The Australian Kelpie, or simply, Kelpie, is a hard-working dog well-known to farmers all around the world, not only in Australia.
They are tireless and always ready to do the job. And, not only that — they are loyal dogs that love to share a cuddle on the sofa with their owner after a hard day of work.
Breeders have seen long ago the benefits of crossbreeding two purebred dogs to get a new one, which is called a hybrid, or a designer dog. They are simply using the best from both dogs to make a new dog — their mixed offspring.
That’s exactly what the breeders wanted to do when they made Australian Kelpie mixes. They wanted to mix all of the wonderful traits that this dog has with the wonderful traits of another purebred dog.
The outcome was 11 amazing Australian Kelpie mixes that will make you want to get one for yourself right now. From Labradors to Dingos, breeders around the world used all kinds of dog breeds to combine with a Kelpie.
But, they didn’t do it for the show — they knew that combining such a loyal and hard-working sheepdog from Australia with another loyal dog of similar working qualities will produce a litter of amazing puppies.
Let’s take a look at these wonderful Kelpie mixes…
11 Australian Kelpie Mixes
First of all, a reputable breeder will always crossbreed dogs that have been genetically tested and cleared of hereditary diseases. They will also try to breed dogs that are of similar size in order to avoid problems during the birthing process.
Yes, a Caesarian section can be done, but it is stressful on the dog, and more complications are possible during and after the operation.
The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog that is no bigger than 50 pounds or higher than 20 inches. That means they are not too big to not be able to breed with smaller dogs, and they are not too small not to breed with bigger dogs.
In other words, it is the best dog for crossbreeding, not only because of its temperamental traits, but because of its physical traits, too. These are 11 gorgeous Australian Kelpie mix breeds that are an excellent choice if you are looking for a mixed dog and a great pet to become your next companion.
1. Golden Retriever Australian Kelpie Mix
The name of this mixed dog is ‘Golden Kelpie’. And, it truly is the golden boy of Australian Kelpie mixes. They got affection from the Golden Retriever and hard-working habits from the Kelpie.
One of the best traits is that they have incredible training abilities. Because both dog breeds love to please their owner and show they can do what is asked of them, teaching them good behavior or a trick will be quite an easy task.
Golden Kelpie puppies will grow to be up to 20 inches tall, and they will weigh from 50 to 70 pounds. That puts them on the border between a medium-sized and a large dog. In either case, they will need lots of space to run and satisfy their high energy levels.
If you don’t have a lot of space for this dog, then taking it for a hike or a long walk in the park is a daily must. Otherwise, these dogs won’t shine their true colors, and they might even become destructive because of boredom.
2. Labrador Retriever Australian Kelpie Mix
This is a mixed dog with similar temperamental traits to a Golden Kelpie. Its name is the ‘Kelpador’. Labrador Retrievers are of a similar size to Golden Retrievers, which means that Kelpadors are also going to be around 50 to 70 pounds.
The Labrador Kelpie mixed dog’s height is also up to 20 inches, just like with the Golden Kelpie mix. The biggest difference between a Golden Kelpie and a Kelpador is the fur length. Labradors have short fur, just like Kelpies, which means their mixed offspring will also have short fur.
But, don’t mix the short fur with shedding. This dog is a year-round moderate shedder and they will need regular weekly grooming. They will also need more grooming during the shedding seasons — in the fall and spring.
Kelpies usually come in dark colors like brown, liver, or black. But, the Labrador Retriever can have lighter coat colors — like a yellow or a white Labrador. This means your Kalpador puppies can inherit any coat color from both parents.
Generally, they will have a mixture of their parent’s coat colors. In this case, it means shades of brown or yellow. But, whatever the color is, they will be smart dogs that can easily work as service dogs.
3. Australian Shepherd Kelpie Mix
If you are looking for an excellent herding dog for your farm or you just like obedient and hard-working dogs that can spend hours and hours outside — then the Australian Shepherd Kelpie mix is the right choice for you.
The Australian Shepherd Kelpie mix is a dog of medium size. They also grow up to 20 inches, and they usually weigh around 55 to 60 pounds.
Both breeds are very intelligent dogs, and their crossbreed will definitely need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. Don’t leave these dogs bored or with nothing to do for days.
If you have to leave them alone for the majority of the time during the day, there are interactive dog toys to keep them occupied until you get back home. But, this is not a permanent solution. They need to go outside and be physically active.
