Koolie

The Koolie, also called the Australian Koolie, Coulie, Welsh Heeler, Welsh Merle, German Koolie, or German Collie, is a herding dog from Australia. Existing since the early 19th century, among its ancestors were the Black and Tan Collie from Scotland, the smooth-coated blue merle Collie from Britain, and possibly the German Tiger. At some point, it was bred with the Australian Dingo, while some bloodlines were also bred with the Australian Kelpie and Border Collie. The Australian Dingo cross resulted in a breed with high heat tolerance, great stamina, stout build, manageability, and a very short coat.

It is believed that the Koolie got its name, according to a local legend, from German immigrants in southern Australia who were unable to pronounce “collie”.

Today, the intelligent, patient, loyal, upright, task-seeking working dog with a great eye and peripheral awareness is popular among dairy farmers, graziers, and stockmen, who use it for herding livestock in the rural Australian outback, as well as active people who enjoy it as a companion dog.

The 32 Different Types Of Koolies And Koolie Mixes

The name “German Koolie” is a misnomer since the Australian Koolie was bred from an Australian Dingo and a German Koolie or Collie from Germany, Ireland, or Scotland.

Today, it is not recognized as a standardized breed by any major kennel clubs, but it is recognized as a breed by the Australian Sporting Registrar and the Australian National Kennel Council. It is a cross-breed or collie mix all on its own, and there are many popular collie mixes. However, the Koolie Club of Australia defines it as a breed based on its working ability, with several types:

Color patterns

• Merle: Red or blue
• Solid: Red, brown, or black
• Bi-color: Red/white, black/white, black/tan, red/tan
• Tricolor: Solid or merle colors, often with a white chest and tan points.

Coat types

• Short
• Short rough
• Smooth
• Short/smooth
• Medium
• Double-coated
• Single
• Wavy/long (rare)

There are also different sizes of Koolies depending on where in Australia it was bred and the stockmen’s needs. The tall ones are north of Queensland and New South Wales, shorter and thicker ones in the Hunter Valley region and Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, and the smallest in Victoria.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning Koolies

Size And Weight

The Koolie is a medium-sized short-haired dog with an average height of 13 to 24in (46 to 60cm) and an average weight of 30 to 55lbs (13.6 to 24.9kg) fully grown for both sexes. Males and females do not significantly differ in size. Koolie puppies weigh 5 lbs on average at 8 weeks of age and are typically fully grown in height at 12 to 15 months, usually reaching their adult weight 6 months later.

Common Health Issues

Koolies are a highly athletic breed. In spite of their genetic diversity, they do face some possible health issues due to having a small gene pool. The merle gene can cause blindness and/or deafness, so responsible breeders will have merle testing before breeding their dogs. Joint problems from athleticism are a likely problem that increases with age. Allergies of the skin in reaction to chemicals, including herbicides such as Roundup, can range from minor to seizures, but allergies are not exclusive to this breed. Koolies are generally fairly healthy.

Temperament

The Koolie temperament is generally described as obedient, loyal, friendly, quiet, and patient, with an upright and intelligent personality. Koolies are energetic, hardy, playful, hard-working pets who get along with people, children, other dogs, cats, and other pets. They do not have a large barking tendency, unlike some other breeds. True to their working dog group, they will herd anything. They will even herd people and children when they don’t have a task. The herding instinct is displayed by gentle nipping at the heels.

How To Take Care Of Koolies

Koolies need specific care due to their breed and athletic or working dog needs. Possible health concerns like joint problems or questions about their medium size and coat are all factors one must consider.

The Best Dog Food For Koolies

Koolies, especially puppies, have their own unique health needs compared to other dog breeds. New owners should consider the following tips when choosing food for their new pet:

Koolie puppy food: Premium quality puppy food for medium-sized dog breeds will give your Koolie puppy the nutrition it needs. Those 8-12 weeks old need to eat four meals a day, while 3-6 month-old puppies need 3 meals a day. Puppies 6 months to 1 year old need two meals a day until they reach their first birthday, after which they can usually have 1 bowl a day. Sometimes, it is better to feed them 2 lighter meals. Be careful about overfeeding them.

Koolie adult dog food: Premium dry dog food for medium-sized, active, or working breeds gives well-rounded nutrition, although you can mix it with broth, water, or canned food for extra hydration. You can also feed your adult Koolie a diet of cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese as long as it is no more than ten percent of their diet. You’ll also still want to be careful about overfeeding to prevent obesity.

Since Koolies often have sensitivities to certain chemicals, like the herbicides that may be in their dog food, which can cause allergic reactions, Koolie owners should consider getting organic dog food.

Maintenance And Grooming

Koolie breeders tend to specialize in different coats or offer a variety. That being said, Koolies generally have short coats regardless of texture, so grooming is often easy and requires no more than average. They are average shedders and only need occasional brushing and bathing when necessary. If their coat is short enough, they may only need a grooming glove instead of a brush. Otherwise, for longer coats, you’ll want to brush them a few times a week and bathe once a month.

Training

Koolies are great with active single people or active families with older children, especially in a house with a yard. They have a natural tendency to herd anything from livestock, birds, people, and children.

Exercise

High on the list of Koolie’s needs is exercise. Just like with puppies of any other breed, you’ll want to limit their exercise to 5 minutes for every month of age. As adults, however, Koolies need walking several times a day along with some form of stimulation or task to work both their bodies and their minds. Exercise should be at least an hour every day.

Puppies

Koolie puppies will display their natural herding instinct with soft nipping. They take well to obedience training and socialization.

Koolies And Children

Like any other dog breed, Koolies should never be left unsupervised with young children, who may play too roughly with them. They do best with older children.

Dogs Similar To Koolies

• Australian Kelpie: Along with the Border Collie, this breed was crossed into some Koolie bloodlines. It has a similar personality, build, and working ability.
• Australian Cattle Dog (Red or Blue Heeler): The Koolie was used for developing this breed, which has similar personality traits, build, working ability, and coloring.
• Australian Shepherd: The Koolie is an ancestor of this breed and distantly related to it. Another sheepherding dog, it is more territorial, with a destructive tendency when bored and higher maintenance.

Famous Koolies

The story of Red Dog was about a Kelpie/Cattle Dog crossbreed who searched the harsh land for his owner, who had died without his knowing. Many people in the town of Dampier helped him, but he always moved on. Finally, he returned to Dampier and went to his owner’s girlfriend (Nancy), later dying at his owner’s gravesite. The people of Dampier created a statue of him in respect of his spirit.