Australian Koolie

		Australian Koolie
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Australia
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Australian Koolie

The Koolie is a medium-sized, energetic Australian herding dog that originated in the 19th century. It contributed to the development of the Australian cattle dog and the Australian Kelpie dog. The Koolie, like most cattle dogs, has an intense will and a powerful, undeniable work ethic. These dogs will have herds ranging from ducks to bulls to other domestic animals. Historically, many Koolie dogs had merle markings, but the correlation between this coloration and dogs born blind or deaf led to a preference for solid-colored dogs. Although its friendliness prevents this breed from being a watchdog, its attentiveness and intelligence make it an excellent watchdog.

History of the Australian Koolie

The full history of the Koolie breed has been lost to time and lack of record-keeping, but the most widely accepted theory is that their ancestors were German or European Shepherd dogs, who immigrated to Australia with their owners. mated with wild dingoes native to the region. Breeds that contributed to the development of the Australian Koolie include blue merle Smooth Coated Collies, Black and Tan Collies, Welsh Collies and possibly a sheepdog known as the German Tiger, although these claims have yet to be substantiated. Whatever combination was used by the original breeding dogs, the addition of the wild Dingo gave rise to a new, often shorter, single-coated line better suited to the warmer climate. This breed has become sought after in its homeland for its prowess in all areas of breeding : molding, driving, blocking and even backing, a technique in which they jump onto the backs of the animals they breed and are used in the development of other Australian working breeds, including the Australian Cattle Dog and Australian Kelpie. While some people claim that the name Koolie was a German pronunciation of the word Collie, others believe it is a reference to the term Coolie, a derogatory term used to describe immigrants to Australia. Although the breed is well known throughout Australia, it is primarily a working dog and until recently, breeding records were extremely rare and, due to the diversity within the breed, no accepted breed standard has yet been defined.

Appearance of the Australian Koolie

The Koolie breed was developed for its exceptional guarding instinct and driving ability during training, rather than for its physical appearance. There is therefore more variation in this breed than in many others. They're all athletic, agile dogs, slightly longer than they are tall, but New South Wales Koolie dogs were used to chase cattle out of gullies and dense shrubbery. They are therefore shorter and sturdier than Northern Koolie dogs, which were more often used to drive cattle over long distances. They have a well-proportioned head that bears almond-shaped eyes and a balanced, slightly tapering muzzle, but the eyes can be any color from blue to brown, and sometimes just one, although the medium-length triangular ears are generally held erect, with some individuals having ears that fold forward or to the sides. Although historically there have been a large number of Koolies with merle coloration, color dilution and blue eyes, breeders are increasingly wary of breeding dogs with these characteristics, as they are associated with higher rates of blindness and deafness.

Temperament of the Australian Koolie

This breed is extremely dedicated and hard-working in the field, and just as dedicated to having fun when they get home. They are loyal and devoted to their families and, although interactions between dogs and children must always be supervised, they tend to be patient with children as well as adults. Although they are alert and bark to warn you that someone is approaching, they don't generally excel as guard dogs due to their outgoing nature. They are generally friendly with humans and other animals, although their enthusiastic behavior and unwavering guard instinct may rub some individuals the wrong way. Like most herding dogs, they are high-energy, high-intelligence animals that require a lot of exercise and attention, and generally do best with a job. They are not only well suited to herding activities, but also to therapy positions, as they tend to have an outgoing, playful attitude, and their willingness and ability to learn and memorize a large number of commands make them good candidates for performance work.

Needs and activities of the Australian Koolie

It cannot be stressed enough that this is a high-energy breed with intelligence and curiosity. If this breed doesn't get enough exercise and mental stimulation, it will seek it out itself, which can lead to behaviors ranging from irritating to destructive. Daily exercise should include at least one to two hours of vigorous activity every day. If you don't own your own livestock, daily walks and runs can be supplemented with alternative activities such as advanced obedience training, agility training and even acrobatic canine dancing.

Maintenance of the Australian Koolie

Although the Koolie can be coated in a single short coat or a slightly longer double coat, the grooming requirements for the breed are quite similar. They only need to be bathed occasionally, and more frequent bathing can strip them of the natural oils that make them more resistant to water and weather. Both varieties shed moderately and should be brushed one to three times a week with a smooth brush, stiff bristle brush or rubber curry comb. The double-coated variety may be subject to heavier shedding at the change of season, and may require additional brushing sessions during this period. Koolie teeth should be brushed three times a week and nails trimmed monthly.