Kelpie

Description:
Airy and active, the Kelpie has a very resistant and agile aspect, however it should not look rough or rustic. Males are about forty-six to fifty one centimeters in height and females around forty-three to forty eight centimeters. Larger ones are preferred – its body should not be square. The head of this dog is wide between the ears and its skull is smooth and becomes narrower towards the muzzle. Its ears should be moderately long and have a good size but they should not look like a bat's or be spoon shaped. The eyes have a big space between them, are almond shaped, medium sized and the angles should be cleanly signaled. Darker eyes are preferred. The neck of moderately long, is strong and full; the shoulders clean and descend towards the low wichers; its shoulders shouldn't incline forward too much or be too straight. Its chest is longer than its width; rounded ribs are not preferred. The front legs should be thick and strong, and the femur should not be too short. The tail slightly curves. When the dog is in action or excited and lifts but should lift vertically. This dog is double coated with a short and dense undercoat. The colors of these dogs are black, black and red, red, fiery red, tawny, brown, and hazy blue.

Ideal owner:
Kelpies are one of the toughest shepherds that exist. However it is a very easygoing work dog that is capable of getting any size cattle to move, although it specializes in sheep and bovine. Kelpies are very athletic and independent and because of this factor this dog cannot be uniquely used as a companion dog, but it is very affectionate – especially with children. This is a dog that needs to be kept busy at all times. The future owner of this dog should keep in mind that it is a shepherd dog and know that it will not be content if it is only used to take care of its family. It is not adequate as a guard dog.

Growth:
Kelpies were originally bred and picked by natural selection, by which it has been created very naturally and is literally problem exempt. Puppy Kelpies grow in a normal pace without complications, reaching their full maturity around two years of age, with a weight of approximately fifteen kilograms. Training with sheep normally begins at four months of age, although breeders inform that Kelpies work better after the age of three years. Due to their metabolism and athletic constitution, all Kelpies require a healthy diet, and those that are used as work dogs have need of it even more so. 

General health:
Since this dog is exceptionally athletic and adaptable, it is practically exempt of genetic and hereditary abnormalities and has a great of amount of resistance to disease. Lack of exercise can be enormously stressing for this breed, and it is vital it gets an abundant amount of activity and mental stimulus. Stress is one of the primary factors that contribute to its getting sick. Hip dysphasia and arthritis are frequent in the older ones and this is probably due to their energetic life style and because of the way they take their jobs to heart. There have also been cases of deafness in some. The average life span of a Kelpie is around ten years however; some have lived to the age of seventeen.