Australian Kelpie. Charlotte Schwartz

ears, feet and legs. Coat can be slightly longer at the neck and rear of the thighs, and on the underside of the tail to form a brush.

      Color: Any color and markings historically associated with the development of the breed. For example: black with or without tan; blue (gray) ranging from dark to light, with or without tan; red ranging from chocolate to light red, with or without tan; fawn ranging from dark to light, with or without tan; tan ranging from dark to cream. Tan markings range from dark tan to cream and are present in varying amounts.

       UNDESIRABLE TRAITS IN PROFILE

       Upright shoulders, flat-footed, too short-bodied, high on leg, lacking bone.

       Low on leg, long back, short neck, knuckled over in front, soft topline.

       Generally lacking substance, ewenecked, weak pasterns, upright shoulders, lacking proper angle in the rear, ring tail.

       Loaded upright shoulders, short neck, toeing out in front, high in the rear, cow-hocked, kinked tail.

       This small puppy will grow into an intelligent and independent working dog. Are you ready for the challenges of Kelpie ownership?

      Before you begin your search for a puppy, you must research the Kelpie thoroughly and be sure that this is the most suitable breed for you, your family, your lifestyle and your living environment. While you must like the breed’s characteristics, you must also be certain that you can provide for the breed’s requirements. With the Kelpie, a major concern is that you can provide adequate space and time for the dog to exercise and play. This is a working breed and, although you may be keeping your Kelpie simply as a companion dog, you must always ensure that he has more than enough “work” to do in order for him to be happy, well-behaved and mentally sound.

      In the case of the Kelpie, researching and reading up on the breed is not enough. Before deciding that this is the breed for you, breeders strongly recommend that you meet, observe and interact with some representatives of the breed. Visit a ranch or a stockdog trial to see these dogs in action and to get an idea of what they really are about. Once you see this intense working dog doing what he does best, you will understand why Kelpie breeders are not eager to sell to pet homes, and you will also understand the true character of the breed. A potential owner who does not grasp the intensity of the Kelpie’s drive to work will be very unhappy trying to live with one.

      Puppies of any breed need lots of attention during the growing stage. They need to eat frequently and relieve themselves often. Furthermore, they chew on everything they can get their teeth into. Your puppy must be housebroken and taught good manners for a successful existence within the family group. He will bond easily with you, his new owners, to become a life partner with those who demonstrate concern for his happiness and well-being. As the dog matures, that bond helps create the dog’s devotion to his family and regard for their safety.

      A pet owner must be aware of the Kelpie’s adolescent period, which usually starts around eight months of age and can last up to around two years of age. Kelpies are hard to live with in a pet setting during this time if the owners are not completely prepared to provide the Kelpie with the work, training, exercise and interaction that he requires. This stage is not as problematic for the owner of a working Kelpie but can be overwhelming for the pet owner and often causes unprepared pet owners to give these dogs up for adoption at this age. Again, plenty of exercise and activity that uses the dog’s body and brain is absolutely necessary at all stages of the Kelpie’s life and even more so at this stage.

       Do you have time to spend with your Kelpie, doing things together to keep his body and mind active?

      If you feel that you and the Kelpie are a good match but would prefer an adult dog, a mature dog is sometimes available for sale or adoption. Situations include death of an owner, a family that must move and cannot take the dog with them or a former brood bitch who is being retired from having puppies and must be placed in a private home as a family pet. Situations also arise in which pet owners simply were not prepared for the Kelpie’s needs and are unable to keep the dog as a pet. These adult dogs can make fine companions, providing they have friendly, willing temperaments and are taken in by owners who understand the breed and can provide them with sufficient space and exercise.

      With an adult dog, all of the developmental stages of growing up are over. The dog is usually housebroken and chewing stages are long gone. However, many Kelpies that are given up by pet owners are in their adolescent stage, during which the “go, go, go” mindset was too much for their previous owners to handle. And though bonding will take longer than with a puppy, the older dog can develop a strong relationship with new owners, providing he’s treated with gentle kindness and patience.

       THE FAMILY TREE

      Your puppy’s pedigree is his family tree. Just as a child may resemble his parents and grandparents, so too will a puppy reflect the qualities, good and bad, of his ancestors, especially those in the first two generations. Therefore it’s important to know as much as possible about a puppy’s immediate relatives. Reputable and experienced breeders should be able to explain the pedigree and why they chose to breed from the particular dogs they used.

      Now, let’s talk about the sex of your new dog. Females are usually more gentle and tend to stay closer to home than males. They can be very patient with young children and gentle with older adults. Males are usually more curious and tend to wander away from home more frequently. They also can be stronger-willed than females and frequently require a firmer leader. However, a stubborn, dominant female can be a real challenge, too.

      As far as size, females are generally smaller than males. Size can vary quite a bit within the breed. While this is not a large breed, it is a very athletic and strong breed, with the strength of a much larger dog packed into a compact body.

      In both cases, neutering the male and spaying the female is a must in order to get the most out of the relationship. Unless your pup has been deemed as having excellent potential for future breeding, spaying/neutering should be considered mandatory and may even be required in the breeder’s sales contract. Left unaltered, dogs are controlled by their hormones. Their natural urges can be so strong and overwhelming that they never really develop strong bonds with their human pack members.

      Males are governed by hormones full-time, 12 months a year. On the other hand, females are governed by hormones usually twice a year for periods of 21 days at a time. This is the period known as estrus. A female in estrus will willingly accept any male dog that finds his way to her door during these heat cycles. As a result, the unaltered male frequently wanders the neighborhood in search of females in heat, and the female has unwanted puppies. Altering is the perfect solution to these situations. Altered dogs are generally nicer, more loving and more dedicated to home and family than sexually intact dogs.

       FINDING A QUALIFIED BREEDER

      Before you begin your puppy search, ask for references from your vet, other owners and other breeders to refer you to someone they believe is reputable. Responsible breeders usually raise only one or two breeds of dog. Avoid any breeder who has several different breeds or has several litters at the same time. Dedicated breeders