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Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized herding dog, used primarily for sheep and poultry. The ancestors of the Kelpie were Collies, and some believe they have Dingo blood. The breed comes in two varieties, the Show Kelpie and the Working Kelpie. The breed standards for the animal depend on which variety it is. There are two separate registries for Kelpies, the Working Kelpie Council for the Working Kelpies and the Australian National Kennel Council for Show Kelpies. If their bloodlines are crossed they can not be shown. In the United States, the Kelpie is registered with the North American Australian Kelpie Registry.
The Working Kelpie can come in three coat types, rough, short and smooth with almost any color possible. Its ears are typically pricked, but about 20% will have at least one ear flopped if not both. The tail can be smooth or bushy. Cosmetic features are usually disregarded for the Working Kelpie in favor of their skills. They are around 19 inches tall and weigh 31 to 46 pounds. This variety of Kelpie does not lack endurance or energy. It has been known to chase sheep for 40 miles. The Working Kelpie will herd instinctively and can work without supervision. If given sufficient mental and physical exercise, the Working Kelpie can be an excellent family pet.
Show Kelpies are restricted to solid colors (black, chocolate, smoky blue, red, fawn, black and red and red and tan). They have a short double coat and pricked ears. They tend to weigh more and be shorter than Working Kelpies. They excel in agility trials. The Show Kelpie does not need to exert as much energy as the Working Kelpie does to be happy. Frequent walks and socialization may be enough to keep them content.
There are few known health problems directly related to the breed, but the Kelpie is still susceptible to problems common to all breeds such as cryptorchidism, hip dysplasia, cerebellar abiotrophy and luxating patella.
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