Australian Kelpie, complete guide

The Australian Kelpie is a herding dog native to Australia. Of medium height, its outstanding energy make it one of the best sheep breeds . It is very easy to train. He is intelligent, loyal and very active.
Fast and intelligent, the kelpie has been a working tool on Australia’s large cattle farms for over a century. But today it is not only considered a working dog, but also a much-loved pet for many.

Short presentation

The popular Red Dog movie literally caused “kelpie fever” throughout Australia and elsewhere on the planet. Every year thousands of Kelpie dogs are sold, given away or end up in animal shelters after being abandoned by owners who discover that it is a breed with high daily demands related to their workaholism. For this reason, experts advise that they know the real needs before choosing a kelpie as a pet. And this is the primary reason for this guide.

In fact, many experts assure that the Kelpies, despite their undeniable virtues, are not the best pets, but on the contrary, they are dogs for livestock work. They need constant mental stimulation. Being a noble and manageable dog, in ideal environments for them, it can become disobedient and indomitable in a few months, if they do not have the space and activity they need. Kelpies are programmed to work and travel hundreds of kilometers a day. Without a doubt, an urban home is not the best place to live.

Kelpie means “water spirit in the form of a horse.” According to Scottish legends, this spirit protected the region’s rivers and lakes. A mythological being who is also named in Scandinavian mythology, with the name of Bäckahästen. Although they were referring to a majestic white horse that attracted men and took them to the bottom of the rivers without being seen again. To learn about the relationship of this dog breed to a horse name, keep reading this guide. You’ll find the answer in the “His Story of Him” section.

But leaving aside the meaning of its name, you can only find in the Australian Kelpie large ears that adorn a sweet, helpful and clean look with almond-shaped eyes. The Australian Kelpie was created for the task of herding in Australia. Designed so that they could work well in large, hot spaces and had the skills to handle a large herd in a harsh landscape. They arise from the breed from the north of England and when they were exported to Australia they changed their physiognomy to adapt them to the new environment. They can measure between 43 and 50 cm, and weigh between 12 and 22 kilos approximately. The existing colors are black, red or fawn. What most often attracts attention is the shape of the head, very similar to that of a fox.

Veterinarian Elizabeth Arnott, from Quirindi in western New South Wales, who has spent several years studying the genetics of kelpies at Sydney Veterinary College, says there are up to 300,000 dogs working in the bush and that the 60 percent of them are kelpies. Also her job has been to take samples of her DNA that can help determine what makes Kelpies so special to herding.

Its History and Origin

Many Australians believe that kelpies emerged as a breed after British sheepdogs interbred with Australian dingoes. But according to Barbara Cooper, the Australian Kelpie Breed Registrar based in Sydney, this is untrue even though there is a strong physical resemblance between kelpies and dingoes. For example, they both have sharp faces, tall pointed ears, and other well-known physical characteristics.
They are herding dogs derived from the Scottish Collie breed and imported to Australia around 1800. Kelpies began to be used for herding approximately in the years 1872 or 1873. And the first time they were registered as a standard breed was in 1902. Since then this The breed has undergone little change and they are still used to guard sheep.

It is said that the inhospitable Australian continent forced Scottish and English settlers to select dogs that would adapt to these harsh new conditions. On large tracts of land in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, sheep numbers have increased dramatically. Many estates even had more than a quarter of a million sheep. Above all, they needed dogs that could handle herds of unruly merino lambs well and that could handle the heat well. His job was to protect the herd at night and direct them to the pens after grazing without getting lost.

The first version of these herding dogs derived from the Collie breed were the Rutherfords. They were also short-haired dogs, with erect ears, strong jaws, prominent heads, black in color, and very active. This breed line later served as the basis for the Kelpie.

