Tjukurpa Kool Breeze & Tjukurpa Kool Running. Two of our top workers, working with Gem, proudly owned by Ewen & Donna McLean

Introduce them early, 4 month old pup looks over the sheep. Bred by Scott Dayman

Morrie Oxley of Vic and two smooth coat Blue Merles work quietly and steadily.

The Smithfield is generaly believed to have been introduce into Australia with stock from Europe.

Smithfiels pose for the Camera

Koolie Border Collie cross working in the pens

Larrissa is Obedience trained and still shows the ability to work. Owned by Alan & Jan Taylor of Vic

Koolie From the early 50s

German Tigers a herding breed from Germany use in the foundation of the Koolie around 1825

Tjukurpa Kool Breeze

Breeze, Solid Blue Merle, no white points, smooth coat, Kool, Blue Merle, lots of black, white points short coat, Gem, red merle, saw this girl only the once at a meeting, but hard to forget, natural worker, teriffic relationship with her owner, she moved well and confident around the sheep, she would have done anything for him, unfortunatly gem died recently from snake bite, the dangers of the job.

Scotts a great believer in letting the pups see the stock as early as possible, he takes the pups on the bike or in the truck as he travels round his 2000km square property in SA , where he runs 12000 sheep and 200 cattle and lets them see and watch the sheep, If they've got ability this is the quickest way of seeing it.

It is believed by some Koolie breeders who have been around a number of years that the female Koolie is better around the ewes and lambs, very steady, quiet and at times even nuturing. Morrie has traveled extensively in the transport business, and had the opportunity to see many Koolie's. He always saw blue merles never reds.

This photo of Smithfields backing sheep, demonstrates one of the reasons why they were used. The name Smithfield refers to where a proportion of early introduced working breeds came from, Smithfield working breeds came from the Smithfield butchers in England. Though today it is seen as a breed name mostly in the Tasmanian regions where they hope to have their breed the Smithfield recognised one day.

The word Smithfield realy doesn't discribe a breed so to speak. Dogs that normaly hung around or worked at the Smithfield butchery Yards in England were commenly refered to by this name. When they traveled to Australia and there were many types with the shepherds and stock, people continued to refer to them by this name.

The demand for a good working Koolie diminished, with the introduction of automation, life on the land became less on foot and more behind the wheel. Farmers found it harder to locate good Koolie's to breed to, and so turned to the breeds that were readily available.

Many Obedience people are now showing interest in the Koolie. The Koolie's medium size and agile shape allows it to travel smoothly and compact, no waste of movement. Ideal for Agility, Jumps, Flyball as well as Tracking, Endurance, Obedience and of course Herding.

This photo was kindly sent to me from Victoria, by Morrie Oxley, his Koolie male Bin pictured here was a great assistance to him. Morrie would use Bin to round up his horse team, by just calling out a horses name, Bin knew to go and bring him back. No matter which name Morrie called, Bin never failed to bring the right horse back. Bin was a all round and could work all stock. He was also a great friend.

This breed is from Gemany, it is reported that German Immigrants transported them to Australia as early as 1825. DNA testing hopes to prove a blood relationship between the Tigers and Koolie's. Tigers have no Collie blood influence, but are in fact a totaly different breed. Tigers have been in Germany for hundreds of years, but are not a recognised breed. They are used in the mountains for sheep.

Solid blue merle no white, terrific on sheep, has a great willingness to work