Courtesy of Fairfax Media Archives.
It is said that a good cowdog can do the work of several cowboys. From helping move the herd to finding a missing cow, a loyal cowdog helps his cowboy companion with a variety of ranching duties.
Humans have utilized working dogs for various roles for more than 10,000 years. Initially, they likely assisted in gathering wild animals during hunts, making it easier for their human counterparts to catch game. Ancient Mesopotamians employed dogs for guarding purposes, while the Greeks and Romans later used them to protect livestock and aid in hunting. Dogs also feature in the art and literature of ancient Egypt, China, India, and Mesoamerica, though not always in agricultural contexts. Over millennia, dogs have been bred across every inhabited continent to meet local conditions and needs. Certain breeds became associated with individuals, clans, towns, or regions where they originated. However, the widespread recognition of popular breeds did not occur until the 19th century, when British society, with its focus on social status, began meticulously documenting the pedigrees of pets and livestock.
An ancient depiction on a Greek krater of a boar hunt using dogs. British Museum. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain.
Just as different horse breeds excel in specific disciplines, certain dog breeds are more adept at herding livestock because of their instinctual ability to control the movement of animals.
Herding breeds are known for their speed and agility, performing well across various terrains and excelling in short bursts of intense activity. Even smaller herding breeds are robust and muscular, characterized by a proud stance with their head and neck held high. These dogs are highly responsive to subtle hand signals and whistle commands, efficiently directing herds or locating stray animals, making them invaluable assets to any ranching operation.
Today, the American Kennel Club recognizes over 30 different breeds as herding dogs. Many ranchers today rely on these highly intelligent dogs to efficiently move, gather, and control their herds or flocks, making them an integral part of any outfit. Among the most well-known herding breeds are the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, and Australian Cattle Dog. Let’s explore a brief history of these prominent breeds.
Border Collie herding sheep. Courtesy of American Kennel Club.
Border Collie
Originating in the border country between Scotland and England as early as the 1700s, Border Collies are one of the oldest and most intelligent breeds of dogs. According to Iris Combe’s book, “Border Collies,” the old Gaelic “collie” was the rural term for anything useful, so a “collie dog” was a useful dog. Because this breed flourished in the border region, it was named the “Border Collie.” Originally used to herd sheep flocks, Border Collies quickly established themselves as the most valuable asset a flock owner could have. The breed’s heritage is closely tied to the earliest development of livestock farming and the wool trade throughout the United Kingdom.
Rodeo star Jay Sisler with his Australian Shepherds. Courtesy of the AKC Library and Archives.
Australian Shepherd
Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd breed was developed in the Western United States in the late 1800s primarily through British-derived herding dogs, such as Collies. In the mid-1800s, as demand for mutton and wool grew throughout the California Gold Rush and following the Civil War, more herding dogs were imported to manage the flocks. Like many Americans whose ancestors arrived in previous centuries, the Australian Shepherd is a confounding mix of many cultures, influences, and national identities.
So where does this breed get its name?
Before sheep were brought West in the late 19th century, Germans became an epicenter for Merino sheep breeding, bringing the improved Merinos to Australia before they eventually traveled to the American West. Newspaper accounts of the sheep’s arrival “Down Under” also mentioned the “Australian Shepherds” that accompanied the flocks. No one in Australia called them Australian Shepherds; the name was coined by observant Americans.
Young boy and his Australian Cattle Dog, c. 1940s. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Australian Cattle Dog
Also known as the blue heeler, Australian Cattle Dogs originated in the early 1800s in New South Wales, Australia. Cattle rancher Thomas Hall developed the breed by crossbreeding dogs imported from the United Kingdom, such as the blue-speckled Highland Collie, with dingos to create a breed that could help herd cattle in the harsh Australian Outback. This breed gets its heeler name because it moves cattle by nipping at their heels, a trait inherited from their dingo ancestry.
