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Kelpie Border Collie – Everything You Need to Know

The Kelpie Border Collie Mix is an unusual hybrid of the Border Collie and the Kelpie. The Kelpie Border collie breed is a relatively new crossbreed, but their ancestors have a long history. Both Kelpies and Border Collies are sheepdogs descended from Collie-type herding dogs that came to Australia in the 19th century.

The Kelpie Border Collie Mix is a pack of intelligence, energy, and devotion. They will have limitless energy and would love nothing more than to work a flock on a ranch. This breed is so untiring and intense that they are not suited to most families and need a firm leader whom they can look up to. However, they are self-sufficient and less needy than other breeds on this list, which can be more appealing.  In addition, these breeds are friendly and prefer to be the center of attention all the time. 

Border Kelpie

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Affectionate and loyalCan become destructive if left alone for a long time
Healthy and long livingEnergetic dog breed that requires a lot of activity
Excellent stamina and ideal family companionMental stimulation is necessary to stop your dog from being aggressive

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Basic Information

Name: Kelpie Border Collie Mix

Height: 17-22 Inches

Weight: 30-50 Pounds

Size: Medium

Color: White, Red, Brown, Gray, Black

Coat: Medium- length, short, dense hair

Hypoallergenic: No

Energy: High

Activities: Agility, Conformation, Herding, Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking, Dog Sledding, Therapy

Barking Level: Medium to High

Shedding Level: Medium to High

Group: Herding

Litter Size: 4 to 8 puppies (approx.)

Lifespan: 10 to 17 years

Border Collie and Siberian Husky: A Comparison

=FeaturesBorder CollieKelpie
Image 
OriginUnited Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, EnglandAustralia
Height18 to 22 inches17 to 20 inches
Weight30 to 45 pounds25 to 45 pounds
Size MediumMedium
GroupHerding Herding 
Children CompatibilityMedium to HighHigh
Family CompatibilityHighHigh
Pets CompatibilityMediumMedium
Barking LevelLow to MediumHigh
Shedding LevelMediumMedium to High
HypoallergenicNoNo
Grooming NeedsMediumLow to Medium
Overall HealthMedium to HighMedium to High
EnergyHighHigh
Exercise NeedsHighHigh
TrainabilityMedium to HighMedium to High
ActivitiesAgility, Conformation, Herding, Obedience, Rally Obedience, TrackingDetection work, therapy, service dog work, dog sports, herding
Complication in breedingNoNo
Litter Size4 to 8 puppies4 to 7 puppies
Lifespan12 to 15 years10 to 13 years
Other NamesScottish Sheep Dog, English Sheep Dog, and Welsh SheepDogAustralian Sheepdog, Australischer Kelpie, Barb, Working Kelpie, Australian Kelpie

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Personality

Both the Kelpie Border Collie mix parents are affectionate and friendly with their families. Still, they would rather stay away from crowds and noisy situations. So, they follow in their footsteps and remain reserved in unknown cases while enjoying the challenges of working life. 

A Kelpie Border Collie mix has an athletic personality that stands tall about 18 to 21 inches and weighs around 25 to 50 pounds. They inherit intelligence, a wolf-like body, and well-defined almond-shaped eyes from their parent, Kelpie. In contrast, they may inherit aloof and loving nature from their Border Collie parent.

Friendliness Overview

Affection level High
Family-Friendly High
Kid-Friendly Medium to High
Pet-Friendly Medium to High
Strangers-Friendly High

Adaptability Overview

Good for New Pet Owners Low to Medium
Good for Apartment Living Low to Medium
Sensitivity Level Medium to High
Tolerates being alone Low
Cold Tolerance Medium to High 
Heat Tolerance Medium to High

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Temperament

Considering its Kelpie and Border Collie heritage, the puppies are generally kind, mild-tempered dogs with a good temperament. Early socialization is necessary to ensure these dogs get along well with your family and other pets. First, let’s look at their parent breeds to understand what you are getting into:

Border Collies are agile, alert dogs who relish pleasing their owners. Because of their herding ancestry, they can work independently and efficiently and obey orders without any concern. However, these hard working dogs prefer to have tasks and a proper schedule, mainly when working with their owner. After decades of breeding, Border Collies are recognized as the most high-grade herding dogs for any job.

On the contrary, Border Collies are extremely sensitive to their surroundings and might get easily overwhelmed in a crowded space. Border Collies are loving and enjoy cuddling, but only as a treat after an exciting day of work.

Kelpie, also known as Australian Kelpie, was explicitly selected to herd sheep independently without getting feedback from shepherds. This means Kelpies relish challenges and work on their own. However, they are also insanely loyal dogs who want to please their owners and enjoy treats after a well-done job.

On the other hand, this breed prefers smaller groups of people instead of crowds. Like Border Collies, Kelpies don’t shy away from strange situations but aren’t outgoing. In general, a Kelpie that isn’t certain about their surroundings will stay on the outskirts of the action until they have evaluated everything that’s going on.

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Training

With these breeds and their crosses, it’s essential to focus on positive reinforcement training. These dogs are susceptible to their owner’s moods and don’t take well to mistreatment or violence. As an owner, you have to cultivate a friendly, respectful relationship with your dog that convinces them and makes them feel protected. In general, these brilliant dogs are easy to train; however, they might be very stubborn. Therefore, early socialization and proper training are necessary for all puppies and dogs.

