Training an Australian Kelpie: What Every Owner Needs to Know
Updated: Nov 1
The Australian Kelpie is a working dog through and through. Bred to herd sheep across huge, hot properties in Australia, they're fast, tireless and incredibly quick to learn. In the right home they're a brilliant partner. In the wrong one, all that drive can come out as barking, chasing and restlessness.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Kelpies are clever, driven herding dogs who need a lot of physical exercise and, just as importantly, things to think about. They learn fast with reward-based training and love having a job. Teach a settle early, so they learn to switch off. Build recall and impulse control, and give them outlets like herding-style games, scent work, agility or trick training. They suit active homes with time to train every day, not homes looking for a laid-back dog.
IN THIS POST
ā Are Kelpies easy to train?
ā How much exercise does a Kelpie need?
ā Is a Kelpie right for you?
ā FAQs
What is a Kelpie like?
Kelpies are lean, athletic and alert. They notice everything that moves, and they love to be busy. They're loyal to their people and can be very affectionate, but most would rather be doing something with you than lying on the sofa. A clever working dog is a double-edged sword, because they learn the good stuff fast and the stuff you didn't mean to teach just as fast.
Kelpie temperament
Clever and very quick to learn
High energy with lots of stamina
Driven to work and herd
Sensitive to movement and sound
Loyal, and often a little reserved with strangers
Are Kelpies easy to train?
They learn fast, which is great and a challenge at the same time. They'll pick up good habits quickly, and unhelpful ones just as quickly. Short, varied, reward-based sessions suit them best. Harsh handling can make a sensitive Kelpie worried and reactive.
How to train a Kelpie
1. Teach a settle early
A Kelpie who can't switch off can't learn well. Reward calm on a mat from puppyhood, and build up how long they can relax. Read calming mini-games.
2. Build impulse control
Waiting at doors, waiting for food and leaving moving things alone help a herding dog manage that urge to chase.
3. Work on recall
Practise in the garden, then on a long line, with high-value rewards. Read why dogs forget come.
4. Give them a job
Herding-style games like treibball, scent work, agility, tricks and retrieve games give their brains something to do.
5. Introduce the world calmly
Kelpies notice movement and sound, so calm, gradual experiences of traffic, bikes, joggers and other dogs help prevent chasing and reactivity.
How much exercise does a Kelpie need?
A lot. Most adult Kelpies need well over an hour of activity a day, plus training and brain games. Puppies need much less, with short outings and plenty of sleep while they grow. Read puppy growth plates and safe exercise.
More exercise alone isn't the answer, though. A Kelpie who only runs gets fitter and fitter. Balance it with sniffing, training and rest.
Kelpie puppy tips
Reward calm from day one
Keep play with toys, not hands or feet
Use food toys and sniffing games to tire their brain
Gently redirect any nipping at moving feet onto a toy
Make sure they get lots of sleep
Is a Kelpie right for you?
A Kelpie suits an active home with time to train and exercise every day, and ideally some space. They're less suited to homes where they'd be left alone for long hours, or where people want a quieter dog.
RENEE'S TIP
Feed some of your Kelpie's daily food through training and sniffing games instead of a bowl. It gives them a job twice a day without any extra time out of your day.
QUICK CHECK
ā Clever, driven and quick to learn
ā Teach a settle early
ā Build impulse control and recall
ā Give them a job: scent, tricks, herding games
ā Balance exercise with brain work and rest
FROM RENEE'S BOOKSHELF
The Modern Australian Kelpie Handbook
Everything in this post and a lot more: puppy to senior, giving a working brain a job, switching off, health and the quirks that make Kelpies Kelpies.
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Help with your Kelpie
If your Kelpie is chasing, barking or struggling to switch off, I can help you build a plan that suits your dog, in an online Dog Behaviour Consultation from wherever you are.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
Are Kelpies easy to train?
They learn very quickly with reward-based training, but need short, varied sessions and plenty to do.
How much exercise does a Kelpie need?
Most adults need well over an hour of activity a day, plus training and brain games.
Are Kelpies good family pets?
In active homes with time to train them, yes. They're less suited to quiet or busy-but-absent homes.
Why does my Kelpie chase things?
Herding instinct. Teach impulse control and give them herding-style games as an outlet.
How do I calm my Kelpie down?
Teach a settle on a mat, use sniffing and chewing, and balance exercise with rest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
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