Australian Kelpie. Charlotte Schwartz

or other dog club. Many participate in some sport or activity related to their breed. Just as you want to be assured of the breeder’s qualifications, the breeder wants to be assured that you will make a worthy owner. Expect the breeder to interview you, asking questions about your goals for the pup, your experience with dogs and what kind of home you will provide.

       A litter of Kelpies means more than a little mischief!

      Once you are sure that the Australian Kelpie is the breed for you, check with the Kelpie breed clubs and registries to get the names, addresses and phone numbers of Kelpie owners and breeders in your area. If you have a computer, the Internet can provide many references for Australian Kelpies; the breed club, Working Kelpies, Inc., is a good place to start. Talk to local veterinarians to find out if they count Kelpies among their clients. Through these sources, you can meet Kelpie owners to see how they feel about the breed and if they have any recommendations for you as a prospective owner. Remember that the show-type Kelpies and working Kelpies differ considerably, so this will play a large role in your choice of a breeder. Talking to people within the breed can further acquaint you with the differences and can point you toward breeders of the type you prefer.

      Most breeders of working Kelpies are insistent about their dogs’ being used for work and will not sell to pet owners. If you are bringing a Kelpie into a pet home, your search for a breeder will be difficult. Finding a breeder in your area will be even more difficult. Be wary of a Kelpie breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy without much thought to your living environment and your preparedness for the breed; this is not the type of breeder from whom you should purchase any breed.

       NEW RELEASES

      Most breeders release their puppies between seven to ten weeks of age. A breeder who allows puppies to leave the litter at five or six weeks of age may be more concerned with profit than with the puppies’ welfare. However, some breeders of show or working breeds may hold one or more top-quality puppies longer, occasionally until three or four months of age, in order to evaluate the puppies’ career or show potential and decide which one(s) they will keep for themselves.

      Your efforts will be worth it when you find a reputable Kelpie breeder. Only the pup’s breeder will know about the origin of the puppy, the background of the parents, any risk of hereditary health problems, how the puppy was raised, the pup’s personality, etc. A good breeder will also offer help and support after the puppy comes home with you. Therefore, the best place to look for a Kelpie puppy is from a Kelpie breeder.

      Your Kelpie puppy will not be an instant purchase. If you find a good breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy, you will likely be put on a waiting list for a suitable pup. If the breeder is far away, you will not get to meet your puppy, and he will have to be shipped to you. Prior to that, you will contact the breeder by phone, email and/or mail; he should be able to share the important information with you in those ways, including pedigrees, photos of the litter and parents, puppy diet sheet, health records and documentation, etc.

       SIGNS OF A HEALTHY PUPPY

      Healthy puppies are robust little fellows who are alert and active, sporting shiny coats and supple skin. They should not appear lethargic, bloated or pot-bellied, nor should they have flaky skin or runny or crusted eyes or noses. Their stools should be firm and well formed, with no evidence of blood or mucus.

       Until properly trained, puppies must remain on lead when out and about

      A reputable Kelpie breeder devotes his energy and time to producing the best Kelpie puppies possible. He has studied the breed history, knows the health problems of the breed and has probably participated with his own breeding stock in events where knowledgeable judges have evaluated the quality of his dogs for future breeding purposes.

      Most importantly, the breeder is anxious to share his knowledge of the breed with you. The breeder will probably ask you many questions about how you intend to raise his puppy and the facilities you have to provide a good, safe home for the puppy. In short, the Kelpie breeder is the best source of quality puppies and the best guide to help you find the puppy best suited to you, your family and your lifestyle. Be aware in your search for a pet puppy that you may be met with many “Nos” before you find a breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy.

      Speaking of lifestyle, the breeder will need to know what type of lifestyle you will be offering the puppy. Will he grow up to be a herding dog on a 2000-acre sheep ranch? Will the dog work in a confined area, such as a stockyard, to move the flock from one area to another? Will he be a family pet and a companion to small children or elderly family members? Will the dog be expected to travel with his owner for business or pleasure? The more information you give the breeder, the better able he will be to decide if you have a suitable home for the breed.

       Kelpies play as hard as they work and provide entertaining companionship for children and adults alike.

       SOME DAM ATTITUDE

      When selecting a puppy, be certain to meet the dam of the litter. The temperament of the dam is often predictive of the temperament of her puppies. However, dams occasionally are very protective of their young, some to the point of being testy with visitors, whom they may view as a danger to their babies. Such attitudes are more common when the pups are very young and still nursing and should not be mistaken for actual aggressive temperament. If possible, visit the dam away from her pups to make friends with her and gain a better understanding of her true personality.

      How tragic it is for a puppy to go to an owner whose lifestyle is not suitable for the breed’s temperament and the individual puppy’s personality. And what a shame for an owner to discover that the puppy he wanted so much turned out to have the wrong personality for the family that chose him. By doing your homework now, you’ll avoid all the pitfalls of random selection and lack of careful planning. Instead, you and your new puppy will be well suited to each other.

      Once you’ve located a respected breeder with a litter of puppies, make an appointment to visit them. This will be easier for those selecting a working dog, as there are many more breeders who place puppies in working homes. There will be lots of things you’ll need to check out during your visit. First is the overall impression you get upon entering the breeder’s home. Is it clean? Does it have a pleasant odor? Is the dam (the puppies’ mother) there to meet you? Is she friendly and self-assured yet willing to meet you? What is her physical condition? After nursing a litter of puppies for five or six weeks, she may be thin, but she should have a clean coat and bright eyes and appear to be in good health.

      Be aware that the mother’s basic temperament will be passed on to her pups, so spend a few minutes with her and observe her reactions to you, the breeder and her pups. An unfriendly, aloof, even aggressive mother will probably raise pups with the same undesirable traits. So look for a friendly, tolerant, easygoing dam who accepts you cautiously yet willingly.

       GETTING ACQUAINTED

      When visiting a litter, ask the breeder for suggestions on how best to interact with the puppies. If possible, get right into the middle of the pack and sit down with them. Observe which pups climb into your lap and which ones shy away. Toss a toy for them to chase and bring back to you. It’s easy to fall in love with the puppy who picks you, but keep your future objectives in mind before you make your final decision.

       Healthy puppies are active, alert and playful.

      Initially observe the whole litter as they interact with each other and you. If possible, watch