Already, at the end of the 19th century, an Australian rancher named Gleason who exchanged a horse for a Rutherford line puppy, calling it the Kelpie, would unknowingly change the history of this breed forever. “Kelpie” in Gaelic means Undina, an aquatic nymph, although the name is also related to mythological aquatic horses. This bitch was known by the name of “Gleason’s Kelpie”, and her offspring gave rise to this breed. Later the original Kelpie was bred twice. Firstly, with a black dog from the Rutterford line and then with a “Caesar”. It was in this last line that he would give the famous “Kelpie”. A black and tan female who won the first sheepdog competition in Australia. Fact that she did that will begin to generate great interest in this new breed.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog History

It is said that it appeared in the middle of the 16th century , which was called the water dog. This animal was acquired by the noble ladies of England, but as the years went by, the breed improved and its names were changed by the different kings of England. England Charles I and Charles II. And of many characteristics   that varied between red white and red. In the 20th century they tried to create a breed dog like the King Charles by linking a Toy Spaniel Trawler but it was in vain since it did not work out.

Origin of the Cavalier King Charkes Spaniel dog

Characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog

The height of the  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel  ranges between 32 cm and 34 cm for the female breed and 34 cm to 36 cm for male dogs, its average weight is 5 to 9 kilos to maintain good health since these dogs they are very athletic. They are dogs of small stature that can be carried with one hand or in cages so that they do not escape thanks to their stature, they are usually checked on top of tables and very practical.

Most of these dogs love dog shows thanks to their beautiful shade of colors they are very striking and beautiful dogs.

Its coat is excellent and requires care. Its coat color is various colors of intense red and white, or perhaps a solid red, some reach a tricolor in its black, tan and white fur, its average lifespan for this breed is ten years to fourteen according to his care.

Eat in a few portions of 150 grams to 200 grams daily , it is more quality than quantity to maintain a good diet and maintain your weight.

He is a very playful and friendly dog, he loves being with humans and enjoys their company.

The habitat of these dogs is light since it adapts to any home, whether it is a large family or a single person, they are excellent company dogs.

He loves to go for a walk and play, this dog should be instilled in some sporting activity to avoid obesity in them.

This breed of dog is usually very affectionate with children and with other dogs since they are not jealous and love to be friends with other animals, as well as with human beings.

Health problems

The first disease that attacks this breed of dog are genetic problems such as mitral valve prolapse, it also affects their eyes such as cataracts, as well as affects their ears, it can leave them deaf, they also suffer from obesity if their weight is not controlled with sport activities.

A canine will always be the best company for man, in all the contexts in which he finds himself. This Bernese Mountain Dog is also known as the Bouvier Bernois, it is a breed that is active and energetic . You need to be athletic and stimulate your systems so they can function at their best.

This can be done through activities such as: mountain walks, hitching and pulling carts, dog competitions, it is widely used in rescue or search tasks, and even as a therapy dog ​​since it is mostly taken to hospitals and asylums.

History of the Bernese Mountain Dog

It is a breed that comes from Switzerland, which after different crosses with other dogs of different breeds became the specimen that we know today by this name . In the country in which he was born, his native country was a Bernese Mountain Dog that was used by its inhabitants as a guard dog and was in charge of taking care of their families’ herds.

As a cultural context, these dogs reached their peak when, at the end of the 19th century, Switzerland became famous for its cheeses. It was there that people who owned a cheese manufacturing industry raised these dogs so that they, due to their energetic and athletic nature, could transport these cheeses in wheelbarrows to different parts of the country.

Its great intelligence has allowed it to be used with great success as a rescue dog. Due to his affable and calm character, he is a dog that does his training quickly and easily and is a perfect dog to be able to interact with children.

It has a height standard in which the males measure from 64 to 70 cm , with an ideal of 66 to 68 cm; and in females from 58 to 66 cm, with an ideal of 60 to 63 cm.

Characteristics of the Bernese Mountain Dog

This is a breed characterized by being loyal, balanced, determined, kind and with a guard and care instinct that is very present in its personality. He is an independent Bernese Mountain Dog, where he is reserved with people and animals he does not know and are strangers to and has a good character.

It is big and robust. With limbs that are considered narrow and extremely strong. His ears are small, triangular in shape and hanging down on either side of his head. With a very bushy tail.

Their fur is very fine and smooth, and in most cases they have small spots . Brown, on his cheeks, chest, legs and torso. With white markings on his head, on his neck, on the tip of his tail, on his feet and on his chest.