Description
Appearance
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 cattle over many miles. In New South Wales, they are thicker set and shorter to flush low lying cattle from the dense bush and gullies. In Victoria, one finds the smallest variety of the Koolie, primarily used for sheep. 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 in size and are a contrast of coat, colour and body type. Most often, they are seen in the merle coat pattern, but can exhibit any combination of colour and coat lengths. The solid red or black Koolie are often mistaken for Kelpies, and some bi-coloured Koolie have been taken for Border Collies by the general public. As all of these breeds share Collie ancestry, they resemble each other.Coat
The Koolie coat ranges from short/smooth (like that of the original blue merle Collies from Scotland), short (like a workingColouring
Koolie colours are classed as Solid or Merle. A Solid does not show any Merle pattern, and can come in any colour such as all one colour black, red, chocolate, cream, dilute red (fawn), dilute blue (lilac), with tan points, black & white, dilute & white or red & white, or "Tri" -solid red or black, with white markings, normally with brown points. Any of these can then have the Merle pattern ie usually with large splashes of darker colourings of red/chocolate for red merles or black/grey for blue merles. Black Koolies will commonly have a black nose with black eyes, or tones of black including blue. Red or chocolate Koolies will commonly have a red or chocolate nose with brown eyes, or tones of brown, including yellow, and there can be combinations of both black or brown with the added blue eye/s. There are also dilute colours of slate/blue for black Koolies and lilac/fawn for red Koolies. Yellow/cream can also be displayed when the dog is homozygous recessive on the "E locus." This recessive red (also known as Australian Red in some breeds) is considered a masking gene in that it prevents the production of black coat pigment (base skin pigment remains unaffected). Because of this, it is considered a masking gene that prevents the expression of the merle gene (and some others). In 2019, many Koolie breeders took part in the research project to find a DNA test for the Merle gene, as it was believed many non Merle looking dogs could be genetically a Merle and therefore have issues when bred to a Merle. The breeding of two Merle dogs runs a high risk (in all breeds) of sight and hearing defects in the offspring. As a “solid” (dog not showing the Merle pattern) may still genetically be a Merle, it is vital to perform a full DNA Merle sequence test to determine the “lengths” of Merle in each dog so that the safest breeding practices are used.Temperament
Graziers, stockmen and dairy farmers across Australia since days long past have typically selected breeds which display the abilities required to meet their working needs. The temperament found in a Koolie is a culmination of these much sought-after abilities. 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 Koolie's temperament needs to be understood in proper context when one seeks an optimal match of skills and demeanour. Koolies are intelligent animals, and the most experienced handlers know well that they need guidance in training. A steady and supportive approach will be productive, proving the Koolie's adaptability in diverse situations when given time. Owners will be rewarded through the Koolie's 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 sense of willingness and devotion. They show an untiring enthusiasm for work and an admirable hardiness when the job or circumstance requires. Given their nature, it is paramount that pups are well trained for obedience and are given both mentally challenging goals as well as physical exercise.Health
The median longevity of Koolies is about 15 years, which is a typical lifespan for this breed. Koolies have a diverse but small gene pool and can suffer from the many genetic problems found in recognised breeds. Many of these problems have genetic tests currently available, but hip and elbow scoring is necessary to reduce the incidence of Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. The merle for which the Koolie is most recognised by can produce blind and/or deaf white pups, if 2 merles are bred together, so merle testing should be performed prior to breeding. The Australian Koolie Association is the only Koolie breed registry which has mandatory DNA breed ID testing before a dog of unverified breeding can be registered and also requires all stud dogs to be fully health screened by DNA & hip and elbow dysplasia tested.Medical research
*In 2003, DNA testing carried out on 56 individual Koolie bloodlines from Australia by Dr. Mark Neff of theHerding technique
Koolies are much sought-after in rural Australia, and interest is now being shown in America, Canada, Germany, Finland, New Zealand, Switzerland and Holland. According to Geoff Broughton, past 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 fromHistory
The Koolie's ancestors were thought to be the smooth-coated blue merle Collie (imported from Britain in the 19th century) and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland; but dogs imported by early German settlers are believed to be descended from the "German Tiger", a European herding dog, however DNA evidence is yet to be found support this. DNA testing has found that the Australian Kelpie is the closest known relative. During the industrial era some bloodlines were influenced by Kelpie and Border Collie, 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". Many be breeders still out cross both Kelpie and Border Collie lines, which are accepted practices with the Koolie breed registries. In 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed to preserve and promote the Koolie breed. Later the Working Koolie Association & Australian Koolie Association were formed as well. None of these registries actively work towards bench standard recognition, feeling this would only be detrimental to the breeds working future. As of (2013), no bench standard exists. In 2004, the Koolie breed was recognised by the Australian Sporting Registrar, judges from theExports
In 2002, the first exportation to America of a registered DNA tested Koolie was orchestrated by members of the Koolie Club of Australia for Ms. Torry Lynn Revels of North Carolina, U.S. In 2003, at the Koolie Club of Australia's Annual General meeting a unanimous vote was returned to appoint Ms. Revels the club's official representative in America, Ms. Revels was instrumental in gaining acceptance of the Australian Koolie to the recognised breeds lists of the American Herding Breed Association and the Australian Shepherd Club of America in order to gain qualifying scores in herding trials. In 2008, the first exportation to New Zealand of a registered DNA tested Koolie was orchestrated by members of the Koolie Club of Australia for Ms. Penny Nalders of Wellington, New Zealand. In 2008, the first exportation to Finland of registered DNA tested Koolies was orchestrated by members of the Koolie Club of Australia for Ms. Sinikka Kumpusalmi of Vehmersalmi, and Mrs. Satu Tasanen of Honkilahti, Finland. In 2011, the first exportation to Switzerland of registered DNA tested Koolies was orchestrated by members of the Koolie Club of Australia for Ms. Brigitt Stirnimann of Aarwangen, Switzerland.See also
* Dogs portal * List of dog breeds *References
Bibliography
* 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 * Australian Shepherd Club of America: Admissions of Koolie/German Coolie breed of Australia effective 1 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 * Jeanne 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 © 2006Further reading
*External links
German Coolie World Registry