Cricket, the Trained & Herding Australian Kelpie

Cricket is roughly 4 months old. She has the nicest temperament, very focused on her people, always tracking and eye-to-eye contact. Is awesome with children, and loves puppies. This little girl was taught to sit in 2 seconds, and is very good on the leash. She was found in Deltona, and after many days of attempting to find her owners, her owners have not claimed her. She is being spayed/vetted, HW tested, and microchipped. She is not noisy in her crate, but outdoors, she is very observant of all movements, and shows the desire to be quite the protector of her property. She appears to be house trained. She’s an absolute joy to foster, and whoever adopts this little girl will be a very lucky family. As we gather more information about her, we will provide updates. Here’s a video with Karyce getting familiar with our new precious little girl!

Holly strikes again! She has been identified as an Australian Kelpie and has named Cricket! What a fitting name.

Update 12/17/09: Cricket has the most remarkable eye, she is as alert and intense as a Border Collie. When she sits, she leans all the way back to get the best view of her human! I believe that there’s nothing this dog won’t do. Companion, Service, Herding, Agility or Frisbee dog – just give her a job to do, and Cricket will execute it. I’ve never heard of her breed, but because of my years with the Border Collies, I really appreciate her skills, talents and temperament.

Update 12/22/09: Cricket is being fostered by DJ, and she is enjoying every minute of it, playing with his dog Scrappy and little Farrah. Cricket is housebroken, and highly intelligent. She adores children, and I only hope that she doesn’t suffer from “black dog syndrome” which is when black dogs simply do not “show” well and do not get adopted. More black dogs and black cats are euthanized in this country than any other – it’s sad.

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Australian Kelpie, or Australian Sheepdog, is a compact, robust, enthusiastic, and tireless working dog. Excellent at herding, the Australian Kelpie is the most popular and successful working dog. Kelpies are devoted one-man dogs but far too work-oriented and energetic for a couch dog or apartment existence. Their easy trainability and keenness on the job make them a fundamental component of the Australian work force. They are ready to respond immediately to any signal given by its master, even from a great distance. They are good with children when they are raised with them from puppyhood. Kelpies will try to herd other dogs, pets and animals whether they want to be herded or not. This workaholic will work until it drops. They are independent and in business for themselves rather than for pleasing a handler. Boredom is the breed’s doom and the owner’s as well. In their native country of Australia, Kelpies work all day even in intense heat, covering 1,000 to 4,000-plus acres. The breed uses “eye” similar to the Border Collie’s on the tractable stock, but utilizes its nipping ability to turn more stubborn cattle. Kelpies can muster thousands of sheep from pasture to pen to truck. When a flock of sheep is packed as tight as Times Square on New Year’s Eve, they will look for the shortest way to the other side, which is usually in a straight line. This very clever Kelpie will jump on the back of the nearest sheep and run lightly across the flock to reach the other side. They make excellent watchdogs and can also be trained as seeing-eye dogs. The Australian Kelpie is not an aggressive dog, but he can be protective when needed, and will guard his family and their belongings when necessary, regardless of the risk to himself. With the deep intelligence in which this breed exhibits, comes a high dominance level. Meek owners will not do well with this breed. They need an owner who knows how to display natural calm, but firm authority over the dog at all times. With the right type of owner and the proper amount of daily metal and physical exercise this breed can excel. Problems can and WILL arise with meek owners, and or owners who do not provide the proper amount and type of exercise. This breed does best with a job to do. If you do not have time to extensively work with and exercise your dog, or do not fully understand canine instincts and their need to have leadership, this is not the breed for you. Although many still believe the Kelpie is a Dingo crossed with the Border Collie, more accurate documentation reveals the breed’s development from English North Country Collies of the Rutherford strain. These hardy British working herders, like many sheepdogs, were imported to Australia during the latter half of the 19th century. Today nearly 100,000 Kelpies are employed on that continent. Despite their relatively small size, Kelpies are without limitations, capable of working cattle, goats, poultry and reindeer. They will excel in competitive obedience. The name “Kelpie” comes from the water kelpie mentioned by Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish writer, in the novel Kidnapped. This breed has been known since 1870. They have a life expectancy of about 10-14 years.