Australian Kelpie
The Kelpie is an Australian sheep dog successful at mustering and droving with little or no command guidance. They are medium-sized dogs and come in a variety of colours. Kelpies have been exported throughout the world and are used to muster livestock, primarily sheep, cattle and goats. There also used in different dogs sport and they are succesfull at many of them.
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 supply of energy, 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.
The Kelpie is an Australian sheep dog successful at mustering and droving with little or no command guidance. They are medium-sized dogs and come in a variety of colours. Kelpies have been exported throughout the world and are used to muster livestock, primarily sheep, cattle and goats. There also used in different dogs sport and they are succesfull at many of them.
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 supply of energy, 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.
Head :
The head is in proportion to the size of the skull, slightly rounded and broad between the ears. The forehead running in a straight profile towards a pronounced stop. The cheeks are neither coarse 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.
Teeth :
The teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper, that is a scissor bite.
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 lighter coloured eye is permissable.
Ears :
The ears are pricked and running to a fine point at the tips, 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 are well furnished with hair.
The head is in proportion to the size of the skull, slightly rounded and broad between the ears. The forehead running in a straight profile towards a pronounced stop. The cheeks are neither coarse 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.
Teeth :
The teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper, that is a scissor bite.
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 lighter coloured eye is permissable.
Ears :
The ears are pricked and running to a fine point at the tips, 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 are well furnished with hair.
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 or 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 s1ope 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 top line, 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 the 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 excitment it may be raised, but under no circumstance should the tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root. It should be furnished with a good brush. Set on in a position to blend with the sloping croup and it should reach aproximately to the hock.
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 or 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 s1ope 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 top line, 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 the 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 excitment it may be raised, but under no circumstance should the tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root. It should be furnished with a good brush. Set on in a position to blend with the sloping croup and it should reach aproximately to the hock.
Coat :
The coat is a double coat with a short dense undercoat. The undercoat 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 whether too long or too short is a fault. As an average, the hairs on the body should be from 2 to 3 cms (approx. 3/4in - 1 1/2ins) in length.
Colors :
Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate and smoke blue.
Size :
The height at the withers shall be: Dogs 46 to 51 cms (approx. 18-20 ins) Bitches 43 to 48 cms (approx. 17-19 ins)
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 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 foursquare.
The coat is a double coat with a short dense undercoat. The undercoat 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 whether too long or too short is a fault. As an average, the hairs on the body should be from 2 to 3 cms (approx. 3/4in - 1 1/2ins) in length.
Colors :
Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate and smoke blue.
Size :
The height at the withers shall be: Dogs 46 to 51 cms (approx. 18-20 ins) Bitches 43 to 48 cms (approx. 17-19 ins)
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 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 foursquare.