Origin and Purpose of Kangaroo Dogs
– Bred by colonial settlers in Australia from the 1830s
– Purpose was to create a fast, strong, and robust hunting dog
– Aimed to outrun, catch, and hold kangaroos without being injured
– Crossbred from various sighthound breeds
– Kangaroo dogs used in hunting clubs across Australia
Traits of Kangaroo Dogs
– Coat can be smooth-haired or coarse-haired
– Common colors include black, brindle, and bicolour
– Not recognized as a breed by any major kennel club
– Originally bred from Greyhound, Scottish Deerhound, and Borzoi
– More recently, Saluki blood has been used in breeding
Hunting with Kangaroo Dogs
– Hunting of native species with sighthounds is now banned in Australia
– Kangaroo dogs still bred for hunting invasive introduced species
– Feral pigs and red foxes are commonly hunted
– Colonial hunting clubs pursued kangaroos, wallabies, and dingoes
– Mounted hunters relied on their kangaroo dogs during hunts
Related Breeds
– Longdog is a related breed to kangaroo dogs
– Lurcher is another related breed
– Both breeds are crossbred sighthounds
– Longdogs are known for their speed and endurance
– Lurchers are often used in coursing and hunting
References
– Alderton, David. Hounds of the World.
– Hancock, David. Sighthounds: their form, their function and their future.
– Mason, Walter E. Dogs of all nations.
– Gelder, Ken and Weaver, Rachael. Friday essay: the art of the colonial kangaroo hunt.
– Fogle, Bruce. The encyclopedia of the dog.