Additonal Breeds Starting
With Letter:
Pet Sites
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COUNTRY:
Australia
WEIGHT:
25-45 pounds
HEIGHT:
17-20 inches
COAT:
Short, smooth
COLOR:
Black, red, blue or fawn; with or without
tan
OTHER
NAMES: Kelpie, Barb
REGISTRY:
TKC
GROUP:
Herding
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The harsh, unaccustomed environment of Australia forced settlers from England
and Scotland to select working dogs that fit the land's conditions—much
larger spaces, great numbers of fractious merino sheep, plus the intense
heat. The mob (Aussie lingo for a flock of sheep) had to be folded (brought
into the pens at the ranch or station) each night, in those early days,
to protect them from Dingoes, aborigines and straying. This required a real
workaholic "mustering" or gathering-style sheep dog, rather than
the shepherding type from the old country. Many counties and even some estates
in the base for the breed we know today as the Australian Kelpie dog.
In the late 1800s, a rancher named Gleason swapped a horse for a black/tan
sheep dog pup bred in Victoria of imported parents from the Rutherford
strain. He named her "Kelpie," Gaelic for water sprite, and
found her to be a fine worker. She became known as "Gleason's Kelpie,"
and it was her offspring that gave the breed its name. This original Kelpie
was bred twice to "Moss," a black Australian dog from the Rutherford
strain, and then to "Caesar," a black/tan dog from pure Scottish
parentage. From this last litter by Caesar was created the most renowned
"Kelpie" of all. A black/tan female, also named "Kelpie,"
was given to G.T.W. King. His Kelpie (the second) later won the first
sheep dog trial held hi Australia. This coup created a greater interest
in the strain.
The Australian Kelpie breed evolved from this beginning, with crosses
to other strains throughout the years. The breed is essentially all English
without introduction of the Dingo. Many fine working black dogs resulted
from the line created by back crosses to Moss, particularly one named
"Barb," For many years, there was a story illustrates the breed's
intense desire to work which blocks out everything else.
An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 Australian Kelpies are in service on Australian
ranches today, still the top herding dog in that country, and sheep workers
say a good Kelpie is equivalent to two men on horseback. The labor-saving
statistics are staggering, and many American ranchers are learning the
worth of these dogs. Although a natural header with sheep, the Kelpie
can be taught to drive in order to work cattle. Kelpies bred for cattle
work are forceful, and many both head and heel. They can be most useful
in gathering sheep and bringing them into the pens, forcing them through
the dipping vats, loading them into trucks and railcars, and even "backing"
them (leaping on their backs) if they get jammed in the loading chutes.
A team of Australian Kelpies can be sent out to round up a herd of dairy
cows or cattle while the owner waits at the gate. They can assist in running
them through the veterinary chutes, loading them and driving them down
the road to another pasture.
Australian Kelpies have been used effectively, also, with hogs, horses,
goats, poultry and even reindeer.
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