The working Kelpie is or should be extremely alert, eager and highly intelligent. Possess an open friendly, active but placid disposition with a good balance between keenness to work and ability to relax. The overall appearance of the working Kelpie should be that of a medium sized, lithe, active, strongly muscled dog possessing great suppleness of limb, and conveying the capability of untiring work. Because of the relationship between body construction and movement it is essential that the Kelpie be structurally sound. It should be emphasised that the above be considered as a whole with particular attention to structural features related to movement and action, which should be smooth and effortless, with a good length of stride.
Any structural faults affecting efficiency or constitution are highly undesirable .
During movement the gait should be free, smooth, and effortless with a good length of stride, showing a tendency for foot placement to move towards 'single tracking' just before breaking into a trot, and becoming more pronounced as speed increases. There must be ability to turn suddenly at speed, and be capable of the crouching stealthy movement demanded by its work. An acceptable Kelpie type head has a slightly rounded skull, broad between well-pricked ears, forehead curved very slightly towards a pronounced stop. The cheeks neither coarse nor prominent but rounded to the fore face, cleanly chiselled and defined. Teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced.