Koolie

Koolie/Coolie
A short-coat tri-merle Koolie
Other names	Australian Koolie/Coolie - German Koolie/Coolie - Coulie - German Collie
Origin	Australia
Notes	Australian Koolies/Coolies have been recognised on the Australian Sporting Registrar, the Australian Shepherd Club of America's Registrar, the American Herding Breed Association's Registrar, and New Zealands Obedience Registrar Koolies/Coolies registered with the Koolie Club of Australia are accepted to the Canine Control Sporting registers in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Dog (domestic dog)

For the benefit of all readers please understand that the usage of the “K” is merely the selection of the author and does not in any way dictate to the actual spelling of the Koolie/Coolie name, that has always remained a personal choice.

The Koolie/Coolie is an Australian dog breed. Specifically, it is a herding dog, a subcategory of a working dog. Koolies have existed in Australia since the early 1800s, this has been established through old photos owned by elder Koolie breeders and personal records such as diaries, similar to those owned by Thomas Halls Great Granddaughter.

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 Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, most Koolie breeders refer to this dog as a breed rather than as a type, and assert that it "breeds true", with various types or strains within the breed.

What's in a name, other than in the instance of historical or breeding records? Many countries will gather their working dogs under the same category like Germany with their herding dog breeds all classed as Altdeutschehuetehunde (heading dogs). New Zealand not only classify their breeds this way, but they also grade them by their working traits. Koolies in New Zealand are registered as a "heading dog": A dog which has a natural instinct to cast out (i.e., circle widely), round sheep and bring them back to their owner. The Koolie is known as a silent working dog. They are used for “heading” sheep and also for any quiet and careful work at close quarters at lambing time or for “shedding” (cutting out) sheep. It is only through the registrar of the Australian Koolie Club that these bloodlines remain an integral part of the breed and are active contributors to the Koolie gene pool. New Zealand Koolie breeders are also actively working towards having the Koolie recognised under their own breed name as they have been in Australia.

Description

Appearance

Red Merle short coat blocking cattle

The Koolie is as diverse as the country it originates from, Australia. In the north of Queensland and New South Wales they are tall, medium boned and agile, bred for mustering Simmental and Brahma on acres which cover thousands of miles. In The Hunter Valley region and Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, their thicker set and shorter to meet the demands of the people in that region, to run silent and flush low lying cattle from the dense bush and gullies. In Victoria you find the smallest variety of the of Koolie who work fast and smart, to keep the trucks filling and the sheep up to the shearers. Koolies are bred to meet the needs of the Stockman, Grazier and Farmer, all agile, all with the same ability to adapt to any situation, all with a strong willingness drive. The Koolie vary from 40cm to 60cm in size and are a contrast of coat, colour and body type, although they are generally recognised by their merled coat pattern.

Solid Red & Red Merle short coat collecting cattle

Coat

The Koolie coat ranges from ''short/smooth'' (like that of the original blue merle Collies from Scotland) ''short'' (like a working Kelpie) ''medium'' (like the German Tigerand not common ''long'' (like the showBorder Collie. Koolies are typically slightly longer than tall and some Koolie types can resemble a cross between a Border Collie and a Kelpie - Breeds with whom the Koolie share Collie bloodline ancestry.

Colour

Koolie colours can be ''solid'' (all one colour black or red/chocolate this includes Koolie who are cryptic merle: carry the merle gene but do not display it obviously) ''bi'' (black & white or red & white) ''tri'' (solid red or black, with white markings, normally with brown points, or ''tri merle'' same disciption but merle)'' merle ''(grey, black,red/chocolate or white undercoat with large splashes of darker colourings of red/chocolate for red merles or black, grey for blue merles.

File:Iris Apr08 small.jpg

Blue merle short coat heading sheep

Temperament

Graziers, stockmen and dairy farmers across Australia since the days of the earliest settlers to their present day counterparts have typically selected breeds which display the abilities required to meet their working needs. The temperament found in a Koolie is an example of this much sought after ability. The optimal worker possesses a combination of working skills and bonding temperament. There are times when an uninitiated dog owner or a new enthusiast mistakes the Koolie as a shy, reserved or even a timid animal. The Koolies temperament needs to be understood in proper context when one seeks an optimal match of skills and demeanor. The Koolies are intelligent animals and the most experienced handlers know well that they need guidance instead of merely being pushed and given praise instead of assigning blame. A steady and supportive approach will be productive, proving the Koolies adaptability in diverse situations when given time. Such is the hallmark it bears.

Owners will be rewarded through the Koolies diligence in varied roles such as in work situations, sporting activities, loyal service or the time honoured role of companionship. Known to be patient, temperate, dedicated, with a strong drive for willingness and devotion, the Koolie is not naturally aggressive but can demonstrate dominance, an untiring enthusiasm to work, and an admirable hardiness when the job or circumstance requires.

blue merle-smooth coat-In Agility

Health

The median longevity of Koolies is about 18 years, which is a typical lifespan for this breed. Koolies have a diverse gene pool and so do not suffer from the many genetic problems found in recognised breeds, but the merle for which the Koolie is most recognised by can and does produce white blind and or deaf pups. It is highly recommended that when considering breeding, that matings of merle to solid are the safest option.

Medical research

• In 2003 DNA testing carried out on 56 individual Koolie bloodlines from Australia by Dr. Mark Neff of the University of California at Davis in the USA cleared those bloodlines tested for the presence of the mutant gene mdr1-1, which causes malfunction in the canine multidrug resistance gene; Collie bloodlines were chosen to be tested because they showed a reaction, even death, to chemicals, such as Ivermectin, used in the treatment of intestinal parasites.

