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Working Kelpie

Historical

“Kelpie” is a gaelic word which means water sprite an evil spirit that haunts the fords in shape of a horse and it was a name that shepherds liked to give to their sheep dog bitches. The Working Kelpie is named after a bitch by that name that won the first prize at the first sheep dog trial in New South Wales in 1872. Reports of her performance spread and there was a great demand for her pups. To begin with they were called “Kelpie´s pups” and that’s how the breed got its name. The origin of the breed was working collies that the Scottish immigrants brought with them or imported from their native country during the first part of the 19th century and later. The Working Kelpie of today is a direct descendant from the original working lines. To begin with all Kelpies were regarded as one breed, but from 1967 and onwards Working Kelpies in Australia are registered with the Working Kelpie Council of Australia Inc. while the Show Kelpies are registered by the Kennel Clubs. In 1967 the split became definitive when the Kennel Clubs decided not to recognize the Working Kelpie any more, and this decision has had an influence on the breed all over the world. .Another line of Kelpies was developed from one of Kelpie II’s offspring. Her name was Sally, and she was bred to a solid black male descended from Brutus and Jenny whose name was Moss. A black male pup from this litter was acquired by a stockman named Davis. Because of his forceful personality and his great speed, the pup was named "Barb," after a great racehorse of that era. Later he was sold to Mr. Edols, of Burrawong, who used him as a stud dog. The "Barb" was prepotent for his black colour and power on sheep. Known as "Barb’s pups," black Kelpies soon became known simply as Barbs. Kelpies were first shown at the Melbourne Royal Show in 1908, with the Barb being shown with the Kelpie. Robert Kaleski drew up the standard for the Kelpie in 1903, when he drew up the standard for the Cattle Dog. Kaleski described the Kelpie as a dog that would rather work than eat, which remains true of the breed today. The Kelpie played a vital role in the working ability of today’s Cattle Dog. In some lines of Cattle Dogs, one can still see the low crouching style and intense "eye" of the Kelpie coming through. This is especially apparent in the "play" mode of many young puppies, where they will stalk each other. The Kelpie is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as a breed. In Australia the working Kelpie is registered under a separate registry than the show ring Kelpie.

GENERAL APPEARANCE The general appearance shall be that of a lithe, active dog of great quality, showing hard muscular condition combined with great suppleness of limb and conveying the capability of untiring work. It must be free from any suggestion of weediness.

CHARACTERISTICS The Kelpie is extremely alert, eager and highly intelligent, with a mild, tractable disposition and an almost inexhaustible energy, with marked loyalty and devotion to duty. It has a natural instinct and aptitude in the working of sheep, both in open country and in the yard. Any defect of structure or temperament foreign to a working dog must be regarded as uncharacteristic.

TEMPERAMENT * (See under characteristics)

HEAD AND SKULL The head is in proportion to the size of the dog, the skull slightly rounded, and broad between the ears. The forehead running in a straight profile towards a pronounced stop. The cheeks are neither course nor prominent, but round to the foreface, which is cleanly chiselled and defined. The muzzle, preferably slightly shorter in length than the skull. Lips tight and clean and free from looseness. The nose colouring conforms to that of the body coat. The overall shape and contours produce a rather fox-like expression, which is softened by the almond-shaped eyes.

EYES The eyes are almond shaped, of medium size, clearly defined at the corners, and show an intelligent and eager expression. The colour of the eyes to be brown, harmonising with the colour of the coat. In the case of blue dogs a light coloured eye is permissible.

EARS * The ears are pricked and running to a fine point at the tips, the leather fine but strong at the base, set wide apart on the skull and inclining outwards, slightly curved on the outer edge and of moderate size. The inside of the ears is well furnished with hair.

MOUTH * The teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper, that is a scissor bite.

NECK The neck is of moderate length, strong, slightly arched, gradually moulding into the shoulders, free from throatiness and showing a fair amount of ruff.

FOREQUARTERS * The shoulders should be clean, muscular, well sloping with the shoulder blades close set at the withers. The upper arm should be at a right angle with the shoulder blade. Elbows neither in nor out. The forelegs should be muscular with strong but refined bone, straight and parallel when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side, the pasterns should show a slight slope to ensure flexibility of movement and the ability to turn quickly.

BODY * The ribs are well sprung and the chest must be deep rather than wide, with a firm level topline, strong and well-muscled loins and good depth of flank. The length of the dog from the forechest in a straight line to the buttocks, is greater than the height at the withers as 10 is to 9.

HINDQUARTERS The hindquarters should show breadth and strength, with the croup rather long and sloping, the stifles well turned and the hocks fairly well let down. When viewed from behind, the hind legs, from the hocks to the feet, are straight and placed parallel, neither close nor too wide apart.

FEET * The feet should be round, strong, deep in pads, with close knit, well arched toes and strong short nails.

TAIL * The tail during rest should hang in a very slight curve. During movement or excitement it may be raised, but under no circumstances should the tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root. It should be furnished with a good brush. Set on position to blend with sloping croup, and it should reach approximately to the hock.

GAIT/MOVEMENT To produce the almost limitless stamina demanded of a working sheepdog in wide open spaces the Kelpie must be perfectly sound, both in construction and movement. Any tendency to cow hocks, bow hocks. stiltiness, loose shoulders or restricted movement weaving or plaiting is a serious fault. Movement should be free and tireless and the dog must have the ability to turn suddenly at speed. When trotting the feet tend to come closer together at ground level as speed increases but when the dog comes to rest it stands four square.

COAT The coat is a double coat with a short dense undercoat. The outercoat is close, each hair straight, hard, and lying flat, so that it is rain-resisting. Under the body, to behind the legs, the coat is longer and forms near the thigh a mild form of breeching. On the head (including the inside of the ears), to the front of the legs and feet, the hair is short. Along the neck it is longer and thicker forming a ruff. The tail should be furnished with a good brush. A coat either too long or too short is a fault. As an average. the hairs on the body should be from 2 to 3 cms (approx. 0.75 - 1.25 ins) in length.

COLOUR * Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate, and smoke blue.

SIZE Height: Dogs 46-51 cms (approx. 18-20 ins) at withers. Bitches 43-48cms (approx. 17-19 ins) at withers.

FAULTS * Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicals fully descended into the scrotum.