How long does a Australian Kelpie live?

The listed lifespan for a Australian Kelpie is 10–13 years.

How tall is a Australian Kelpie?

The listed height for a Australian Kelpie is 17–20 in.

Is a Australian Kelpie good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Australian Kelpie is 3 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Australian Kelpie?

The AKC energy score for a Australian Kelpie is 5 out of 5.

Foundation Stock Service

Australian Kelpie

Australian Kelpie is a medium dog in the Foundation Stock Service. Adult weight is 35–50 lb, height is 17–20 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Loyal, Intelligent.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Australian Kelpie dog — Photo: davepaku · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–13 years

Weight35–50 lb

SizeMedium

GroupFoundation Stock Service

Height

17–20 in

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 11.5 years is about 1.8 years shorter than the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 42.5 lb is about 8.4 lb heavier than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is United States. The coat is described as double, smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 1.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Foundation Stock Service. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5.

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