Huntaway

The Huntaway was bred during the early 1900's with a specific goal in mind - to produce a strong, agile dog capable of rounding up massive flocks of sheep in the farm terrain of New Zealand. Many farms were large and the farmer often lagged behind his dogs, so the quiet method of communicating with your dog didn't work. The Huntaway was bred to have a loud deep bark that, combined with the dog's herding skills, controlled the flock and directed them to where they needed to go. The bark of the dog could be heard miles away, enabling the farmer to know where the flock was and what was happening.  There were several breeds used to produce this new breed, some of which included the Border Collies who found the mild, moist climate of New Zealand and the size of the farm too much to handle. Selective breeding with a range of dog breeds resulted in a large, strong dog who could handle working in a pack or on their own, in wild tracts of land with varying climate extremes. A temperate climate ensured there was always plenty of green grass, and sheep flocks grew considerably during the 1900's. The Huntaway proved they were the dog for the job and became part of the heritage of the country. Special day events were developed to showcase the Huntaway at sheep-herding trials; these events were known as 'huntaways', which gave the dog their name. The Huntaway is recognised by The New Zealand  Kennel Club (2013) yet is still waiting for recognition from the American Kennel Club as a 'true breed'. The dog varies in size and coat type (long hair and short haired), but they never vary in unique voice and ability to control and move livestock with occasional commands from the master via whistles or verbal commands.