Editing Australian Kelpie (section)

==Appearance==
The Kelpie is a soft-coated, medium-sized dog, usually with prick ears and an athletic appearance. Their coat colours include black, black and tan, red, red and tan, blue, blue and tan, fawn, fawn and tan, cream, black and blue, and white and gold. The Kelpie generally weighs {{convert|14|-|20|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and measures {{convert|41|-|51|cm|in|abbr=on}} at the [[withers]]. They can reach a maximum weight of {{convert|25|-|27|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2002 |title=Kelpie |encyclopedia=Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia |publisher=World Almanac Education Group}}</ref>

=== Breed standards ===
[[Robert Kaleski]] published the first standard for the Kelpie in 1904. The standard was accepted by leading breeders of the time and adopted by the Kennel Club of New South Wales.<ref name =bio>{{Cite book |last=Walsh |first=G. P. |year=1983 |chapter=Kaleski, Robert Lucian (1877–1961) |chapter-url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kaleski-robert-lucian-stanislaus-6894/text11953 |title=Australian Dictionary of Biography |volume=9 |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> Contemporary breed standards vary depending on whether the [[breed registry|registry]] is for working or show Kelpies. It is possible for a dog to both work and show, but options for competition in conformation shows might be limited depending on ancestry and the opinions of the [[kennel club]]s or [[Breed club (dog)|breed club]]s involved.

In Australia, there are two separate registries for Kelpies. Working Kelpies are registered with the Working Kelpie Council (WKC)<ref>[http://www.wkc.org.au/ The Working Kelpie Council of Australia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040322184213/http://www.wkc.org.au/ |date=22 March 2004 }}</ref> and/or the Australian Sheepdog Workers Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asdwa.org.au/|title=ASDWA – Australian Sheep Dog Workers' Association -|publisher=asdwa.org.au}}</ref> The WKC encourages breeding for working ability, and allows a wide variety of coat colours. Show Kelpies are registered with the [[Australian National Kennel Council]], which encourages breeding for a certain appearance and limits acceptable colours. The wide standards allowed by the WKC mean that many Working Kelpies do not meet the standard for showing.

In the US, the Kelpie is not recognised as a breed by the [[American Kennel Club]] (AKC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm|title=Dog Breeds – Types Of Dogs| publisher= [[American Kennel Club]]|website= AKC.org}}</ref> However, the [[United Kennel Club]] and the [[Canadian Kennel Club]] recognise the Kelpie and allow them to compete in official events.<ref>{{cite web | publisher= [[United Kennel Club]] | title= Australian Kelpie | url= http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/HerdingDog/AustralianKelpie | access-date= 3 December 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150206111712/http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/HerdingDog/AustralianKelpie | archive-date= 6 February 2015 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=CKC Breed Standards | url=http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&groupCode=07 | archive-date=5 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005221516/http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&groupCode=07 }}</ref> As of 2015, Australian Kelpies have been accepted by the AKC as Herding Dogs allowed to compete in AKC sanctioned Sheep Herding Trials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/working-kelpie/|title=Working Kelpie|first=American Kennel|last=Club|publisher=akc.org}}</ref>

=== Working Kelpie ===
The Working Kelpie comes in three coat types: short, smooth and rough. The coat can be almost any colour from black to light tan or cream. Some Kelpies have a white blaze on the chest, and a few have white points. Kelpies sometimes have a [[double coat]], which sheds out in spring in temperate climates. [[Agouti (coloration)|Agouti]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hnrworkingkelpies.com/Basic_Color_Genetics.html|title=Basic Coat Color Genetics|first=Ida|last=Parmer|publisher=hnrworkingkelpies.com|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201133052/http://www.hnrworkingkelpies.com/Basic_Color_Genetics.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> is not unusual, and can look like a double coat.

Working Kelpies vary in size, ranging from about {{convert|19|–|25|in|cm| abbr=on}} and {{convert|28|–|60|lb|abbr=on}}. 
[[File:Kelpie walking across the backs of sheep.jpg|alt=A brown dog walks across the backs of sheep crowded tightly together in a pen|thumb|Kelpie "backing" sheep]]
[[File:Shorthorn heifers & kelpies.jpg|alt=Two dogs approach a group of cows in a field, one from each side. One of the dogs is crouching and the other walking upright towards the cows.|thumb|Two kelpies working shorthorn heifers]]
A Working Kelpie can be a cheap and efficient worker that can save farmers and graziers the cost of several hands when mustering livestock.<ref>{{cite journal | journal= [[Farming Ahead]]| title= Learning to train your four-legged workers| date= February 1997}}</ref>{{efn|The record price paid for a kelpie as at 2021 is A$32,500.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sheepcentral.com/hoovers-35200-prices-sets-world-record-at-casterton/ |title=Hoover's $35,200 price sets world record at Casterton auction |work=Sheep Central |publisher=Nascon Media |date=16 June 2021 |access-date=1 January 2022 |first=Terry |last=Sim}}</ref>}}  The good Working Kelpies are herding dogs that will prevent stock from moving away from the stockman.<ref name=ReferenceA /> This natural instinct is crucial when mustering stock in isolated gorge country, where a good dog will silently move ahead of the stockman and block up the stock (usually cattle) until the rider appears.<ref>{{cite book| last= Messner| first= Andrew| title= Green Gully Historical Report| publisher= [[Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (New South Wales)|New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation]]| year= 2006}}</ref> Kelpies have natural instincts for managing livestock. They will work sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, and other domestic livestock. The Kelpie's signature move is to jump on the backs of sheep and walk across the tops of the sheep to reach the other side and break up the jam. Kelpies compete and are exhibited in livestock working trials, ranging from yards or arenas to large open fields working sheep, goats, cattle, or ducks.<ref name="Sloane"/>

===Show Kelpie===
Kelpies that are bred under the ANKC registrations are registered for show (Main Register) only in the following colours: Black, Chocolate, Red, Smoky Blue, Fawn, Black and Tan, and Red and Tan. They have a double coat and pricked ears. The other colours can be registered as pets and sporting dogs (Limited Register): Blue and Tan, Fawn and Tan and Yellow/Cream. Kelpies were first exhibited in the early 20th century, at the [[Sydney Royal Easter Show]].<ref name="Sloane"/> ANKC "Show" Kelpies are now becoming very popular both nationally and internationally as family pets, companion dogs, running mates and sport dogs due to their trainability, good nature and low maintenance of care and can be found all over the world.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}