• In 2004, the Koolie club of Australia in conjunction with Genetic Science Service of Australia launched the collection and processing of Koolie DNA, which continues to test for all current Collie diseases and family relationships. To date, the Koolie Club of Australia’s database records show that their registered Koolie breed is relatively free of common genetic disorders that are found in recognised pure breeds, thanks to DNA testing. It is generally accepted that this is due to the natural breeding selection, which has continued unhindered for over 160 years.

• In 2007, the Koolie Club of Australia through Genetic Science Service of Australia gained access to the Merle test, discovered Wednesday, March 08, 2006 by Dr. Keith Murphy’s laboratory of the Department of Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Texas A&M University more info

• In 2008, Koolie's registered with the Koolie Club of Australia have undertaken a breed Specifity test to identify the Koolie genetically, the results will help discover and create stronger bloodlines.

Herding technique

A Red Merle koolie backing sheep.

Koolies are much sought-after in rural Australia, and interest is now being shown in America, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Tasmania. According to Geoff Broughton, president of the Koolie Club of Australia for 7 years, the Koolie will head (move to the front or head of the stock to push them back towards you), heel or drive, (push the stock from behind), cast (move out and around the stock), block (hold the stock or block them from in front, in three sheep trials this action is called the pick up) and back (literally jump onto the backs of their charges to herd them if necessary). Koolies have a reputation for being upright workers 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" (focusing on the sheep 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 at ease working in closed surroundings such as yards or trucks and being 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.

History

Red Merle short coat blocking sheep

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 descendants of Hall's dogs. This, if true, would make the Koolie one of the oldest of Australia's breeds.

The Koolie’s ancestors were the German Tiger (imported into South Australia in the 1800s) a German working breed which are part of the German Alpine Header Breeds, the Smooth coated blue merle Collie (imported from Europe also in the 1800s) and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland, these were the same type imported by Thomas Hall for the creation of his Heelers.

Capt.v.Stephanitz, German Author of the book "The German Shepherd Dog" (8th revision and enlarged edition) wrote of German Tigers on page 167, describing them clearly as dogs with large dark brown to black spots or splashes or largish splashes on a lighter background found mostly in the South especially in the Brenztal, on page 252 he wrote of the importations into Australia by Graziers of German "Shepherd" Dogs (not to be confused with the current recognised form of German Shepherd, which were German working breeds used by Shepherds in Germany) to influence the bloodlines of our own working breeds.

According to older Koolie breeders personal records, from diaries and photo albums the Koolie has been around for over 160 years. During the industrial era some bloodlines were influenced by Kelpie and BorderCollie, as explained by one grazier in Western Australia, "You bred from the good workers which were around and Koolies were not always to be found, so you bred to the next best worker that was and this was either the Kelpie or Border depending on the region you lived and the stock you worked."

In 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed to preserve, protect and ethically promote the Koolie breed. The Koolie Club does not actively work towards bench standard recognition, feeling this would only be detrimental to the breeds working future. As of (2008), no bench standard exists.

In 2004 The Koolie breed was recognized by the Australian Sporting Registrar, judges from the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) may judge Koolies in all ANKC sanctioned sporting trials. In the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, registered Koolies may compete in, herding, obedience, tracking, jumping, gambles and dog agility events through registration on their State's Sporting Register as members of the Koolie Club of Australia.

In May 2006, the Stockdog Committee of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) voted to accept the "Koolie/German Coolie" into their list of recognised and accepted herding breeds, admission was granted June 2006.

In 2006, The American Herding Breed Association accepted the Australian Koolie onto their list of recognised and accepted breeds.

Exports

In 2002, The first Exportation to America of a registered DNA tested Koolie was orchestrated by the Koolie Club of Australia, for Ms Torry Lee Revels of South Carolina, USA.

In 2003, at the Koolie Club of Australia's Annual General meeting a unanimous vote was returned to appoint Ms Revels the clubs official representitive in America, Ms Revels was instrumental in gaining acceptance of the Australian Koolie to the recognised breeds lists of the the American Herding Breed Association and the Australian Shepherd Club of America.

In 2008, The first Exportation to New Zealand of a registered DNA tested Koolie was orchestrated by the Koolie Club of Australia, for Ms Penny Nalders of Wellington, NZ.

References

• Aleta Curry (2003). "The All-Australian Dog: The Koolie", one of a series of articles appearing in The Southern Village View Magazine, © 2003.
• Koolie Club of Australia (2003). " The Reemerging Breed", one of a series of articles appearing in Dogs Life Magazine, © 2003
• Chris Howe (1996) "The Origin of the German Koolie" one of a series of articles appearing in The Working Stock Dog Magazine of Australia © 1996
• Austalian Shepherd Club of America: Admissions of German Coolie/Koolie breed of Australia effective the 1st of June (2006)located on page 37 of ASCA Rules and regulations
• Linda Rorem, (1997) "Collie Family Tree" first published 1997 © Linda Rorem
• Carol Ann & Ernest Hartnagle "The Total Australian Shepherd: Beyond the Beginning" © 2007
• Jean Joy Hartnagle "All About Aussies" © 1985,1996,2005
• The Merle Gene (2006)- Department of Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of Texas A&M University © 2006

External links

• The Koolie Club of Australia
• The Koolie Forum
• Wikifido-Koolie
• Koolie Rescue
• Genetic Technologies
• Author Jean Joy Hartnagle-Australian Shepherd, Origin & History
• Linda Rorem - Collie Family Tree
• New Zealand Working Breeds