The Koolie is as diverse as the country it originates from, Australia, in the north of Queensland and New South Wales they are tall, medium boned and agile, bred for mustering Simmental and Brahma on acres which cover thousands of miles. In The Hunter Valley region and Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, their thicker set and shorter to meet the demands of the mountain folk, to run silent and flush low lying cattle from the dense bush and gullies. In Victoria you find the smallest of the variety of Koolie who work fast and smart, to keep the trucks filling and the sheep up to the shearers. Bred diverse to meet the needs of the Stockman, Grazier and Farmer, all agile, all with the same ability to adapt to any situation, all with a strong willingness drive.
The Koolie vary from 40cm to 60cm in size and are a contrast of coat, colour and body type, although they are generally recognised by their merled coat pattern, Koolie colours can be Solid, (all one colour black or red/chocolate this includes Koolie who are cryptic merle: carry the merle gene but do not display it obviously) bi, (black & white or red & white) tri, (solid red or black,with white markings, normaly with brown points, or tri merle, same disciption but merle).
The Koolie coat ranges from short/smooth, (like that of the original blue merle Collies from Scotland) short, (like a working Kelpie) medium, (like the German Tigerand not common long, (like the Border Collie, not working lines) Koolies are typically slightly longer than tall and some Koolie types can resemble a cross between a Border Collie and a Kelpie - Breeds with whom the Koolie share Collie bloodline ancestry.
Like the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, the Koolie Club of Australia defines the breed based on its ability to work rather than on its conformation. Unlike the JRT Club of America, most Koolie breeders refer to this dog as a breed rather than as a type, and assert that it "breeds true".
History
The Koolie is believed to be descended from the same Collie types that were brought to Australia for the kennels of Thomas S. Hall (an originator of the Australian Cattle Dog breed); some believe that they could be direct descendants of Hall's dogs. This, if true, would make the Koolie one of the oldest of Australia's breeds.
The Koolie’s ancestors were the German Tiger(imported into South Australia in the 1800s)a German working breed which are part of the German Alpine Header Breeds, the Smooth coated blue merle Collie (imported from Europe also in the 1800s)and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland, these were the same type used by Thomas Hall in the creation of his Heelers.
Capt.v.Stephanitz, German Author of the book "The German Shepherd Dog" (8th revision and enlarged edition)wrote of German Tigers on page 167, describing them clearly as dogs with large dark brown to black spots or splashes or largish splashes on a lighter background found mostly in the South especially in the Brenztal, on page 252 he wrote of the importations into Australia by Graziers of German "Shepherd" Dogs(not to be confused with the current recognised form of German Shepherd, these were German working breeds use by Shepherds in Germany.) to influence the bloodlines of our own working breeds.
According to Elder Koolie breeders personal records, from Diaries and Photo albums the Koolie has been around for over 160 years, during the industrial era some bloodlines were influenced by Kelpie and BorderCollie, as explained by one grazier in Western Australia, "you bred from the good workers which were around and Koolies were not always to be found, so you bred to the next best worker that was and this was either the Kelpie or Border depending on the region you lived and the stock you worked".
In 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed to preserve, protect and ethically promote the Koolie breed. unlike most breed clubs the Koolie Club does not actively work towards bench standard recognition, feeling this would only be detrimental to the breeds working future. As of (2008), no bench standard exists.
In 2004 The Koolie breed was recognized by the Australian Sporting Registrar, judges from the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) may judge Koolies in all ANKC sanctioned sporting trials. In the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, registered Koolies may compete in, herding, obedience, tracking, jumping, gambles and dog agility events through registration on their State's Sporting Register as members of the Koolie Club of Australia.
In May 2006, the Stockdog Committee of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) voted to accept the "Koolie/German Coolie" into their list of recognized and accepted herding breeds, admission was granted June 2006.
Temperament
Graziers, stockmen and dairy farmers across Australia since the days of the earliest settlers to their present day counterparts have typically selected breeds which display the abilities required to meet their working needs. The temperament found in a Koolie is an example of this much sought after ability. The optimal worker possesses a combination of working skills and bonding temperament. There are times when an uninitiated dog owner or a new enthusiast mistakes the Koolie as a shy, reserved or even a timid animal. The Koolies temperament needs to be understood in proper context when one seeks an optimal match of skills and demeanor. The Koolies are intelligent animals and most experienced handlers know well that they need guidance instead of merely being pushed and given praise instead of assigning blame. A steady and supportive approach will be productive, proving the Koolies adaptability in diverse situations when given time. Such is the hallmark it bears and owners will be rewarded through the Koolies diligence in varied roles such as in work situations, sporting activities, loyal service or the time honored role of companionship. Known to be patient, temperate, dedicated, with a strong drive for willingness and devotion, the Koolie is not naturally aggressive but can demonstrate dominance, an untiring enthusiasm to work, and an admirable hardiness when the job or circumstance requires.