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When
the first settlers established holdings they began importing stock.
Along with the stock came the dogs they used to work that stock in their country of origin.
Everything was bearable until explorers
opened up the country west of the Great Dividing
Range and people moved their stock into these better
pastures.
The dogs that accompanied the settlers stock were used to different climates and different conditions. The long haired,
mostly bob tailed "Smithfield " type of dog that were basically a mix
of breeds that used to work stock of any sort at the
Smithfield Markets in England, were a disaster in
Australia's rugged type of country and
climate and quickly died out.
The early "Squatters" (pastoral property owners) and
drovers realised the need to improve on the dogs they
had and it wasn't until about 1830 that a Mr Thomas
Hall, studmaster for the Hall family's pastoral holdings,which was the
first large cattle empire in the colony, imported his dogs which
were called Northumberland Drover's Dogs, not the Scotch or Highland Collies, as suggested by Robert Kaleski.
"This animal is larger than the Shepherds Dog; the hair is generally shorter and the tail, even when not cut purposely, often appears as if had been so. Bewick, who was well acquainted with these animals, speaking of the former, says:-
'Many are whelped with short tails, which seems as if they were cut, and these are called in the north, self tailed dogs.' The same writer is disposed to consider this breed as a true , or permanent kind; and he states that great attention is paid to it. It seems however, that the Drovers Dog is, in reality, a cross between the Shepherd's Dog and some other race - perhaps the terrier. It often partakes largely of the character of the Shepherd's Dog, but is taller in the limbs. These dogs bite severely, and always attack at the heels of cattle, so that a fierce bull is easily driven by them. They are singularly quick and prompt in their actions and they are both courageous and intelligent to their masters, who frequently ill-treat them. They are faithful and attached.
This description of the working ability and style of the Drover's Dogs could almost be fitted to the original Hall's Heelers. This must surely squash for all times the commonly held theory that the dogs imported by Thomas Hall were sheep dog type workers that "headed stock".These dogs. the Drover's Dogs, were crossed with Australia's own fully acclimatized and genetically evolved dog, the Dingo, reputed for
his silent approach and endurance to heat.
This cross resulted with a successful type of dog known then as Hall's Heelers. These dogs were also known at that
time as Merlins or Blue Heelers.
It has been recorded that the Dalmatian was introduced to give the breed "a love of horses", the Dalmatian being a coach dog that worked close to the heels of horses. There has been speculation as to the use and the availability of the Dalmatian at that
time. However, it is recorded that the cross did happen and the resultant loss of herding ability was put down to this infusion.
To rectify this situation Black and Tan Kelpies were introduced to provide
heading instinct. There is also speculation on this point as it has been suggested that the only black and tan dogs in the colony at that time were Black and Tan Terriers, with development of the Kelpie occurring at a later date. Robert Kaleski's recorded history dictates that the Kelpie was used and that the resulting progeny threw true to type and had distinctive markings indicative of the strain and the
resultant abilities from each strain. To support this claim it is now recognised that that Black and tan Kelpies existed in the colony well before the Kelpie was crossed into the Cattle Dog. Gleeson's Kelpie, bred by George Robertson, was a Black and Tan and born in Australia in 1867 from imported Black and Tan parents.
Black and Tan Kelpies were in New South Wales by 1870 - the year Thomas Hall died. He never saw the "need" to use the Kelpie cross in his dogs. The cross was "needed" after 1880, when barbed wire became available in good supply and fences shot up everywhere. This meant the cattle became quieter and so the "need" changed. Drovers and Stockmen "needed" less aggressive working dogs, with a less powerful bite. The Kelpie cross satisfied that "need".
In 1930, Kaleski wrote in an article to the AKC
Gazette, titled "Whence Came Australian Dogs", where
he wrote, ... "rigid adherence to
these markings is necessary, since they are "utility"
points. The black head shows Kelpie strain, and hence
keen working qualities; the red head the Dingo strain
and hence great hardiness; the brown eyes show keen
sight; the white stripe dopwn the forehead and the
black spot on the tail butt show descent from "Tom
Bently's Dog" - one of the most perfect workers ever
known".
There have been 'discussions` over the years that the
Bull Terrier was used in the initial setting of the
type. There is probably food for argument here as
there are often dogs today with obvious Bull Terrier
fronts,hardly any "stop",heavy jaws and rabbit ears
appearing from well-established lines.
The Barb, a black sheepdog, was another infusion
that was not successful, mainly because the Barb, a
good header, could not handle wild cattle. Early
attempts to produce cattle dogs included a Russian
Poodle - Collie cross; a Bull Terrier - Collie cross;
and the Kangaroo Dog - Bull Terrier cross, none of
which proved successful for one reason or
another.
Robert Kaleski wrote the Standard for the Australian
Cattle Dog, the Kelpie and the Barb and it has been
through his efforts that we do have a recorded
history of our breed. The Standard that Kaleski wrote
for the ACD back in 1903 is basically the standard
that applies today. Little has changed.He was situated in Sydney and was well known amongst the Sydney dog fanciers. In the country he was not well know, or his opinion sought or highly regarded, as some may expect. It was in the country where early working dogs were bred. His book,Barkers and Biters" is very informative but does draw controversy, especially the section on the Barb and the Kelpie.
The Australian Cattle Dog has been, and is known
world wide under quite a few different names:-
Queensland Heelers, Queensland Blue Heelers,
Queensland Blues (which we find quite amusing as
that is a type of pumpkin grown here in Queensland),
Blueys, Queenslands and even 'Healers'. All these names
refer to the same breed, The AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG.
Regardless of what name is attached to him, or what
you may call him, whether good or bad, he is still
the same loyal, honest and reliable mate you could
every wish to have.
There
are basically two accepted "histories" of the breed
and it is left to the reader to decide which is
correct. We have the recorded history as presented by
Robert Kaleski, who was only one of many breeders
during the evolution of the breed in the late 1800's
and early 1900's. Unfortunately none of the other
breeders at that time kept breeding programs or
records to support Kaleski's writings.
The other theory is that the Hall family, which at
that time owned pastoral holdings from Surat in
Queensland to Sydney in New South Wales, of which
Thomas Hall was the Studmaster, also owned property
in Scotland. The Hall family claim that the Drover's
Dog or "Cur", a bob tailed dog was brought out from
their properties in Scotland, not the blue merled
Collies.
The main controversy stems from the early history of
the breed from 1830 to 1870, and the use or non-use
of blue merle Highlamd Collies and their ability or
non-ability as 'heelers' or 'headers'.
It has been established that the Australian Cattle
Dog does not carry the merling gene of the blue merle
collie. It carries a ticking gene, which may or may
not add weight to the Hall theory. Also, the fact
that in those early years, to import dogs from
England or Scotland, would require quite a
substantial amount of money.
The dogs would have to
be accompanied by a handler, who would have to ensure
the wellbeing of the dogs during the months at sea.
Also, food for the dogs would also have to be
slaughtered on board during the sea passage. No dry
dog food back then.
Hall's dogs would not have to be
purchased but supplied by the Hall families pastoral
interests in Scotland. Ticket of leave drovers of
those times may well have been wealthy enough to
bring out dogs, either collies or any other breed. I
do not know, nor can I find evidence of such imports
happening.
Both theories accept that the Dingo was used,
regardless of what other breed it was crossed with.
The url's listed below will link you to information
supporting both theories, some even add to the main
theories.
You may note the discrepancies, chronologically and
otherwise between many listed theories of the breed
history. It is up to you to decide which theory you
wish to support.
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