The coat color of this mixed dog is a wild guess, to say the least, especially if you mix a Kelpie with a merle Australian Shepherd dog. Their offspring can either inherit the merle coat color or they can have a gene to transfer the merle coat color to their future offspring.
Other coat colors include black, bi-colored (black and white), red, liver, tri-colored, etc.
4. Jack Russell Terrier Australian Kelpie Mix
Now, here we have a smaller Australian Kelpie mix dog. The size, of course, comes from the Jack Russell Terrier. This Kelpie and Jack Russell Terrier mix can weigh from 20 to 35 pounds, and they are usually up to 15 inches tall.
It might be a smaller dog, but it is still very active. You could say hyperactive! The Jack Russell Terrier is a famous dog breed that is known for its activity and wits. Mixing such an active dog with another active dog gives us a dog in permanent zoomie mode.
Alright, they are not literally doing zoomies all the time, but it would be very wrong to keep this dog as an indoor dog with just an occasional short walk. Give the Kelpie Jack dog something to do!
They will love it, and they will be the best students in dog training. Of course, they still need positive reinforcement to learn what to do. But, training them will be an easy task.
You will see that high intelligence is a trait of all Australian Kelpie mixes. It is certainly a trait coming from the Kelpie parent, but the other parents contribute as well.
This mixed dog also has amazing genes when it comes to the average lifespan. Both the Jack Russell Terrier’s lifespan and the Kelpie’s are the same — around 17 years.
5. German Shepherd Australian Kelpie Mix
One of the most interesting Australian Kelpie mixes is a Kelpie German Shepherd mix. These mixed dogs have excellent calmness and working habits.
This dog is medium to large — it can weigh up to 70 pounds, and be more than 20 inches tall, sometimes going up to 24 inches!
The genes are strong in this one, making them one of the best working dogs. It doesn’t matter if it is a mixed dog — they are still loyal, hard-working, and intelligent.
People often stay away from crossbreeds because they think they are unpredictable. But, these are hybrid dogs, which means they have two well-known and purebred dog parents. That makes their temperamental traits predictable.
But, this does make the size, coat color, and coat type less predictable. This is especially the case when two dogs have very different physical traits. And, it is the case with the German Shepherd Australian Kelpie mix.
German Shepherd dogs have a medium-length coat type while Kelpies have a short coat. They also come in specific coat colors with unique coat markings. This can all cause confusion when it comes to guessing the coat color of their future puppies.
But, it’s their working habits and loyalty that the breeders were looking for when they made the German Shepherd Australian Kelpie mix.
6. Siberian Husky Australian Kelpie Mix
Are you looking for a dog that can withstand low temperatures and long working hours, and still be an affectionate pooch when you come back home? Then, the best dog for you is the lovely Siberian Husky Kelpie mix.
As you can tell from the name, this crossbreed has amazing traits coming from the Siberian Husky and the Australian Kelpie — they are hard-working, courageous, and loyal.
They are usually around 50 to 60 pounds, and up to 22 inches tall. It’s a medium-sized dog that should look fit and muscular. They do have the Husky’s double coat (and the Kelpie’s double coat, too) so there will be a lot of shedding.
Also, because this is a Siberian Husky mix, be prepared that your doggo might inherit the famous Husky howling trait. But, they might not howl at all – it all depends on who has the stronger genes. They will be noisy — both the Kelpie and the Husky are (in)famous for their barking.
Just like with other Kelpie mixes, this is an active dog that needs lots of mental and physical stimulation. If you are looking for a dog to keep inside a lot — this mix is not the right choice for you.
7. Poodle Australian Kelpie Mix
The brilliant Poodle… it is incredible how many Poodle mixes there are in the world. They are called Doodles, and this mix can also be called a Kelpie Doodle (or Kelpoodle).
If the breeders crossbreed a Standard Poodle with a Kelpie, then we can expect their puppies to weigh around 60 pounds, and be tall at around 20 inches.
But, there are Toy Poodles, too, which makes the puppies much smaller — around 30 pounds or less, and up to 15 inches tall. When it comes to crossbreeding a Kelpie with a Toy Poodle, the size can vary a lot from puppy to puppy, even in the same litter.
One thing is certain – they can inherit the hypoallergenic trait from their Poodle parent. This doesn’t mean the Kelpoodle won’t shed, but it can make the shedding minimal.
Poodles come in many coat color variations, and we can have all of those coat colors in their Doodle offspring as well. From black and parti to merle or red… all is possible.
