Smithfield working dogs for driving big mobs of sheep and plenty of force for yard work. This page was set up to show pictures and progress of my dogs and pups I've bred at work and play and info about the Smithfield breed. I will breed the occasional litter of pups, mainly for myself at this stage which will suit sheep work, possibly cattle too and some will also make good, active companions.
**S
ome litters will only go to working homes
**Females will only be sold to working homes
Pups are very well cared for, fed on premium food, wormed, vaccinated and microchipped. They are well handled and socialised with kids, other animals and various dogs.
**All breeding bi***es are DNA tested clear of the hereditary disease CEA and all breeding dogs DNA tested.. Member of:
Tasmanian Working Sheep Dog Association
Tasmanian Yard Dog Association
The Smithfield, Smithfield Sheepdog or Smithfield Collie is a rough coated (and some say noisy!) working dog. Originating in England and brought to Australia in the early 1800's and most are found in Tasmania and in some areas of south east mainland Australia
A Smithfield should not be confused with the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, which is nicknamed a 'Smithfield' or 'Smithfield Cattle Dog' by people in northern Australia. Smithfields are strongly built, medium sized, shaggy working dogs for sheep but some can work cattle. No one is completely sure of their history but they were a type of dog used to drive stock to the Smithfield Markets, possibly made up of Old English Sheepdogs, Bearded Collies and other bobtail working sheepdogs/Collies about at the time. Like the OES and Beardie, the Smithfield is not an 'eye' dog like a Border Collie or Kelpie. Over time various other working breeds have been occasionally introduced into different strains of Smithfields to suit the farmers requirements, mostly these have been Border Collies and the odd Kelpie or Koolie but there have been a select few who have tried to keep them true to type as possible. The mixed breeding over the years is why dogs from some litters end up looking very Old English Sheep Dog, some like a Beardie and some like a Border Collie. Some people use Smithfields for all round work and some strains are just used in sheep yards due to their deep, loud bark and lots of force. Most Smithfields are not natural heading dogs, but prefer to push mobs from behind. Smithfields are usually quite leggy and have a square body shape, blocky heads, have a medium to long shaggy coat and big round feet. The tails can be a natural bob, half tails or long tails and any combination can be born in a litter. Smithields often have Collie type markings of white neck, chest, tip of tail and feet and the main colours are grey, charcoal and cream but chocolate, tan, white, tri colours are seen these days. Like the OES and Beardie, the coats tend to 'grey out' and get lighter as they get older. The Smithfield is more of a type than a breed and it is not a recognised breed with the ANKC. Tasmanian Smithfield Dog Rescue
www.facebook.com/TasSmithfieldRescue
