The Australian Working Kelpie
The Working Kelpie is a medium sized pricked eared short haired dog. They are the main stock dog of Australia being capable of working all kinds of stock, they have incredible stamina and can work in the high temperatures and rough terrain in some parts of Australia.
I focus my breeding on dogs to work stock as this is what the kelpie is about; being a talented sheepdog out in the field and yard. My aim is to breed all round working dogs, not just yard or field dogs, but one dog for all jobs.
Although my focus is on breeding for stock work I do sell some of my pups to active pet/companion homes because they are such a versatile breed being used for agility, flyball, search & rescue, the high jump in Australia, obedience, demonstration dogs at shows and dryland sled dog racing. You can see why the kelpie is becoming more popular, but as a breeder I feel it is important to breed from dogs that have proved their worth on working stock and to breed from dogs that do not work stock will be, in the long term in my opinion will be detrimental to the working kelpie as a breed. We already use kelpies in different sports and they do very well so it is important to remember the original purpose and only breed with dogs that have shown a good working instinct on livestock and that was not a kelpie in sport but the Working Kelpie Stock dog.
Health issues in the working kelpie
When considering the health issues of the working kelpie, I feel it is important to say that although some of the health issues are proven to be hereditary not all are, and in some cases could be enviromental, e.g. poor management or over-exercising a young pup.
Ataxia is hereditary in the breed and the W.K.C of Australia are looking into finding a D.N.A test for it but with genetics it is a complex thing and takes time - saying this, it still is not a common occurrency.
For more imformation about hip dysplasia and epilepsy (as there is so much information) I recommend you Google it.