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Huntaway
Nueva Zelanda Not recognized by the FCI

Content

History

Huntaway (New Zealand Huntaway or New Zealand Sheepdog) It is a breed of dog native of New Zealand What, Since its early inception, they were used to drive vast herds of sheep using their strong and deep bark. The breed is relatively new, its existence dates back to the Decade of 1900.

Although it is currently widely considered a separate breed within working dogs and has not yet been recognized by any kennel club.

The true story of the origin of the breed Huntaway, also known as New Zealand Sheepdog, not exactly known but yes, there are many theories that sheds light on it.

The Huntaway It was used (and uses) in all New Zealand to lead and manage the massive flocks of sheep. Currently, These dogs are considered part of the heritage of New Zealand, although they are not recognized as a breed by any kennel club.

The sheep were introduced in New Zealand, because the humid and temperate climate made it a favorable place for the development of this cattle. The climatic characteristics mean that rainfall extends throughout the year and that these large flocks of sheep have rich pastures always available to feed on..

Before he Huntaway get fame, small herds were managed by dogs Collie that had been introduced into the national territory. As time passed, the herds grew to massive proportions and it was then, when the dogs Collie they were not able to cope with such development.

many things came together, the long hair of the Collie, the hot and humid climate, their silent work that as the herds grew became ineffective… Because, the passage of time and livestock development demonstrated that these dogs are tired at high speed, they lacked resistance and their silent way of working meant that the shepherd did not know where his dogs were. Y…, chaos was born.

The farmer often (given the size of herds) could be found almost a kilometer away from (on the other side of the herd), years. At that time, what I needed was a dog of short hair that is adapted to the climate without difficulty, with resistance and that could be heard at great distances. From these needs arose the birth of the Huntaway.

Some studies of dog breeds maintain that the early introduction of the Collie and other races, led ranchers to start breeding programs, in order to create a dog with the qualities needed to work with massive flocks. They think that within the crosses have been present races as the Beauceron, the Bloodhound, the German Shepherd, the Labrador Retriever and the Rottweiler, but this is only a conjecture. The race Huntaway exists only ago 100 years… and it has not delved too.

Physical characteristics

Huntaway
8 month old Huntaway in Wellington, New Zealand –

The Huntaway they are large dogs, they usually weigh in of 18 to 29,5 kg and its height to cross varies between the 51 and 61 cm..

The color their coat may vary, common colors are solid black, black and tan (is expected), Black with some white or striped. The layer can also be of different textures, It can be smooth or wavy, and the hair can be short or long, the ears are medium-sized and slightly pendants.

The life expectancy of a Huntaway is of 12 to 14 years of age.

Character and skills

The Huntaway they are very smart and single owner. It has an admirable resistance, you can run all day and not show any signs of fatigue. They are easy to train and very vocal, It can be taught to bark at the order of his master. Usually, They are not usually kept as pets, because they are –mainly- working dogs. But in recent years they have begun to enjoy great popularity and it is common to see them in homes.

as we said, they are intelligent, kind, very energetic, active dogs that require a lot of exercise. They have been bred to guide sheep by the hills and mountains of New Zealand, where it is difficult to walk or ride, What hand signs and whistles are used to communicate orders to these dogs when they are at a distance.

They are known for being noisy dogs, especially when working.

Thanks to its grazing conditions the breed Huntaway has gained popularity all over the world, in Japan the first Club of the New Zealand Huntaway. In Australia they are widely used for sheep work.

A municipality located 184 km to the North of the capital of New Zealand (Wellington) call Hunterville It is very famous for its statue of a dog breed Huntaway. There every year they offer a special tribute to the breed, the holiday is celebrated on the first Saturday after Labor Day, they are games and competitions, races between pastors and their Huntaway dogs. It is a very important holiday because shepherds who travel from all over New Zealand meet there..

Videos "Huntaway"

Les Huntaway Dog By Hugh Pickett

New Zealand herding

in the

2 thoughts on "Huntaway”

  1. I have a female huntaway at home with a large garden. Now you have 13 years old but still runs after rabbits. His bark thunks, she is a hunter, smart and loving. We adopted her with one year. It has been and it has made us happy, now he has a year and a half casav, with whom you feel like a mother and educate you. We will miss her in a few years

    Reply
    • They gave me one by chance today it's so beautiful 🥰 I'm doing a little research to find out about it, is there anything you can advise me, it's still small.

      Reply

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