The New Zealand Huntaway was created by mixing Border Collie with various other breeds such as the Doberman Pinscher, Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler. Farmers wanted a dog that would use his voice in combination with his body when it came to herding sheep in the vast fields of New Zealand. The first mention of this breed was in 1870, with a class specifically for Huntaway in a sheepdog trial. This herding breed was created solely to work, without much thought to a standardized appearance, which means that individual dogs can look drastically different from each other. Although recognized by the New Zealand Kennel Club, the standard specifically states that the dogs shouldn’t be shown and should only be utilized to work. Breeders must only focus on working ability and general soundness when choosing dogs to breed, and only dogs that win at trials are allowed to be entered into the stud book.
The Huntaway is an athletic breed with a charming temperament and supreme intelligence – and above all an intense herding ability! When not given work to do, this highly active dog can become destructive and hyperactive. He should only be owned by very active individuals who are able to give him the mental and physical exercise he needs, and lots of it! This is an outdoorsy breed who prefers to spend most of his time in the fresh air, with livestock and other dogs if at all possible. The standard actually states that the breed should not be kept solely as a pet.
New Zealand Huntaways are motivated to learn and love (need) to work! They are exceptional in obedience when trained by those who can recognize their “quirks”, namely – that they can become easily bored with repetition and need lessons to be interesting and engaging. They are also fairly independent and might need a bit of “convincing” to follow commands how the trainer prefers rather than “putting their own spin on it”. As might be expected, they also do well in herding trials as they are good problem solvers while working with sheep. They learn very quickly and retain the commands for a long time. The breed can be successful in a number of dog sports including agility.
The Huntaway often forms a close bond with his owner, whom he respects deeply. He tends to like all people and even enjoys meeting strangers which means that while he is not a guard dog, he is a reliable and social breed. He also does well with other animals – whether it be other dogs or livestock, although may chase other creatures to herd them (especially if smaller than him). He likewise gets along with children.
Although the New Zealand Huntaway will bark a lot when working, he can be somewhat quiet otherwise if all his needs are provided for. The deep bark when working sheep is meant to alert the farmer as to his position, as the fields of New Zealand are covered in hills in which the dog and the flock can sometimes be lost. The bark is unique, in that there will be pauses in between the multiple barks, allowing his voice to echo and be heard from long distances.
As stated above, the Huntaway can have a highly varied appearance. The standard states that any size is acceptable although the mid-range is from 22 inches to 26, making this frequently a medium to large sized dog. Generally they are well-built and robust with a deep chest. The color is completely irrelevant although a vast majority of them are black and tan. The coat can be smooth, medium or long, and may also be “grizzly, bearded or rough, with or without undercoat”. The ears are placed on the top of the skull and are hanging in repose although may be lifted to a semi-erect position when listening. Again – first and foremost is the dogs’ working ability. Everything else must come second!
