History of the Australian Kelpie

Last century the Kelpie came into being because Australian sheepmen needed a special type of dog that could work sheep under variable and harsh conditions on the vast outback properties of Australia.   The severe Australian climate and the harsh conditions of the country made it very hard for the various breeds of sheepdogs from Europe and the UK as they were too heavy coated.   In the 1860s this wonderful breed came from two black and tan short coated prick eared Collies imported by a Mr. Elliott and a Mr. Allen.

From a litter born shortly after their arrival came several black and tans and one red pup. The red pup, in some ways, resembled the fox, which was believed to be in the background of the breeding – of course this is not true and foxes and dogs cannot mate.  From Victoria came a bitch, also from a Collie, called Kelpie (Gaelic word meaning water sprite). The Kelpie was mated to a dog from Elliott and Allen's pups and one pup from this litter resembled her mother so much she was also named Kelpie.

Kelpie (at 12 months of age) was entered in the first sheep dog trial in 1872 which was held at Forbes, NSW and she won this trial with ease.  Her pups were in great demand and were at the time called Kelpie's pups, and so this is how the name Kelpie was evolved. This name has now gained the status of Australian Kelpie.

Among the descendants of these early dogs was the jet black dog who was named The Barb. Many black Kelpies were referred to as 'Barbs" and this term still persists today.

There are various recorded and unrecorded infusions of other breeds with some experts believing there have been crosses to the Dingo. However, this issue is fiercely debated by many breeders and historians.

The Australian Kelpie has been exported to the Netherlands, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, USA, South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Germany from these humble beginnings. These dogs are being used to manage a variety of stock including reindeer, goats, cattle and, of course, sheep.

The Kelpie has excelled in the areas of Obedience, Agility and Tracking. They have participated in Pets As Therapy and in the past, have been fully trained Guide Dogs.

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WINGDARI - Our History

We started breeding Australian Kelpies with a beautiful female Kelpie called Butterbone Wings ("Wings"). Wings was from the famous Chris Walker Butterbone Kennels, Kentlyn near Sydney. From Wings her first two litters were registered by Chris Walker with the Butterbone prefix as at the time I did not have a kennel prefix of my own. The first litter produced Aust.Ch.Butterbone Pure Flight ("Jaffa"). Jaffa produced some of my top winning dogs. Swedish & International Champion Wingdari Colonial Girl, Aust.Ch.Wingdari Little Jessie (owned by Stephen Lewis of Cowra - Stephen and Jessie were great ambassadors for the breed winning Best In Shows at All Breeds and Speciality shows. Wingdari Hey True Blue ("Tigger") - Best In Show winner - from the paddock working sheep and cattle into the show ring. Tigger is the sire of Aust.Grand Ch. Wingdari Uluru Australia's top winning Kelpie of all time - "the living legend". Aust.Ch.Wingdari Swaggies Lady - Multi Royal Challenge and In Show winner and mother of Aust.Ch.Wingdari Swaggies Charm who has gone on to win multi speciality Challenges and Opposite Sex in Show, class in show wins and has produced some top progeny. The second litter produced one of our toping winning male dogs Aust.Ch.Butterbone Dire Strait ("Clancy"). "Clancy" went on to win multi Best in Shows, Royal Challenges and Best of Breeds, classes in show and Best in Group wins. "Clancy" also worked sheep and had a good eye and working instincts.

We then applied for our own kennel prefix "Wingdari" in honour of our first Kelpie "Wings". Over the years we have produced World and Junior World Champions in Holland, Sweden and Finland. The dog that has left his mark on the breed is the "living legend" - Aust.Grand Champion Wingdari Uluru ("Roo"). "Roo" has over the years won twenty Royal wins to his credit at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Hobart Royals. He is a multi Best In Show and Runner Up Best in Show winner at Speciality and All Breed levels, multi Best in Groups, Consolation to Best in Show wins. "Roo" is the most gentle, kind and loving dog and has passed this on in his progeny. "Roo's" daughter Aust.Ch.Mountainmist Olga - "Poss" and his son Aust.Ch. Mountainmist Sunaru - "Sunny" are both top winning dogs and between them have achieved multi Royal Best of Breed and Runner Up Best of Breed wins, Challenges, Best In Shows and Runner Up Best in Show wins at both Speciality and All Breeds levels. At Brisbane Royal 2003 "Sunny" and his three progeny won the four top awards for the breed. "Sunny" won the Challenge Dog and Opposite Sex of Breed, Wingdari Swaga Chaos won Puppy Dog and Opposite Puppy of Breed, Wingdari Swaga Spirits won Best Minor Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy of Breed. Wingdari Outback Sunrise a daughter of "Sunny" won the Reserve Challenge Bitch and Runner Up Best of Breed. "Poss" has just attained her Grand Champion Title along with Best In Show at the Easter Specialty Kelpie Show in Sydney 2004. So the legend lives on from the great dog Aust.Grand Ch.Wingdari Uluru.

Our dogs live an easy life - running free, being happy and every dog a valued family member and companion.

To all the folk who own Wingdari Kelpies - my thanks to you all. Whether the dogs are worked on stock, shown in the ring, do obedience, agility, tracking or search and rescue work or a family pet - many many thanks for loving them as I do.

Marie Colyer
Wingdari Australian Kelpie Stud
Australia.

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The Kelpie Colours

This is a showcase of the colours of the Australian Kelpie

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Blue

Chocolate

Red and Tan

Red

Black and Tan

Black

Fawn

Fawn

 
Australian Kelpie Breed Standard

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 energy, with 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. 

TEMPERAMENT - (See under characteristics) 

HEAD AND SKULL - The head is in proportion to the size of the dog, 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. 

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 permissible. 

EARS - The ears are pricked and running to a fine point at the tips, the 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 is well furnished with hair. 

MOUTH - The teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper, that is a scissor bite. 

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 nor 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 slope 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 topline, 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 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 excitement it may be raised, but under no circumstances should the tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root.  It should be furnished with a good brush.  Set on position to blend with sloping croup, and it should reach approximately to the hock. 

GAIT/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 and 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 four square. 

COAT - The coat is a double coat with a short dense undercoat.  The outercoat 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 either too long or too short is a fault.  As an average, the hairs on the body should be from 2 to 3 cms (approx. 0.75 - 1.25 ins) in length. 

COLOUR - Black, black and tan, red, red and tan, fawn, chocolate, and smoke blue. 

SIZE - 
Height: Dogs 46-51 cms (approx. 18-20 ins) at withers 
Bitches 43-48 cms (approx. 17-19 ins) at withers 

FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.  

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