The Australian Kelpie originated around 1970 and played a major role in the development of the sheep and wool industry in Australia. In the Australian bush, Kelpies often worked unsupervised, relying on their own wits to find and gather livestock.
Kelpies are keen and active dogs, always ready to work.
The foundation of the Australian Kelpie breed came from the Scottish Rutherford, or North Country strain, of working collies. The foundation female was born from an imported pair owned by a Mr. George Robertson of Victoria, Australia. Kelpie was mated to Moss and produced an extremely good line of working sheepdogs. Two other imported black and tan dogs named Brutus and Jenny were also mated, and their pup, Caesar, was later mated back to Kelpie. From this litter came a black and tan bitch, also named Kelpie, who went to Mr. C.W. King and later made the Kelpie name a household word by winning the Forbes Sheepdog Trial.