Kelpies have been bred in Australia since the 1870s – the breed was named after a particularly successful herding dog from which all of today’s Kelpies are descended. For a long time, it was believed that the independent herders were also crossed with dingoes. This thesis was refuted in 2019. Nevertheless, the Kelpie is a special dog – we show why.
Barb and Kelpie – External Characteristics of Dark Herding Dogs
Strictly speaking, a “Barb” is a descendant of the 19th-century breeding dog of the same name – but in common usage, all black-coated Kelpies are referred to as Barbs. The fox-faced herding dogs are medium-sized and very athletically built. Measured at the withers, males reach a height of 46 to 51 cm, females 43 to 48 cm. In their home country and in working lines, smaller specimens up to about 39 cm at the withers are also permitted. A specific weight is not specified in the breed standard. On average, they weigh 13 to 18 kilograms.
Nimble, persistent, and resilient – a perfect working dog
- The head is reminiscent of that of a fox. The skull is wide between the ears. It should be slightly longer than the wedge-shaped muzzle.
- According to the FCI, the almond-shaped eyes are “full of zeal”, with clearly defined corners and dark colors. Eye color matches coat: Blue and red coat colors often have lighter irises.
- The ears are firm at the base, tapering towards the tip. They are very pointed and the shells point outwards. Inside they are well-haired.
- The neck is of medium length, with a pronounced collar and no dewlap. It transitions into the firm, muscled body that should never appear barrel-shaped.
- The hind legs are broad and muscular, with rounded paws. They are equipped with thick pads and give the dog more maneuverability. Forelegs are well-muscled with sloping shoulders.
- Due to the strong brush on the underside of the rod, it looks almost sword-shaped. It reaches about to the ankle and is never carried high.
Coat and Coloring – Weatherproof coat for all extremes of temperature
The stick hair consists of a dense undercoat and a short, 2 to 3 cm long topcoat. It lies straight and flat and forms a water-repellent layer. There is a clear collar on the neck. The belly and backs of the legs have slightly longer hairs.
Permitted colors according to FCI
- Black (Barb), also with tan or white markings on the chest or tricolor
- Red (also red and tan)
- Fawn with dark or light shades
- Chocolate (also with a tan)
- Blue
Additional colors
- blue tan
- cream
A Perfect Shepherd of Unknown Origin – the Story of the Australian Kelpie
Since the first Kelpie, a short-haired collie of the same name who won the first herding competition in Australia. It was named after a famous racehorse at the time. In Celtic mythology, kelpies are water spirits who can take the form of a horse. The bitch is alongside Barb, a black and blue collie who was bred to her offspring, as the stock of the breed. The breeding lines have always been very well documented and can largely be traced back to the breed’s inception by Kelpie and other outstanding Australian Shepherds.
Rumors about the origin of the breed
- Early Kelpies were bred to the ablest working dogs to increase the gene pool. Since the selection was based on fitness for work and not on appearance, there are various theses and myths about possible crossed breeds.
- A relationship with the Tasmanian dingo was suspected for a long time because of the similar external characteristics, but the suspicion could be refuted by genetic tests.
- Since African dogs were introduced to Scotland in the 19th century and have been shown to be bred to collies, it’s possible the Kelpie could have gotten its incredible endurance from African ancestors.
- Incidentally, dogs cannot be bred to foxes. The resemblance is purely coincidental.
Nature and Character of the Kelpie – The Tireless Working Dog
The Australian shepherd dogs are extremely weatherproof and work reliably and effectively even under extreme conditions. Rain, cold, and the Australian midday heat cannot keep them from their work. Because they can do a lot, they like to be challenged: they have to be kept busy for several hours a day so that they are fully utilized. Show Kelpies are a bit quieter than those from working lines, but they are not for couch potatoes or single office workers.
Dancing with the sheep
- They have a natural talent for handling large flocks of sheep.
- As herding dogs, they are very sociable and gentle with people and animals around them.
- They literally treat children like little lambs. They are faithful protectors in the family.
- They generally show distrust towards strangers at first. They never become aggressive without a reason and do not provoke others.
- Dogs of the breed are intelligent above average and understand connections after just a few repetitions.
- They will flag anything out of the ordinary and will not let anyone near the house without a “person check” while barking very little.