Trainability Overview

Easy to TrainMedium
Intelligence Medium to High
Prey Drive Medium
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite Medium to High
Tendency to Bark or Howl Medium to High
Wanderlust Ability Medium to High
Attention/Social NeedsHigh

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Exercise Needs

The Kelpie Border Collie Mix is a working dog who needs sufficient exercise, both mental and physical stimulation. Therefore, regular jogging, walking, or playtime are recommended. Although allowing this breed to walk ahead of you on your long walks is not a great idea. As the alpha owner, this dog must be walked either behind or beside you to reinforce that. Usually, a Border Collie demands an average of 60 minutes of exercise daily, whereas Kelpie requires 90 minutes of exercise. So, it is advised to exercise your puppy for at least 90 minutes to keep them fit and mentally stimulated.

Exercise Needs Overview

Energy Level                                      High
Exercise Needs                                 High
Playfulness                                        High
 Intensity      Medium

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Grooming

The Kelpie and Border Collie are both moderate shedders. The Border Collie parent has a double coat that requires thorough grooming. The Kelpies can be short, sleek, or rugged and come in various beautiful colors. However, while the months are warming up, you should give more attention to brushing their coats to keep them healthy and neat.

As pet parents, you can decide responsibly to bathe this breed only when required, as it will cause stripping of the natural oils from its weather-resistant coat, which will finally dry out their skin. Besides the shedding issue, this breed doesn’t have specific grooming requirements beyond cleanliness and nail clipping.

Grooming Needs Overview

Amount of Shedding                        Medium to High
Tendency to Drool      Low to Medium 
Tendency to Snore      Medium 
Easy to Groom      Medium  

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Health

As Kelpie Border Collie Mix are hybrids, they will usually be healthy. However, they can be inclined to diseases that are common to their parents and other dogs. Getting to know the disorders running through your pup’s family will help prevent those diseases. Regular health checkups are recommended to avoid common health ailments.

Health Overview

Basic Health     Medium to High
Weight Gain Possibilities     Medium
Size     Medium

Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a severe, life-threatening hereditary condition caused when the bones of the rear legs don’t suit properly in the joints. Factors such as excessive weight gain, injuries, wrong exercises can lead to hip dysplasia. Treatment varies from medication to hip replacement surgeries.

Elbow Dysplasia: This disease happens when the bones of the elbow joint fail to align correctly. This misalignment generates abnormal pressure at the joint, driving to chronic rubbing, resulting in severe osteoarthritis. 

Bloating: Gastric Dilatation or Bloating is a dysfunction in the digestive system. As a result, the stomach spins, dilates, and twists, causing severe pain to the affected dog. This situation will also destroy the blood vessels and prevent blood flow to major organs, causing organ failure. 

Collie Eye Anomaly: Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is an inherited developmental disorder usually seen in breeds like Border Collies, Australian shepherds, Shetland sheepdogs, etc. This condition can lead a dog to blindness.

Heart Diseases: Heart Diseases can produce irregular heart murmurs and heart rhythm. The most reliable way to diagnose is through an X-ray or an ECG. Treatment includes dental care, medication, and weight control.

Patellar Luxation:  Patellar Luxation or slipped stifles is a common difficulty in dog breeds that is caused when the patella, which has three parts- patella (knee cap), the femur (thigh bone), and tibia (calf) — is not perfectly bounded. This points to lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, like a skip or a hop. This disease is caused by birth, although luxation or the actual misalignment does not always occur much later. In addition, the rubbing caused by patellar luxation results in arthritis. 

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Diet and Nutrition

The raw food diet is an excellent choice for the Kelpie Border Collie Mix. However, it would help if you looked to ensure that food portions and nutrients are managed. Check with your vet and see what they would suggest feeding your dog in both food quantities and options. This should avoid the risk of over-eating: a state that could put the life and well-being of your dog in unnecessary danger.

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Living Condition

In general, a Kelpie Border Collie Mix is not a dog that will do good in an apartment. Because of their medium-to-large size and very agile nature, these dogs need sufficient space to run around and get their energy out.

In another case, or if you’d rather have the opportunity to leave your dog at home, get another breed. Both Kelpies and Border Collies need regular mental and physical stimulation to be happy. Else, they risk becoming misbehaving, bored, and eventually damaging their belongings out of boredom.

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Puppy Cost

On average, a Kelpie Border Collie mix puppy may range approximately around $800 to $1500 depending on the breeder’s location, the sex of the puppy, and show-record of the parent dogs.

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Photos

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Videos

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Doing Tricks

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Funny

Kelpie Border Collie Mix Training

Other Border Collie Mixes

  • Bordoodle
  • Borgi
  • Border Jack
  • Border Springer
  • Borador
  • Border Point
  • Border Heeler
  • Boxollie
  • Border Pyrenees
  • Borgle
  • Borderstaff
  • Bodatian
  • Bordernese
  • Collie Cocker
  • Border Newfie
  • Border Schnollie
  • Golden Border
  • Bordersky
  • Great Border
  • Bordermute
  • Border Aussie
  • Borderland
  • Dobie
  • Shollie
  • Border Pit
  • Collieweiler
  • Brittany Border
  • Borderstiff
  • Vizslie
  • Kelpie Collie

Other Kelpie Mixes

  • Labrador Kelpie or Kelpador
  • Australian Kelpie German shepherd mix
  • Golden Kelpie (Australian Kelpie and Golden retriever)
  • Australian Kelpie Husky mix
  • Australian Kelpie Jack Russell mix
  • Australian Kelpie Mastiff mix
  • Australian Kelpie Staffordshire bull terrier mix

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