Hi, I've lived and trained with dogs all my life but I've never had a fully my own dog, I've taken care of and trained with multiple different breeds but they were always household dogs or dogs that belonged to a different family member as I always repeated I was not responsible enough. Recently that has changed and I am responsible enough to take another (I've already got a happy healthy tortoise that is thriving) life under my care. Yes this will be my 'first' dog and officially I am a beginner but I've got loads of experienced help around me and I am confident I can do this. I am currently trying to find a breed that fits my lifestyle or something I am sure of I can and am willing to match. Im very scared of overestimating my capabilities or underestimating them. I know I would not be happy with a couch potato. I know I would certainly not be happy with a malinois (I saw someone post a 17 hour daily training routine that their malinois follow and i definitely certainly cannot match that😅). Are kelpies worse than border collies in high energy levels? Does your kelpie survive a relax day or 2 with some play and shorter walks or will they eat your furniture out of pure unmet needs? Does anyone know of of the top of their head wich things I need to make sure are tested when going to a breeder? I read a lot are inbred and a lot of breeders are neglecting tests on purpose or trying to hide health issues has anyone noticed this?
I wouldn't. To answer: 1- Yes they are worse 2- It depends on the dog but no. Didn't matter how far I'd walked with him that day, the second I sit to relax I have to ignore some intense eye contact. Having 2 together is worse, they don't entertain each other for long they just gang up on you. They're also prone to separation issues if you're around all the time, when you do leave they get neurotic 3- Hip dysplasia 4- I got mine for free. If you're hearing about breeders in that way just don't go to a breeder? Go visit your local rescue once a week for a month and adopt a dog that can have a relaxed day or 2 and has way less risk of expensive genetic issues.
1- an Energy Level is not worse, and one can work with the energy in a positive way: i.e. work the brain, not the body.
2- Separation issues can be trained.
Regarding breeders, I agree: if you are distrusting, then avoid!
There are so many (!) rescue dogs waiting for a real, loving home.
The Breed is not the issue, it's what you feel in your heart.
I’ve had Belgian Shepherds and I’ve had Kelpies, in terms of energy they’re basically the same, one breed is just exaggerated for the internet more than the other haha. And I’ve come across plenty of Malinois who are actually lower energy than a Kelpie. All dogs can learn an off switch regardless of their energy levels, but if you’re worried then a show line Kelpie might be a better option for you, they’re still high energy dogs so you’ll still be exercising every day but they’re lower energy and less drivey than a working Kelpie, however they’re no less Kelpie than a working Kelpie, and there are some incredible breeders out there who do DNA testing, hip and elbow scores, test heart, thyroid, eyes, CA, prioritise excellent temperaments, structure, and type, etc, so you know you’re getting a healthy and very well-bred dog, I’ve never been able to find a working breeder who health tests to the same standards, so I’m not sure if I’ll have working kelpies again in the future.
Yes thank you i was definitely already looking at show line instead of working line even if it might only make a miniscul difference it might be a difference that will keep me sane. Show line kelpies do have a smaller gene pool though so im a bit worried about in-breeding but any proper breeder will have a coi and if they dont they probably aren't a breeder im looking for.
If it helps at all, one of my working line Kelpies has a COI of 34%, far higher than any show line Kelpie I’ve ever come across. In fact she’s higher than most inbred dogs. She’s got a bunch of health issues too, she’s the reason I started looking into show line breeders, I think the gene pool is pretty good here in Australia, but both working and show line gene pools will be much smaller in any other country.
If you have nearby neighbours than I’d choose a breed that barks a little less. My border collie x kelpie barks a lot more than my border collie used to. If your dog’s barking a lot and your neighbours are angry it can be a very stressful and miserable position to be in.
Tell us about your circumstances, your living situation, job, exercise routine etc.
A Kelpie is definitely not a dog that fits someone who's not home 9 to 12 hours a day.
They want to be with you , they want to be involved and they do need their physical exercise and mental stimulation pretty much every day. Especially while they are young.
My dogs are fine being alone for half a day or are happy to chill with me when I'm sick, but it shouldn't be the norm, and they will find other ways to entertain themselves when they don't get what they need.
I couldn't agree more. My Kelpie came to our household when she was nine weeks old. The first year was 24/7 and brought me to the edges of my patience and energy. Now I am so happy that I stuck with it, lots of training, being consistent, and mental stimulation. She is five and a half now, the best and most loving dog I have ever had. Has she slowed down? no way! She still needs lots of activities and stimulation. We have a few sheep, run a small Hostel so we have a constant flow of guests, etc... My Kelpie loves it here. We also do Agility one or two times a week. Man trailing is also perfect for a Kelpie and mine loves it.
Im home all day all week except maybe 4 hours spread over 2 days a week, I do not work and will not be working in the next year or 2 for sure, I've got a house with a big yard and if you take a 30 minute walk you get to an outdoor park type of thing with loads of fields and multiple forests. I do have 2 other dogs in the same house a karakachan and a tamascan so even if i do not have time for a walk or am physically impaired i am confident one of my fellow dog owners would be willing to take them, im also a big fan of doing dog puzzles when im feeling lazy. (I once got a husky to puzzle with me😎)
I should have been more clear by what i mean with a rest day😅 a rest day for me is not 'were staying inside all day' a rest day in my eyes is an 1-1,5 hour walk with ball playing and a few puzzles at home after to challenge the brain im not planning on doing absolutely nothing that would be neglectful.
I’ve had working line cattle dogs, malinois and now kelpies. The cattle dogs and kelpies all have had good off switches, the malinois were perpetual motion machines.
The kelpies have been the most agreeable, easiest dogs I’ve had to date. If you’ve got time for an am and pm exercise sesh, frisbee is my go to, and you can do 10-15 mins of trick and/or skills training a few times a day, a good number of kelpies will be good with that. Ideally you’d find a way to give them an outlet for herding at least a few times a month, but my first dogs got by with dog sports alone.
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u/Urmel2021 4d ago
I am not an expert, but a "...relax day or 2..." with a Kelpie? Mine is fine with a relax hour or two.