kelpie
1
9.4
A working dog from Australia that herds sheep
- noun
- /ˈkɛlpi/
- Australian
:
kelpie
- She trained her kelpie to respond to commands quickly during herding sessions.
Examples
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Note: these are not sheepdogs in the round-'em-up kelpie or collie style.
Blog text (18) -
The Australian kelpie ran swiftly across the field to herd the sheep.
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Many farmers prefer the kelpie for its intelligence and agility when working with livestock.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Kelpie for the Australian sheepdog was named after a creature in old Scottish stories. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a 'water horse' or small 'pony'—the dog is quick, strong and tireless like a little working horse, which is why farmers use kelpies to herd sheep.