AUSTRALIAN KELPIE

Official U.K.C. Breed Standard*

Herding Dogs Group
  © Copyright 1990, United Kennel Club, Inc.
Revised October 5, 1990

HISTORY

The Australian Kelpie originated around 1970 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 bitch 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 bitch, also named Kelpie, who went to Mr. CW 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. Movement and action shall be smooth and effortless, with a good length of stride.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE

Measured at the withers, males shall measure 20 to 23 inches in height; females shall measure 17 to 20 inches in height. 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. Bone should be strong but refined.

HEAD

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

EXPRESSION

The eyes should be almond-shaped, of medium size and widely spaced; clearly defined at the corners. The color of the eye should range from tawny-gold to brown, harmonizing with the color of the coat. In the case of blue (gray) or light-colored dogs, a hazel colored eye is acceptable, as is eye color matching the tan markings immediately above the eye.

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.

The skull is slightly rounded and broad between the ears. The forehead curves very slightly towards a pronounced stop. The cheeks are round to the foreface, which is cleanly chiseled and defined.

The muzzle, equal length or slightly shorter than the skull, tapers toward the nose and is refined in comparison to the skull.

The teeth should be a full complement of strong, white, evenly spaced teeth conforming to a scissors bite. Dogs displaying broken or extracted teeth due to herding injuries should not be penalized. Undershot or overshot bites are serious faults.

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY

The neck should be of fair length, strong, slightly arched and showing ability, gradually molding into the shoulders and free from throatiness. The topline should show a pronounced rise at the withers to allow for sufficient action of the forequarters. Any tendency toward a level topline is undesirable.

The chest should be deep rather than wide. The ribs should be well sprung. The loins should be strong and well-muscled, sloping to the butt of the tail. When viewed from the side, the breastbone should show ahead of the shoulder curve downward to a point below the elbow and continue in a gradual curve towards the flank.

During rest, the tail should hang in a slight curve, reaching to the hock. During movement or excitement it may not be raised past a vertical line drawn through the root.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulders should be clean, muscular and well-sloping, with close set withers, the upper arm slightly angulated to the forearm, and the elbows set parallel to the body.

The forelegs should be muscular, with strong but refined bone. They should be perfectly straight when viewed from the front, but the pasterns should show only a slight angulation to the forearm when viewed from the side.

All feet shall be strong, with short nails, to allow the dog maximum thrust under differing ground surfaces.

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. The stifles well turned, the hocks fairly well let down and placed parallel with the tail should form a smooth curve when the dog is standing at rest. Particular emphasis should be placed on the turn of the stifle. Any tendency toward straightness should be considered a very serious fault. Cow hocks and bow hocks are serious faults.

COAT

The outer coat should be moderately short, flat, straight and weather-resisting, with dense undercoat. On the head, ears, feet and legs, the hair should be short. The coat can be longer at the neck, showing a fair amount of 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.

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.

TEMPERAMENT

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.

SUMMARY

All Kelpies should be selected based on working ability and soundness. Any deviation from this standard shall be considered faults.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Monorchid; cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness; extreme shyness.

* NOTE: This information has been contributed by, and is property of The United Kennel Club, Inc. and is gratefully used here with permission.

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