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Breed profile

Australian Kelpie

The Australian sheepdog: lean, tireless and quick-witted. Bred to work all day in heat, so it needs a real job.

A lean chocolate-brown Australian Kelpie with pricked ears stands side-on in snow in front of bare trees
Lean, light and built to work all day.Photo: Bashyr at Dutch Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Weight
13–20 kg29–44 lb
Height
43–51 cm17–20 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Pastoral / Herding
Origin
Australia
Popularity
—Not ranked in UK ·

Known for: Working dogsRunning partnersWarm climatesEasy to train

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Tireless, Intelligent, Alert, Loyal.

Health problems to know about

  • Cerebellar abiotrophy
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patellar luxation
  • Cryptorchidism

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Hours of daily exercise plus work: herding, agility, scent or advanced training. Weekly brushing. Without enough to do, expect herding of cars, kids and cats.

A good fit for

Farms, very active owners, dog-sport competitors.

Probably not ideal for

Flats, busy households with no time, first-time owners wanting an easy dog.

Sources

  1. Dogs Australia: Australian Kelpie breed standard
  2. Dogs NZ: Australian Kelpie
  3. Wikipedia: Australian Kelpie

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

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Despite the name, an American herding breed: brilliant, intense and always on.

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Border Collie

Probably the most trainable dog on earth, and the most likely to invent its own jobs.

Mudi

A quick, wavy-coated Hungarian farm dog that herds, guards and learns fast. Keen, vocal and happiest with a job to do.

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Australian Cattle Dog

Tough, tireless Australian drover with a sharp brain. Devoted to its own people and happiest with a job; an idle one will invent its own.

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