Working Kelpie Names, Australian Working Kelpie Names

The Working Kelpie is Australia's legendary stock dog, and it carries one of the most romantic names in the dog world. The word kelpie comes from a shape-shifting water spirit of Scottish and Celtic legend, said to haunt the lochs in the shape of a horse. Around 1872 a black-and-tan pup named after that spirit, owned by the drover Jack Gleeson, proved such an extraordinary sheepdog that her name passed to the whole breed. The Kelpie traces firmly to the Scotch Collies that Scottish settlers shipped out in the 1860s and 70s, when the booming wool industry demanded a dog that could work vast, sun-baked country -- and although a dash of native dingo is part of the breed's folklore, its real foundation is those imported collies.

The Working Kelpie is the working strain of the breed, registered with the Working Kelpie Council and bred for one thing above all: the ability to move stock. That means tireless stamina, agility, biddability, the intense gaze stockmen call the eye, and the famous knack of running across the backs of a packed mob of sheep. It is set apart from the show or bench Australian Kelpie, which is bred to a fixed look and colour. Lithe, athletic and medium-sized, with a short, weatherproof double coat, the Working Kelpie comes in a wide range of colours -- black, red or chocolate, black-and-tan, red-and-tan, blue, fawn and cream.

This is a dog of fierce intelligence and bottomless energy, devoted to its handler and never happier than with a job to do. Names can honour its black, red or blue coat, its working heritage, or the Scottish legend behind its name. A black dog suits Onyx, Jet, Ebony, Shadow, and Midnight; a red or chocolate one wears Choco, Cocoa, Mocha, Coffee, Rusty, Red, and Copper; a blue one suits Blue, Indigo, and Slate; classic sheepdog picks like Tess, Bess, Meg, Nell, Jess, Glen, Roy, Moss, and Mac fit a true worker; Bonnie, Angus, Hamish, and Skye nod to its Scottish roots; and Scout, Ranger, Chase, Dash, and Bruce honour its drover's spirit.

Explore our full collection of Working Kelpie names below. Filter by gender, save your favourites, and find a name as clever, tireless, and hard-working as your Kelpie.