Australian Dog Breeds
Australia is famous for being the land of many one-of-a-kind animals, including the kangaroo, koala, and wombat. There are about a dozen incredible dog breeds native to this country. When considering dogs from Australia, think of high-energy working dogs that make excellent companions as long as they can stay active all day. They are best for people who prefer to take their dogs out for a morning jog or even for a long hike on the weekends.
Many of the dogs on the list, like the Bull Arab, Kangaroo Dog, and Koolie, are not yet recognized by any major registries, including the Australian National Kennel Council and the American Kennel Club.
List of Dog Breeds from Australia
Large Dogs
- Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
- Australian Kelpie
- Bull Arab
- Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
- Kangaroo Dog
- Koolie
Small Dogs
Before you start wondering about it, Australian Shepherds are not on this list because they are not from Australia but from the United States.
Still, there are a few other breeds that deserve a mention here, with the Halls Heeler being the first. Now extinct, this breed was developed in New South Wales. It is the predecessor of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and the Australian Cattle Dog.
A well-known wild dog species from Australia, the Dingo, is one of the oldest dogs in the world. Dingoes have been crossbred with domestic dogs to create some of the finest breeds from the country – most notably the Australian Cattle Dog.
Another rather new breed is the Australian Cobberdog, a type of Labradoodle, bred by the MDBA (Master Dog Breeders and Associates) as a therapy dog with a unique DNA sequence.
Brief History of Dogs in Australia
Most dogs here were designed to withstand long outdoor hours and navigate the country’s rough terrains. When the English and other European settlers arrived in Australia in the 1700s and 1800s, they brought their Collies, Foxhounds, and Deerhounds to help manage their cattle. However, these European breeds proved less tolerant to the heat compared to local dogs. So, the settlers started breeding them with native dogs like the Dingo to gradually come up with dogs more suitable for the country’s environment while retaining the best qualities of their beloved pets. And thus, the Australian dogs we see and love today came to exist.
