Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Australian Kelpies Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Australian Kelpies Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Australian Kelpies Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Australian Kelpies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Australian Kelpies Easy to Train?
- Do Australian Kelpies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Australian Kelpies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Australian Kelpies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Australian Kelpies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Australian Kelpies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Australian Kelpies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Australian Kelpies
- Conclusion on Australian Kelpie Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Australian Kelpie
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Australian Kelpie out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Australian Kelpie based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Australian Kelpie breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Australian Kelpie by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Australian Kelpie.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Australian Kelpie for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Australian Kelpie.
The summary table below shows the score of the Australian Kelpie for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Stubbornness | 9.0 percent |
| Energy Level | 76.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 69.2 percent |
| Excitability | 57.4 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 55.9 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 54.3 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 47.8 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 46.1 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 43.2 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 41.2 percent |
| Prey Drive | 35.7 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 32.0 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 28.3 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 11.0 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Australian Kelpie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Australian Kelpie, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Australian Kelpie.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Australian Kelpies are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 32.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Italian Greyhound | 32.4 % |
| 59 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 32.3 % |
| 60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 32.3 % |
| 61 | Australian Kelpie | 32.0 % |
| 62 | Havanese | 31.5 % |
| 63 | Alaskan Husky | 31.3 % |
| 64 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Australian Kelpies are a little bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks low for aggression towards its owner.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 81 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has an owner-directed-aggression score of 11.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit owner-aggressive just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Vizsla | 11.5 % |
| 79 | Havanese | 11.4 % |
| 80 | Golden Retriever | 11.2 % |
| 81 | Australian Kelpie | 11.0 % |
| 82 | Keeshond | 10.9 % |
| 83 | Labrador Retriever | 10.7 % |
| 84 | German Shepherd | 10.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Kelpies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Australian Kelpies are very much aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks very high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a dog-directed aggression score of 69.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much dog-aggressive just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Pit Bull | 69.7 % |
| 16 | Miniature Pinscher | 69.3 % |
| 17 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 69.3 % |
| 18 | Australian Kelpie | 69.2 % |
| 19 | Old English Sheepdog | 68.9 % |
| 20 | Bullmastiff | 68.7 % |
| 21 | Boxer | 68.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Kelpies Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Australian Kelpies are somewhat fearful of strangers.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks average for fear of strangers.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a stranger-directed-fear score of 28.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Beagle | 29.9 % |
| 59 | Chinook | 29.5 % |
| 60 | Weimaraner | 28.8 % |
| 61 | Australian Kelpie | 28.3 % |
| 62 | Shih Tzu | 27.9 % |
| 63 | Standard Schnauzer | 27.6 % |
| 64 | Belgian Sheepdog | 27.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Australian Kelpies Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Australian Kelpies are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 27 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a dog-directed-fear score of 54.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Yorkshire Terrier | 56.6 % |
| 25 | English Springer Spaniel | 55.0 % |
| 26 | Pekingese | 55.0 % |
| 27 | Australian Kelpie | 54.3 % |
| 28 | Australian Silky Terrier | 53.6 % |
| 29 | Bichon Frise | 53.0 % |
| 30 | Rat Terrier | 51.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Australian Kelpies Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Australian Kelpies are quite a bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks high for non-social fear.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 38 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a nonsocial-fear score of 41.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Bichon Frise | 44.4 % |
| 36 | Standard Schnauzer | 42.8 % |
| 37 | Poodle (Toy) | 41.5 % |
| 38 | Australian Kelpie | 41.2 % |
| 39 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 40.9 % |
| 40 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 40.0 % |
| 41 | Mastiff (English) | 39.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Australian Kelpies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Australian Kelpies are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks high on dog rivalry.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a dog-rivalry score of 47.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Dachshund | 51.7 % |
| 40 | Pomeranian | 51.0 % |
| 41 | Yorkshire Terrier | 50.9 % |
| 42 | Australian Kelpie | 47.8 % |
| 43 | English Bulldog | 47.4 % |
| 44 | Giant Schnauzer | 47.2 % |
| 45 | Poodle (Miniature) | 46.9 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Australian Kelpies Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Australian Kelpies are very much easy to train.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks very high for trainability.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the trainability of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a trainability score of 91.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Australian Cattle Dog | 91.8 % |
| 8 | Rottweiler | 91.1 % |
| 9 | Australian Shepherd | 91.0 % |
| 10 | Australian Kelpie | 91.0 % |
| 11 | Belgian Sheepdog | 90.8 % |
| 12 | Poodle (Standard) | 88.6 % |
| 13 | English Springer Spaniel | 88.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do Australian Kelpies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Australian Kelpies are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 91 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a chasing score of 35.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Havanese | 38.9 % |
| 89 | American Bulldog | 38.8 % |
| 90 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 38.4 % |
| 91 | Australian Kelpie | 35.7 % |
| 92 | Poodle (Toy) | 34.4 % |
| 93 | Maltese | 34.1 % |
| 94 | Lhasa Apso | 33.8 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Australian Kelpies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Australian Kelpies are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 55.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Weimaraner | 60.1 % |
| 49 | Pit Bull | 57.0 % |
| 50 | Boston Terrier | 56.3 % |
| 51 | Australian Kelpie | 55.9 % |
| 52 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 55.5 % |
| 53 | Boxer | 55.2 % |
| 54 | Border Collie | 55.0 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Australian Kelpies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Australian Kelpies are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 52 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a separation anxiety score of 43.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Bearded Collie | 43.4 % |
| 50 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 43.3 % |
| 51 | Ibizan Hound | 43.2 % |
| 52 | Australian Kelpie | 43.2 % |
| 53 | Greyhound | 42.7 % |
| 54 | English Springer Spaniel | 42.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 42.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Australian Kelpies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Australian Kelpies are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 20 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has a touch-sensitivity score of 46.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | American Eskimo Dog | 47.5 % |
| 18 | English Bulldog | 46.5 % |
| 19 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 46.4 % |
| 20 | Australian Kelpie | 46.1 % |
| 21 | Poodle (Toy) | 45.7 % |
| 22 | Yorkshire Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 23 | Basset Hound | 43.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Australian Kelpies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Australian Kelpies are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks high for excitability.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 25 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has an excitability score of 57.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Bichon Frise | 58.3 % |
| 23 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 58.0 % |
| 24 | Redbone Coonhound | 57.9 % |
| 25 | Australian Kelpie | 57.4 % |
| 26 | Australian Cattle Dog | 56.5 % |
| 27 | Pomeranian | 56.2 % |
| 28 | Pug | 55.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Australian Kelpies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Australian Kelpies
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Australian Kelpies are very much energetic.
This is because the Australian Kelpie ranks very high for energy level.
The Australian Kelpie ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 29 Australian Kelpie owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Kelpie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Kelpie has an energy-level score of 76.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much energetic just like the Australian Kelpie are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 77.0 % |
| 16 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 76.7 % |
| 17 | Australian Silky Terrier | 76.5 % |
| 18 | Australian Kelpie | 76.2 % |
| 19 | Gordon Setter | 76.0 % |
| 20 | Parson Russell Terrier | 75.5 % |
| 21 | Boxer | 75.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Australian Kelpie Temperament
The temperament of your Australian Kelpie comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Australian Kelpie is exposed to.
You cannot change your Australian Kelpie`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Australian Kelpie to.
Exposing your Australian Kelpie to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Australian Kelpie to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Australian Kelpie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Australian Kelpie.
If you think the Australian Kelpie is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Australian Kelpies cost and Australian Kelpie puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Australian Kelpie breeders in the United States and the prices of their Australian Kelpie puppies.