Koolie
Dogs
Koolie
Koolie |
A short-coat tri-merle Koolie
|
Alternative names |
Australian Koolie
German Koolie
German Coolie/Collie |
Country of origin |
Australia |
Common nicknames |
|
Classification and breed standards |
Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
Koolies registered with the Koolie club of Australia
are accepted to the Canine Control Sporting registers in Victoria,
New South Wales and Queensland. |
The Koolie is an
Australian
dog
breed;
specifically, it is a
herding
dog or working dog. Koolies have existed in Australia since the early 18th
Century.
Appearance
Blue Merle short coat
The Koolie is a medium-sized dog of varying coat type, and color though they
are generaly recognised with a
merled coat
pattern. Koolies are typically slightly longer than tall and resemble a cross
between a
Border Collie, Kelpie and an
Australian Cattle Dog, dogs with whom they share Collie bloodline ancestry.
Like the
Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, the Koolie Club of Australia defines
the breed based on its ability to work rather than on its
conformation. Unlike the JRT Club of America, most Koolie breeders refer to
this dog as a breed rather than as a type, and assert that it "breeds true".
History
The Koolie is believed to be descended from the same
Collie types
that were brought to Australia for the kennels of Thomas S. Hall (an originator
of the Australian Cattle Dog breed); some believe that they could be direct
descendents of Hall's dogs. This, if true, would make the Koolie the oldest of
Australia's breeds.
Red Merle short coat
The dog was originally referred to as a German Coolie or Collie or
simply Coolie. To avoid unpleasant connotations and also so that the
breed's Australian origins are not confused, the Koolie Club of Australia
officially changed the breed name to Australian Koolie most enthusiasts use the
current spelling, or just Koolie although the variants are also seen.
The Koolie is currently not recognized by any of the major
kennel
clubs, although judges from the
ANKC may judge
Koolies. In the states of
Victoria,
New South Wales, and
Queensland,
Koolies may compete in canine council-sponsored working, Obedience, tracking,
Jumping and
dog
agility events by registration on their Sates Sporting Registers. In 2000,
the Koolie Club of Australia was formed to preserve, protect and ethically
promote the Koolie breed. Opinion is divided as to whether official recognition
would be good for the breed. As of (2006), no
bench standard exists and none is expected in the near future.
Miscellaneous
Herding technique
Koolies are much sought after in rural Australia and interest is now being
shown in America and Germany. According to Geoff Broughton, the current
president of the Koolie Club of Australia, the Koolie will head (move to
the front or head of the stock to push them back towards you), heel,
drive (push the stock from behind), cast (move out and around the stock),
and back, literally jump onto the backs of their charges, to herd them if
necessary. Koolies have a reputation for being an upright worker with a good
eye, who can easily shift their focus from holding the group to casting around a
flock or gathering breakaways. They are not known for having sticky eyes (stuck
on the sheep that's in front only). Unlike other working breeds which are noted
for their crouched form or style and preference for either yard or field work,
Koolies are just as much at ease working in close as in yards or trucks or out
in paddocks and droving. As well as working anything from
ducks to
bulls, like all
dogs of their kind, they will herd family members and children in the absence of
other charges.
External links
Home | Up | Kangal Dog | Kanni | Karelian Bear Dog | Keeshond | Kerry Blue Terrier | King Charles Spaniel | Komondor | Kooikerhondje | Koolie | Korea Jindo Dog | Kuvasz
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