Koolie

Koolie Basics

When you see the Koolie for the first time, you may think that you are looking at an Australian Cattle Dog. The breed is, in fact, an Australian breed but it is actually the other way around – the breed played a role in the development of the Australian Cattle Dog, also known as the Blue Heeler. Interestingly, however, the breed is sometimes misrepresented as a German breed because it is also known as the German Koolie.

Koolies played a role in the development of the Australian Cattle Dog.

Origin

The Koolie is also known as the German Koolie because the predecessors of the breed were brought to Australia by early German settlers. The German Koolie was used as an all-purpose working breed until the 1800s when one of them accidentally mated with a Dingo, the wild dog of Australia. The result of this mating was a short-coated working breed ideally suited to the hot climate in the Australian outback. The breed rapidly gained popularity after that point and was used to develop other Australian working breeds like the Australian Kelpie and the Australian Cattle Dog.

Pedigree

The modern Koolie is the product of a cross between the Australian Dingo and the German Koolie, a working dog brought to Australia by early German settlers.

Food/Diet

As a medium-sized dog, the Koolie should be fed a high-quality dry food formulated for medium breeds. This is also a working breed, however, so he may respond better to an active or working breed formula. You still need to be careful about overfeeding, however, to prevent obesity.

Training

The Koolie is a very intelligent and hard-working breed that generally responds well to training. These dogs love having a job to do and they excel in a variety of dog sports including herding, agility, obedience, and more. The dog does best with positive reinforcement training and responds well to a firm and consistent hand in leadership. Keep in mind that you may have to keep your training sessions short to prevent your dog from getting bored.

Weight

The Koolie is a medium-sized dog, standing 13 to 23 inches tall and weighing anywhere from 33 to 53 pounds at maturity. Males and females are not drastically different in size.

Temperament/Behavior

The Koolie can be a challenging breed to keep, but not because it has a poor temperament – it is just a high-energy breed that requires a lot of attention and exercise. This breed is intelligent and hardworking in the field but fun-loving and easygoing in the home. These care-free dogs make a lively family pet and they generally get along with other dogs, cats, and household pets – they are also great with kids. Above all, however, the breed is just a nice, friendly dog that loves life and will enjoy every experience he has to the fullest capacity.

Common Health Problems

The Koolie is a healthy and hardy breed with a very long average lifespan. This is partially due to the fact that the dog has such a diverse gene pool. As such, it isn’t affected by many genetic health problems, but there are some conditions to which the breed is prone. These may include joint problems, skin allergies, and hip dysplasia.

Life Expectancy

The average lifespan for the Koolie is very high, between 12 and 18 years.

Exercise Requirements

The Koolie is a working breed with high energy levels and excellent stamina. This breed requires a long daily walk and plenty of time and space to run outdoors. Without adequate exercise, they tend to develop destructive behaviors. Adequate exercise will also help to extend the dog’s lifespan.

AKC

The Koolie is not currently recognized by the AKC, nor by any other major breed clubs.

Coat

The Koolie is similar in appearance to many herding breeds, having a medium size and a muscular build. The dog’s coat is typically short and smooth, slightly longer on the tail. Some are born with medium-length coats, though this is not preferred. The most common colors for the breed are red merle or blue merle with white markings, though these dogs can also be red or black with merle markings. The longer-coated varieties usually have a wave to their coat.

Puppies

The average litter size for the Koolie breed is 4 to 6 puppies. Because the Koolie has very high energy levels and a propensity for mischief, early socialization and training is a must. If you plan to use this dog for herding or dog sports, you should start early in training for that as well. Some Koolies may develop a habit of herding other dogs and household pets, but they are not aggressive or dangerous.

Photo credit: vauvau/Bigstock; LouLou007/Bigstock