dog breed
Full Name
Australian Kelpie
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Life Span
10 - 13 years
Weight
31 - 46 pounds
Description

Friendly, Energetic, Alert, Loyal, Intelligent, Eager

Origin
Australia
Bred For
Farm dog, Cattle herding
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Australian Kelpie good with children?

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    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Australian Kelpie friendly with strangers?

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    Dog Friendly

    Is the Australian Kelpie friendly with other dogs?

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    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Australian Kelpie like to cuddle?

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    Playfulness

    Does the Australian Kelpie like to play?

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    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Australian Kelpie make a good service dog?

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    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Australian Kelpie good for first-time owners?

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    Training Potential

    How well can the Australian Kelpie be trained?

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    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Australian Kelpie shed a lot?

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    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Australian Kelpie easy to groom?

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    Exercise Need

    Does the Australian Kelpie need a lot of exercise?

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    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Australian Kelpie?

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    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Australian Kelpie bark? Does the Australian Kelpie bark too much?

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    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Australian Kelpie a good guard dog?

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    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Australian Kelpie good at staying alone? Is the Australian Kelpie independent?

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    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Australian Kelpie a good apartment dog?

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    Size

    How big is the Australian Kelpie?

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    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Australian Kelpie tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Australian Kelpie?

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    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Australian Kelpie tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Australian Kelpie?

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    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Australian Kelpie try to run away?

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    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Australian Kelpie a healthy dog? The health of a Australian Kelpie should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

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    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Australian Kelpie?

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    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Australian Kelpie drool?

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    Prey Drive

    Does the Australian Kelpie have a large prey drive? Does the Australian Kelpie like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

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    Athleticism

    Is the Australian Kelpie atheltic?

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  1. Herding
  2. Cattle dog
  3. Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie is a purebred dog that belongs to the Cattle dog sub group, which falls under the larger Herding dog breed group.
Herding group: The Herding group dogs all share an instinctual ability to control the movement of other animals. They have traditionally been raised on farms to help herd and protect valuable livestock. They are intelligent, and have been bred to treat each day like they have a "job" they must do. Their innate herding ability is such a big part of who they are, that they are known to even "herd" their owners, children, or other small dogs. Some can seem stubborn and even obsessed with their herding, since they take it seriously! They have high expectations, and must be stimulated mentally just as much as physically. The reward to these "high expectations" is that they can be trained very well, and are oftentimes used in competitions. Certain breeds such as the well known German Shepard are also used by Police forces, because of their discipline, intelligence, and ability to be trained.
Cattle dog sub-group: Cattle dog breeds are the ultimate medium sized herders with both strength and agility. They have been traditionally bred to help work on the farm, and therefore are eager to please their owners, and cattle dogs have an excellent temperament. Cattle dogs are very smart, a bit cautious with strangers, and always want to be doing something. If you simply leave them in your apartment or house, without the proper exercise and stimulation eventually they will become destructive. Cattle dog training is important, and if you put in the work you will be rewarded with an excellent dog. Because of their well roundedness and athleticism, cattle-dog mixes are are common- such as cattle dog and husky mixes, and cattle dog pitbull mixes.

Australian Kelpies for adoption

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