8. Border Collie Australian Kelpie Mix
We are looking at a real sheepdog — a Border Kelpie. Original Kelpies were bred from Collies imported from Scotland to Australia. But, the Collies couldn’t cope with the harsh Australian climate so the breeders had to mix a dingo with these dogs.
The outcome was a Kelpie dog that is one of today’s most brilliant herding dogs. So, combining these two dogs certainly has its benefits. The Border Collie Kelpie mix will show great herding instincts and obedience.
These dogs weigh around 50 pounds, and they can be from 20 to 22 inches tall. Depending on the dominant genes, they can inherit a medium or short coat type, but it will certainly be double.
If you are looking for one of the most intelligent dogs, with very high natural instincts for herding sheep — look no further. This is the dog for you and your herding requirements.
But, because of this trait, don’t expect this dog to thrive in a small place without enough daily exercise. They need to be active and work on something. Otherwise, you might find your Kelpie Collie mix herding your cats, children, or whatever they can lay their clever eyes on.
9. Staffordshire Bullterrier Australian Kelpie Mix
Whoever thought of this mix as being a genius! You would think there are a lot of Staffordshire mixes, but there aren’t many. Or… at least, not a lot of herding dog Staffordshire mixes.
But, we do have our Kelpie Bullterrier, and it is magnificent. It is a dog of stamina, agility, and firm stance. These mixes are muscular, just like any other dog that has a Staffordshire Bullterrier as a dog parent.
Don’t worry – these dogs might look cold and reserved, but they are affectionate and loving family dogs, especially with children! They can weigh from 40 to 50 pounds, and be tall… from 15 to 20 inches. This means they are medium-sized dogs.
That, on the other hand, means they will need proper exercise. Both dog parents of this crossbreed are energetic dogs, which means it will be energetic, too.
Long walks, playtime, hikes, running… whatever it takes, you will have to do it if you want to keep your Staffordshire Kelpie mix healthy and happy.
10. Australian Cattle Dog Australian Kelpie Mix
The Australian Cattle Kelpie is a dog with parents that both have Dingo genes in their gene pool. Don’t worry – that won’t make this dog dangerous. It will make it sturdy and tenacious.
They can weigh from 35 to 50 pounds, and be from 17 to 20 inches tall.
As for their aggression — they are not aggressive dogs! They do have a high prey instinct, which has to be put under control if you plan on having small animals like hamsters or even cats. But, with proper socialization, these dogs turn into wonderful and friendly family pets.
This crossbreed is made for working, and they love it! Give them a cow or a sheep and they will be thrilled! It is only natural to expect such behavior from a dog that has one cattle dog breed parent and another sheepdog parent.
Their instincts for rounding up and even protecting animals on the farm are very high. With this mixed dog, you get two in one… a sheepdog and a cattle dog.
11. Corgi Australian Kelpie Mix
And finally… a short and fluffy Kelpie mix. It is a Corgi Kelpie crossbreed dog, and be prepared to be swept away by its cuteness!
All Corgi mixes have the tendency to inherit the dwarf gene from their Corgi parent. That puts this Kelpie Corgi mix among shorter dog crossbreeds. They can be around 12 to 15 inches tall, and they can weigh around 30 pounds.
But, keep in mind that Corgies can easily get obese. This trait can be transferred to their offspring so keep an eye on your Corgi Kelpie’s diet. Of course, this is the case if you don’t use this dog for all-day work on a farm.
If you want to keep this dog strictly as a pet, then a balanced diet and low-carbohydrate food are necessary. Another thing to watch out for is their herding instinct.
This doesn’t mean you have to get some sheep to satisfy your dog’s mental and physical needs. It means you have to keep your dog stimulated and give it things to do.
A bored dog can easily become destructive or become disobedient no matter how well-behaved it was before.
The Conclusion
As a final thought, all Kelpie mixes are wonderful working dogs. They can be easily called the best working dogs of all crossbreeds.
But, there are some health problems they might inherit from both parents no matter the breed. Some of these problems are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Cerebellar abiotrophy
- Cryptorchidism
- Luxating patella
Getting a mixed dog from a responsible breeder is one of the ways to ensure you get a dog that has no genetic disease. You can always ask for a health document that states that both parent dogs are healthy and without hereditary diseases.
It doesn’t matter if you want a Kelpie mix because you need a working dog or you want it as a family pet – it is important to check its parent’s health to be sure your doggo won’t have health problems right from the start.
Afterward, it is your obligation to keep the dog healthy, happy, and loved. And, I do hope you will find the perfect Kelpie mix for you to look after and love right on this list.