Kelpies

[lovemyshiba]

Does anyone know anything of this breed? A guy I work with wants to get one, and he wants to get it at the pet store. His roommate already has an Australian Cattle Dog, and is telling him no. The pups have been "marked down" at the pet store, so he's really pushing now. I tried to tell him 1--not to buy them from the pet store, 2--there are plenty of dogs in rescues and shelters, 3--they are a very tough breed to work with (I made that one up), and 4--not to get a dog right now--he just graduated, and may or may not be moving somewhere, and what if the dog can't go?? He or she will end up in a shelter--he says no, if he can't take the dog, his parents might.
I just wanted some info on the breed, so I can ambush him at work.

[aly]

Kelpies are really really really intelligent. In my experience, they've been close in behavior to Austrailian Cattle Dogs. I don't believe these intelligent, high energy, working dogs are good for inexperienced dog handlers at all. And by experience, I mean someone who's had experience training more difficult dogs, not someone who may have had some family dogs growing up.

I think they take a lot more energy and effort that most other dogs. The dog will need a job to do - agility, obedience, something like that or he'll get really bored and destructive most likely.

I think you're right about it not being the right time for him. An untrained adolescent Kelpie in a shelter probably wouldn't do well at all if it ever came to that. Beg him to reconsider. You could also print out puppy mill articles to show him and tell him about never buying from the pet store.

Good luck

[AngelZoo]

Think of any high energy and intelligent hearding dog. And there's the Kelpie.

This is not the dog you want to get if you just want to have the occasional walk, and a couch potatoe. Wont work out too well.