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G'DAY FROM
"HUNTER" THE HEELER
My name is
"Hunter" the Blue Heeler and I live at Muswellbrook in the beautiful Upper
Hunter Valley. The local
School kids named me "Hunter" and I would like to tell you my
story and about my good mates the famous AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG.
Back in the
early pioneering days, cattle properties were being opened up in the rugged
bushland throughout New South Wales and other parts of Australia.
The Cattle
Stations were huge tracts of land with few fences and the cattle roamed
where ever they wanted for months on end. Mustering (the round up) took
place only once or twice a year and so the stock became wild and hard to
handle.
Much of the
land at that time was still heavily wooded and the scrub was thick and it
was hard to muster up the cattle.
Most of the
property owners and STOCKMAN found it impossible to round up their herd
without the help of dogs. Most of the dogs they used first were from Europe
and were not used to the harsh terrain, hot conditions and the thick scrub
and so didn't turn out to be the most ideal helpers at mustering time.
Lots of
Stockman experimented in trying to find the best type of CATTLE DOG to
manage their stock. However, around the 1840s, THOMAS HALL of "DARTBROOK"
just north of Muswellbrook established the original AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG by
breeding the (Australian) DINGO with a well known English dog, THE
NORTHUMBERLAND BLUE MERLE.
These first
Blue Heelers were my great, great, great, great grandparents....and from
those early beginings has come the development of our famous family, THE
AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG.
Since that
time over 160 years ago, the Blue Heeler has been selectively bred and
improved and in the early 1900s the AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG was registered as
a breed within its own right.
Many of the
original dogs used to round up cattle were not used to the heat and bush and
made lots of noise by barking and often scattering the wild cattle in all
directions....much to dismay of the hardy stockman.
"Blue" is one
tough puppy....capable of working in hot and hard conditions and with the
skill to muster stock by herding from behind the mob. He works quietly and
if the cattle don't give him the respect he deserves, he give them a little
nip on the hind leg to get their attention and to obey his orders.
Over the
years, The AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG has become known and loved around the
world, not just because of his legendary cattle work but because he is loyal
and gentle mate.
The Blue
Heeler lives and works on every continent, in the cold of the Canadian
Rockies, the open spaces of the American West, the grand apartments of the
rich and famous of Europe and the gentle country side in rural England and
is often the co-driver of many an Australian "ute".
My mates, The
Blue Heelers are now taking out top honours in the prestigious international
shows around the globe.
You can see
me every day on top of my kennel at the corner of Hill and Bridge Streets in
downtown Muswellbrook, just a few steps away from our Visitors Information
Centre.
Lots of
people come and say "g'day"..........why don't you drop by and have a yarn.
I'd love to see you.
All the best
from BLUE HEELER COUNTRY.
Your mate,
"Hunter" the
Heeler.
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