Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie is a tireless herding dog bred to work stock in hot conditions. Very intelligent, energetic and devoted to its owner, it needs plenty of exercise and mental work. It does best with active owners.
Weight
14–25 kg
Height at withers
43–51 cm
Life expectancy
10–14 years
Size
medium
Activity
high
Shedding
moderate
Barking tendency
moderate
Apartment friendly
Poorly suited to apartments: needs a large yard or very full daily exercise.
Care
Needs 2+ hours of activity a day: running, fetch, dog sports; without exercise and mental tasks it becomes destructive; brush weekly (more often when shedding); start training and socialisation early
Health
Cerebellar abiotrophy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, overexertion injuries
Coat
Short, dense, double coat
Travel
Plan time for exercise and play on the road; provide water and shade in hot weather; without activity the dog handles long trips poorly.
Carrier size
Needs a medium-sized hard crate; not eligible for in-cabin air travel, cargo hold only in an IATA-compliant crate.
Harness size
Size M–L, chest girth typically 60–80 cm; a front-clip harness helps with pulling
Leash
A sturdy 1.5–2 m leash; a 5–10 m long line for running and training; avoid retractable leashes on busy streets.
Airline cabin travel
usually not
Hani Walk — walk tracking, a digital pet passport and vaccination reminders, always at hand in the app.