Anybody own a kelpie?
03-25-2002, 10:55 AM
#1
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Anybody own a kelpie?
Had a kelpie for 15 years and was the smartest dog I have ever seen. Tried to find one over here in the states a couple of years ago but couldn't find any. Although she wasn't a show dog I used to enter her in shows over here in the US just to see the look on the judges faces and she always won best of breed. Just thought I'd ask since you people actually have heard of a kelpie.
03-25-2002, 01:02 PM
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There is a search engine that specialises in Australian sites
just go to http://www.webwombat.com.au
and do a search on "kelpie" and you will find heaps of references.
Kelpies are probably the most common farm (ranch) working dogs in Australia and many have also found their way into suburbia. They are used primarily for sheep herding but are also becoming predominant for cattle herding as well.
As you say they are quite smart. To see a lone kelpie work 1000 sheep through a single narrow gate is quite impressive. A human could not do it.
just go to http://www.webwombat.com.au
and do a search on "kelpie" and you will find heaps of references.
Kelpies are probably the most common farm (ranch) working dogs in Australia and many have also found their way into suburbia. They are used primarily for sheep herding but are also becoming predominant for cattle herding as well.
As you say they are quite smart. To see a lone kelpie work 1000 sheep through a single narrow gate is quite impressive. A human could not do it.
03-25-2002, 03:45 PM
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Unfortunately most Aussies are urban dwellers and it is pretty difficult to keep a kelpie confined within a 1/4 acre block or smaller.
They are great dogs and tremendously intelligent, but boy, do they need lots of exercise and stimulation if they are not going to become neurotic.
To be fair, I think you should only acquire such a dog if you are living on farm and have a genuine need for such an animal.
Hopefully, you have such a property and can appreciate what is involved in looking after it.
They are great dogs and tremendously intelligent, but boy, do they need lots of exercise and stimulation if they are not going to become neurotic.
To be fair, I think you should only acquire such a dog if you are living on farm and have a genuine need for such an animal.
Hopefully, you have such a property and can appreciate what is involved in looking after it.
03-25-2002, 04:24 PM
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Actually had a kelpie for 15 years on 1/2 acre and 1/4 acre but she got plenty of exercise and plenty of play time in. Currently own a border collie and german shepherd mix and my neighbor and I have removed the fence in between so his German Shepherd and my dog can have the run of the two yards together. I have found that hitting tennis balls with a golf club in the huge open field behind my house gives the dogs plenty of running exercise and the joy of chasing things (it does destoy my golf game but it was never that great anyway). It's also funny to watch them herd the geese and ducks that come in every year.
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