Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog" Compare Australian Kelpie and Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Australian Kelpie or Australian Shepherd or Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Australian Kelpie	Australian Shepherd	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Origins	Australia	United States	Australia
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Working Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	523	17	552
Reviews	2	2	0
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Other Names	Australian Sheepdog, Australischer Kelpie, Kelpie, Barb	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Stumpy, Stumpy Tail, Heeler
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America	No set
Price	$500-$700	$600-$800	$500-$800

General Appearance - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Size	Medium	Large	Medium
Weight	25-45 pounds (11-20 kg)	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	35-50 lbs (16-23 kg)
Avg. Weight	35 pounds (15.5 kg)	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	42.5 lbs (19.5 kg)
Height	17-20 inches (43-51 cm)	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	18-20 inches (46-51 cm)
Avg. Height	18.5 inches (47 cm)	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	19 inches (48.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Coat	Double	Feathered	Dense Straight Harsh
Colors	Blue Chocolate Red Tan Brown Fawn Black	Red Blue Merle Black	Red speckled Blue speckled Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Australian Kelpie requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Australian Kelpies shed moderately.	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs shed moderately.

Characteristics - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Temperament	Alert Energetic Intelligent Robust Eager Friendly Loyal	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Alert Devoted Intelligent Obedient Courageous Energetic Loyal Watchful
Intelligent Rank	Average: Australian Kelpie's has average obedience intelligence.	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Average: Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are very easy to train.
Playfulness	The Australian Kelpie is a playful breed.	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Australian Kelpies are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	Australian Kelpies need for social interaction is average.	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are kinda antisocial.
Barking	Low to Average: The Australian Kelpie rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Australian Kelpies are one of the best watchdogs.	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Australian Kelpies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Australian Kelpie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Australian Kelpies have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Wanderlust potential of the Australian Kelpie is strong enough to escape from home.	Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are not the biggest explorers.
Prey Drive	Australian Kelpies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Australian Kelpies are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Australian Kelpies adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Australian Shepherds do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs handle alone time quite well.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Stranger Friendly	Australian Kelpies are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Australian Kelpies are kid-friendly dogs.	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Australian Kelpies are average friendly towards cats.	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Australian Kelpies are average friendly towards other dogs.	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Australian Kelpie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Australian Kelpies are usually recommended for elderly people.	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Australian Kelpies are generally with other pets.	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Australian Kelpies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Australian Kelpie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Health Issues	Australian Kelpies tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.
Health Problems	Cerebellar Abiotrophy Collie Eye Anomaly Hip Dysplasia Osteoarthritis Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Blindness Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Demodectic Mange Dental Problems Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Retinal Dysplasia
Life Expectancy	10-14 years	12-15 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Australian Kelpies are high energy dogs.	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Australian Kelpies need quite a lot of exercise.	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Australian Kelpies don't need too much sleep.	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Average to High.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Australian Kelpie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Australian Kelpie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Australian Kelpie vs Australian Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	4-7 puppies	6-9 puppies, average 7	4-6 puppies
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