Known for being a workaholic, this dog loves to exercise! They are also easy to train and very friendly.

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Be prepared to lose your status as the fastest runner in the house. Quick and agile, Kelpies are great dogs for families that love to work out. They have endless stamina and will work till they drop. Take them for frequent, vigorous runs to help expend their energy. Kelpies are loyal and devoted to their family as well as loving and affectionate. To be happy, they need big spaces with a yard they can play in. They are so friendly they’ll hang out with other dogs and even cats.

If trained and socialised, they are suitable for young children. However supervision is recommended as they enjoy herding and may round up your children into line. Kelpies are obedient and easy to train, not to mention very intelligent and they will quickly learn new tricks and commands. A Kelpie will stop growing around 12 months old.

Fun fact: Kelpies are capable of running 60km in a single day.

A Kelpie’s coat is easy to maintain. Just brush weekly to keep it clean and give your pet an occasional bath. Their coat is weather-resistant and often a beautiful deep colour. Unfortunately, Kelpies shed hair heavily so the vacuum will get a good run! They also love to chat and have a high tendency to bark, which makes them ideal watchdogs. Kelpies often live up to 16 years of age and are known for being a naturally healthy breed.

Find Australian Kelpies in a range of unique colourways. Kelpies come with coat colours ranging from black, chocolate brown, red, smoke blue, fawn, black and tan, and red and tan. Originally bred as a working dog, their dark colourway helped them contrast against their surroundings, whether sheep or greenery.

Scheduled six monthly health check visits with your vet are important to ensure that your dog is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. Kelpies are prone to eye problems including losing their eyesight. Together with your vet, you can determine and maintain a preventative health care program based on the individual needs of your canine companion.

How big do Kelpies get?

A Kelpie is a medium-sized breed weighing between 11-20kgs, with a height between 43-51cms. This breed is known to have a compact body that’s longer than they are tall. The kelpie is known to have a broad chest and long and narrow head.

How much space do Kelpies need?

They are ideal for large spaces with a yard. Kelpies were originally herding dogs and thrive from plenty of exercise and space. As born athletes, Kelpies are not ideal for small apartments and can become destructive if they don’t have the space to exert their energy.

How much energy do Kelpies have?

The equivalent of a marathon runner, they go and go and go. This breed needs vigorous daily runs and lots of games to keep them happy. Kelpies are known for their alert nature and are prone to act out if they’re not provided with an outlet for their high-energy temperament all throughout their lifespan. Due to their large size, finding an outlet for their energy can help make sure they don’t cause havoc. Explore our dog toy range to help stimulate Kelpie puppy’s energy and provide them with a source of fun and entertainment.

How difficult are Kelpies to train?

They are highly intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train. As a working dog, the Kelpie is known to be obedient as a natural herder with agility and athleticism. They respond well to positive reinforcement and require their intelligence to be stimulated.
We’d recommend our Petbarn Puppy School to help you when training your Kelpie puppy around different breeds of different sizes and temperments. With expert training and the opportunity for socialisation, our Puppy School is bound to help your Kelpie grow into a well-behaved dog.

Are Kelpies suitable for families?

They are great family pets, loyal companions and excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence and obedience make them easy to train and behave best when provided with plentiful exercise. Their hardiness makes them most beloved by farming families. Review our guide on choosing a dog for your family to understand what to consider when finding a dog breed suitable for your family’s lifestyle.

Are Kelpies compatible with other dogs and animals?

Kelpies will befriend other pets and dog breeds in no time at all. With a history of herding, it’s not unlikely for the Kelpie to want to see other small animals (or children) as flock. Kelpies are known to be friendly and once properly socialised, they’re known to be gentle and not aggressive for their lifespan.

How much company do Kelpies need?

Don’t expect to be followed around the house with this breed. They’re more likely to be running around the backyard, although they do love it when their family plays with them. Kelpies thrive from being kept occupied and engaged and although are known to be independent, behave best with plenty of play.

Are Kelpies a hypoallergenic dog breed?

No, kelpies are not a hypoallergenic dog breed. They have a short double coat to protect them from harsh wealth and remain comfortable. Given their origins as a working dog, Kelpies have a high tendency to shed and dander that’ll cause an allergic response.

What coat and grooming needs do Kelpies have?

Kelpies require low maintenance to care for their short, coarse and heavy shedding coat. Brush weekly and bath when necessary to remove the dead hair that has been shed. They have a short coat in black, chocolate, red, smokey blue, fawn, black and tan.

Do Australian Kelpies shed?

They are heavy shedders. As short haired dogs, you can expect Kelpies to shed more than most dogs. The spring is the Kelpies shedding season and their dark colour can often make this shedded fur extremely visible throughout your home. Whilst their shedding means they don’t require much maintenance, they aren’t the best company for those with dog allergies. To avoid excess shedding from running rampant throughout your home, the Wahl De-Shedding Dog Glove can help collect hair during shedding season.

Do Kelpies have a tendency to bark?

They have a high tendency to bark, so expect some noise. As working dogs, they can bark often when left alone or unstimulated. Proper training will help manage their tendency to bark and support your Kelpie puppy’s behaviour from an early age.

How long do Kelpies Live?

The average Kelpie lifespan is between 11 to 16 years. Like most medium-sized dogs, they are likely to develop complications at middle- age. As utility dogs, Kelpies are known to be a healthy breed. It’s important your kelpie puppy receives bi-annual vet check ups throughout their lifespan to monitor their health. Kelpies are expected to have relatively long and healthy lifespans. Get in touch with your local Greencross Vets to organise your next check up.

How much exercise does a Kelpie need?

Kelpies are an athletic and energetic breed, requiring a lot of exercise throughout the day. Working dogs such as kelpies are recommended to receive at least 2 hours of exercise a day. This includes several walks, running and games for their mental stimulation. It’s these high energy pups that need homes which can give them an outlet to express their temperament.

When do Kelpies stop growing?

Kelpies stop growing at around 12 months, meaning they reach adult size whilst still a kelpie puppy. The first sign of your kelpies growth into an adult dog comes with their ears standing up at 6 weeks.

How to train a Kelpie

As working dogs, Kelpies are known to be obedient and easy to train. Daily training and positive reinforcement is the most important part of raising a well-behaved and trained Kelpies. We recommend training your Kelpie puppy from as early as 4 weeks with basic commands and housebreaking, socialising and cautions can follow.

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