Always ready to work, they have notable stamina and endurance. The disposition of the breed should be friendly, alert, but stoical, with a good balance between keenness to work and ability to rest. In appearance the dog is lithe, showing hard muscular condition. Movement and action should be smooth and effortless, with a good length of stride. They can be black, red, blue, fawn or cream with or without tan markings.
Ears are erect.
In Australia the registry for the Kelpie is the Working Kelpie Council. Working Kelpies, Inc., is the national breed club in the United States. WKI holds regional meetings and a yearly national meeting, with clinics and working trials taking place in conjunction with the meetings. The WKI herding program sanctions trials in ranch or farm environments to evaluate the dogs in working situations. WKI does have a written breed standard, published in the late 1980's.