Thread: What breed/origin is a NZ Cattle dog?

I know NZ Heading Dogs
I know the NZ Huntaway
I also know the Australian Cattle dog (red/blue healer)
But what is the NZ cattle dog?

Seems a lot of pig hunters rate the Cattle dog x Staff Bull terrier mix... but what this NZ cattle dog actually is I have no idea.

there isnt one as far as I know....loads of dogs who work cattle,but they heading or huntaways....just working dogs..never heard of a NZ cattle dog...must be something dreamed up by breeder wanting to corner market on pups...

My brother in law was a beef cattle farmer in the King Country and his 4 dogs were all different breeds but worked well. We visited many years ago with my young German Shepherd and within 2 days he was as good as any of them. Thinking about other cattle farms I have been on and I can't nail any specific breed as being common apart from Huntaways.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

there isnt one as far as I know....loads of dogs who work cattle,but they heading or huntaways....just working dogs..never heard of a NZ cattle dog...must be something dreamed up by breeder wanting to corner market on pups...

I've seen/met many pig hunters selling their 'cattle x bully' pups over the years but when asked they just state 'NZ cattle dog'. But maybe you are correct MD and 'cattle dog' is just an 'all-around and easy' term for any huntaway or heading/eye dog that works cattle?

The only trouble with that idea is that the temperament of the heading dog and the huntaway is quite different (heading more sensitive and a lot less bark)....so to lump them under the one term of 'cattle dog' seems to be not the best idea.

Any pig hunters out there that might have more of an idea?

I would think that Huntaways would be more suitable as pig dogs than Heading dogs on account of their bark.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

I would think that Huntaways would be more suitable as pig dogs than Heading dogs on account of their bark.

Nah. They are inclined to bark on the trail which is a no no. Just makes the pig go faster.
The yardmen at the freezing works often had Smithfield’s (Bob tail dogs) and they were good on cattle but there is no “cattle dog” breed as such.

Originally Posted by Hermitage

I've seen/met many pig hunters selling their 'cattle x bully' pups over the years but when asked they just state 'NZ cattle dog'. But maybe you are correct MD and 'cattle dog' is just an 'all-around and easy' term for any huntaway or heading/eye dog that works cattle?

The only trouble with that idea is that the temperament of the heading dog and the huntaway is quite different (heading more sensitive and a lot less bark)....so to lump them under the one term of 'cattle dog' seems to be not the best idea.

Any pig hunters out there that might have more of an idea?

There is an 'Australian Cattle Dog' and these crossed with the likes of English Bullys are spectacular holders. I think that when someone advertises pig dog pups as 'Cattle Dog' cross they mean Ausi cattle dogs, or they are riding on the reputation of the Aus ones but using NZ Heading Dogs which are tough and fast having a bit of Grey hound in them.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Nah. They are inclined to bark on the trail which is a no no. Just makes the pig go faster.
The yardmen at the freezing works often had Smithfield’s (Bob tail dogs) and they were good on cattle but there is no “cattle dog” breed as such.

I have had a couple of Smithfiields for pighunting years ago, very good strong dogs that dont trail bark. No such thing as an NZ cattle dog (pighunters calling their pot licker that when it has a touch of collie in it)

When I was a kid (in the early 70's) a "cattle dog" (on dairy farms in our area) was usually a mix of heading and huntaway crosses, with varying lineage of both in them! Plain eyed heading dogs make some of the best pig dogs. As mentioned above huntaways can tend to trail bark. But I know of shepherds who use their working dogs on pigs every now and then. But most know that they're too valuable to risk pig hunting. A mate of mine had a strong eyed heading dog and it was a fantastic finder; except it never barked on the "bail"! It was a matter of luck finding him if he got away from the other dogs! Maybe not so much of a problem now with tracking gear?

i think cattle dog when it comes to pig hunters around here is just a "type"

anything huntaway collie or thinner with that tall aspect that chase cattle

like gaurd dog being a type sort of thing, sled dog ect

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

When I was a kid (in the early 70's) a "cattle dog" (on dairy farms in our area) was usually a mix of heading and huntaway crosses, with varying lineage of both in them! Plain eyed heading dogs make some of the best pig dogs. As mentioned above huntaways can tend to trail bark. But I know of shepherds who use their working dogs on pigs every now and then. But most know that they're too valuable to risk pig hunting. A mate of mine had a strong eyed heading dog and it was a fantastic finder; except it never barked on the "bail"! It was a matter of luck finding him if he got away from the other dogs! Maybe not so much of a problem now with tracking gear?

that mate wouldnt be "possum" Briant perchance????

Thanks for the replies as I was stumped trying to figure this 'cattle dog breed' out.

So basically the popular NZ pig dog breed of 'Cattle dog x' is an all-encompassing term/type for some unknown muttley that probably has collie blood down the line. Makes sense...pig hunters never were into breed standards...

heading dogs make awesome pigdogs as they have brains and most of all BALANCE...they know how much pressure to apply to keep pig stopped but not too much to make pig fight or run....Ive had both heading and huntaways as pig dogs AND had huntaway who would trail bark like hell who got us many many pigs and outfound some very expensive top finders...he got ripped twice in his life,both times were right by end of his coozer so he bailed and if pig moved he backed off bigtime LOL.... it was great in scrub country,I could tell by his bark what was going on and where they headed,cut them off a couple of times and shot pig.dogs that work cattle will heel a pig,or grab/nip the bulgy bits that stick out back of boar..that tends to make them stop and back into a bank....
my heading dog and Dads huntaway used to team up on cattle beast,and took a heel each and just kept nipping in turn till called off,our cattle were asked to move by heading dog,and if they didnt comply they were "educated" by the pack,then all dogs called off,heading dog went out solo and cattle beast complied..they usually only needed teaching ONCE in lifetime.