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The Smithfield, Smithfield Collie or Smithfield Sheepdog is a breed of
and they always possess floppy ears and shaggy hair on the body, face and legs. Two varieties exist, with one having a
It was used for droving cattle in the southeast of England, especially the Smithfield Market in London,
and although this breed of dog is believed to be extinct and was never recognised by any of the major kennel clubs before its extinction, dogs of a similar type are shown under the same name in
/ref>
herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog, shepherd dog, sheep dog or working dog, is a Dog type, type of dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to dog breed, breeds that are developed for herding.
Herding behavior
All herd ...
. It is a large, strong dog of the collie
Collies form a distinctive type of herding dogs, including many related landraces and standardized breeds. The type originated in Scotland and Northern England. Collies are medium-sized, fairly lightly-built dogs, with pointed snouts. Many ...
type. The Smithfield can be black, grey or red with a white collar, or wholly white "Dog Diaries: The Smithfield, Breed of the Month"and they always possess floppy ears and shaggy hair on the body, face and legs. Two varieties exist, with one having a
natural bobtail
A natural bobtail is an animal's tail which due to a mutated gene grows unusually short or is missing completely. The genes for the shortened tail may be dominant or recessive.
Because of legislation restricting or preventing docking, natural bob ...
and the second with a longer tail."The Smithfield Sheepdog Site, An Overview of the Smithfield"It was used for droving cattle in the southeast of England, especially the Smithfield Market in London,
and although this breed of dog is believed to be extinct and was never recognised by any of the major kennel clubs before its extinction, dogs of a similar type are shown under the same name in
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, Australia.
Overview
The Smithfield was first introduced to Australia during colonial times. It was a handy dog that was used to work the meat market inSmithfield, London
Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly ward of the City of London, England.
Smithfield is home to a number of City institutions, such as St Barth ...
. It is a dog standing from and has a shaggy appearance. Very little has been documented about this breed, and although it is not a recognised pure breed in the Australian National Kennel Council
The Australian National Kennel Council is the coordinating kennel club of Australia.Encyclopedia Britannica"Dog breeds", ''www.britannica.com'' retrieved 23 December 2018. It is a member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
Role
The ...
, it is shown at the Campbell Town
Campbell Town is a town in Tasmania, Australia, on the Midland Highway. At the 2021 census, the town had a population of 823.
History
Traditional owners of the Campbell Town area
The traditional custodians of the Campbell Town area were t ...
Show in Tasmania. Many older farmers still own the breed, as well as some breeders who want to keep the original lines going and maintain effort in the future of the breed.John Chandler, ''The "Smithfield" Dog''/ref>
Appearance
The Smithfield is different in appearance from theAustralian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
The Stumpy is a naturally bobtailed or tailless, medium-sized cattle dog similar and/or related to the Australian Cattle Dog which is commonly referred to as a “Heeler”, whereas, the Stumpy is not. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was ...
. They are sometimes referred to as 'the British Smithfield'. The coat of the Smithfield grows long, coarse and shaggy in nature. As this dog was originally found in England, and was a street dog, this is consistent with staying warm.
Personality
The Smithfield displays characteristics which are friendly, patient, and good with children. However, they are a working breed and require exercise to satisfy this and ensure a relaxed demeanor at home. Chasing a ball, learning tricks, catching a Frisbee will all satisfy a Smithfield which is not being actively used as a herding dog. At home, and as long as they receive an outing and some exercise each day, they will enjoy being with the family and will be happy to lounge around and alert the family to visitors with a friendly bark.
References
See also
*Bob the Railway Dog
Bob the Railway Dog (also known as "Terowie, South Australia, Terowie Bob") is part of South Australian Railways folklore. He travelled the South Australian Railways system in the latter part of the 19th century, and was known widely to railwa ...
{{pastoral dogs
Herding dogs
Dog breeds originating in England