Sounds very Australian indeed! They are versatile working dogs, highly intelligent, alert and capable of learning a great deal, but they’re also independent thinkers.

Today the breed is still popular in working paddocks and in the show ring.Īs far as temperament goes, the cheeky Australian Kelpie has oodles of personality and a wicked sense of humour. By the 1880s, Kelpies were winning sheep dog trials across NSW and Victoria. It is from these beginnings that we have the Australian Kelpie today. There are also some reports that Dingoes were bred into the Kelpie breed. One of their offspring, ‘Caesar’ was eventually mated with Gleeson’s ‘Kelpie’. At the same time, another Victorian gentleman imported a male and female sheepdog from Scotland. There’s a story that in 1870, a man, Jack Gleeson and his unnamed puppy were sitting by a creek in country Victoria when the mist rose off the creek inspiring the pup’s name, ‘Kelpie’, which is Gaelic for ‘water sprite’. The Kelpie’s ancestors include British herding dogs (that may also have contributed to the development of the Border Collie, English Shepherd and Australian Shepherd). The Australian wool industry was becoming big business, and farmers needed tough dogs who could not only handle the unruly sheep but also the harsh environmental conditions and vast acreages. 1.The Kelpie came into being in the late 19th Century. Loyal, protective, brave, and willing to do what it takes to keep their family safe, these are the dogs that will give you complete peace of mind at home. But any dog, no matter the size, has exceptionally good hearing (far better than humans) and can at the very least alert you to potential threats before you can hear them for yourself. In general, larger dogs are more intimidating to would-be intruders, and those breeds make more sense if you’re looking for a family companion who can not only warn you about intruders, but help protect you from them as well. These ingrained instincts have carried over to protecting their adoptive families in modern times. Many were bred as herders and are accustomed to keeping flocks safe from predators.

(It’s important to clarify that all dogs, no matter what breed, should be properly trained.) Once you get them the training they require, there are certain dog breeds that are more naturally skilled at being guard dogs.

Lots of different breeds will bark to alert their owners to perceived signs of danger, but some dogs are particularly well-suited to protecting your family.

Family watch dogs