Huntaway Information & Dog Breed Facts

This breed has been developed in New Zealand by mixing border collie with other breeds, mainly Doberman to create this amazing herding companion.

They are medium to large-sized dogs with a color of black and tan but if we want to understand them more, first we need to look at the border collie and Doberman.

Border collie

They have been bred to gather and control sheep in Scotland and England. They are well known for their intense stare which is their best-used tool to do the above-mentioned purpose. They love their work, they are extremely energetic with unlimited stamina. Still to this day they are used as herders around the world. This energy is also perfect for agility, obedience, tracking, or flyball which they outstand in. They learn quickly and they obey their owners amazingly.

In 1960, Scott sheepdogs were shown at the second dog show ever held in England. Shortly after Queen Victoria has become an enthusiast of the breed.

They are generally healthy but like all dogs, prone to some health conditions such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy also known as PRA, epilepsy, allergies, and collie eye anomaly. Always keep an eye out for any early signs of these so you can have a healthy companion by your side.

As I have mentioned they are easy-going dogs but remember, you need to understand their lives revolve around work. They are not recommended for people or families with inactive lifestyles since they could potentially stress them out in the long run.

Doberman pinscher

They are considered to be people-oriented dogs that are very sweet and obedient if well trained and socialized. They are loyal to their owners and families if raised with them; however, they need some time to get used to new people. They are energetic and powerful, they need a good amount of exercise so they can live a calm and happy life, otherwise, they could become irritable, even aggressive without their daily workout. Obedience training is recommended from a very young age, but no special guard training is required if you want a great family protector, it’s in their blood, they are naturals.

A German man called Louis Dobermann is the person who is known for breeding this amazing dog in the 1800s. He wanted a fierce guard dog to accompany him. He mixed many dog breeds thought to be Rottweiler, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Manchester Terrier, and English Greyhound shorthaired Shepperd. This amazing mixture has led to the breed, a great guard dog also used by the military and police.

Back to the Huntaway Dog

Now that we understand just a little more about these breeds. They are very athletic, which makes them well suited for their job and their friendly nature helps them be a great companion on farms. They require firm training to bring out their best abilities, having border collies as their ancestors it’s not surprising they are hyperactive and need lots of exercises.

What makes this dog unique and outstanding from other herding dogs is the loud barks that they use to shepherd. It’s a very useful thing out on farms where the dog and herd can not be seen by the farmer. Their short fur is also an advantage so they won’t get too warm even in the summer months running on the field all day. Its exact origin is unknown but the first written record of the Huntaway appeared in 1870 in the region of Waitaki where a sheepdog trial was known to have a Huntaway class.

Later on in 1884 in the Otago daily times newspaper, they were advertising the breed. It was not until 2013 that the New Zealand Kennel Club has recognized Huntaway as a breed. Their appearance has never been specifically mentioned, there is a huge variety of colors, all allowed. When breeding Huntaway the breeder must exclusively focus on their ability and health not keeping their appearance in mind. Nowadays the breed also has been used in Australia,

Great Britain and there has even been a Japanese Huntaway club created recently. They are a medium to large-sized breed typically between 50 to 66 cm and weigh anywhere between 18-45 kg. Their usual color is black and tan even though h brindle, black and white are also allowed and accepted in any combination. Most of them have athletic bodies with floppy ears, a deep chest,s and a long set of legs. They are well known for their problem-solving ability and because of their outstanding intelligence, they are easily bored and constantly in need of new tasks to remain interested.

They like to work in a pack rather than alone and they adore outdoors much better than being kept inside. Since they are herd dogs they accumulate well to strangers and welcome them happily. They rarely bark when not working which also is a plus on their list.

This breed is known to be healthy, living until their early-mid teens but there are three mentionable diseases when it comes to Huntaways. The first of them is MPS IIIA, which Is a metabolic disorder caused by the lack of an enzyme that will result in neurological issues.

The affected dogs should never be bred from. The second illness is known as DCM which could be more common in Huntaways than other breeds. It causes an enlarged heart that does not function correctly and the last one worth mentioning is dysplasia which is unfortunately common in larger bred dogs. It is a disease where the affected animal's hips don’t develop and form correctly leading to pain and immobility. Usually progresses with age.

Their grooming is also super easy considering their short fur. All together this breed is very intelligent, trained easily, and an amazing companion on farms and around sheep’s, well respected in New Zealand and more and moreover the world with time.