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.
Table of Contents
Kelpie Border Collie Mix Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Affectionate and loyal
Can become destructive if left alone for a long time
Healthy and long living
Energetic dog breed that requires a lot of activity
Excellent stamina and ideal family companion
Mental stimulation is necessary to stop your dog from being aggressive
Detection work, therapy, service dog work, dog sports, herding
Complication in breeding
No
No
Litter Size
4 to 8 puppies
4 to 7 puppies
Lifespan
12 to 15 years
10 to 13 years
Other Names
Scottish Sheep Dog, English Sheep Dog, and Welsh SheepDog
Australian Sheepdog, Australischer Kelpie, Barb, Working Kelpie, Australian Kelpie
KelpieBorder 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
KelpieBorder 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 Train
Medium
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 Needs
High
KelpieBorder 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
KelpieBorder 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
KelpieBorder 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.
KelpieBorder 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.
KelpieBorder 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.
KelpieBorder 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.
