Breeders submit their registrations and the registrar records them in the database and verifies entries. Breeder’s subsequent records must marry up with those previously made or registration is refused. Purchasers and breeders can confidently view the records shown on registration certificates issued by the Koolie Club of Australia as being true to the clubs knowledge, with no ability to create illusions as opposed to those that may be presented by a breeder on their own behalf at the time of a potential sale. Breeders, by registering your dogs you show you are open and honest about your breeding history and willing to share all information with those who put their trust in you by purchasing off you. Also by putting your breeding on record with the club, in future, possibly many generations to come, Koolie owners will be able to look back through the records and see what dogs are the foundation of the then modern Koolie breed.
It was the intention of the founding members that the register be established to bring together and record our Koolies, their ancestors and their offspring. This way we could keep track of which dogs are related. Our intention is to maintain and promote the working ability of the Koolie as a priority. We record what information owners have as to their origin and record a photo of each foundation dog. Occasionally we receive new information that we can verify is correct and so can update our records.
All registers, when first opened, consist of foundation dogs – dogs that are the first in each line, that have no recorded history (within the register). Subsequently when these dogs are bred to other foundation dogs, their offspring have a recorded ancestry. To differentiate between those dogs with no records and those with records held by the club, two sections to the register were created. This is not a grading or appendix system and there is no priority or greater standing to one section over another. We do rely on honesty and a genuine desire to better the Koolie breed. Those Koolies recorded as “unreg” on the certificate have information supplied to the club that we can’t verify but include so you have as complete information as possible,
Breeding is a very involved process, there are many decisions needed to be made by a breeder each time they breed. It is not a matter of just buying two dogs and hoping for the best. As a member of the club a breeder has vowed under the Code of Ethics clause 1.1.1.13 I shall breed only for the purpose of improving the breed, not for the pet market or any other commercial purpose. It is very important to a breed that is a small gene pool and spread all around the country that people are very selective in their breeding decisions. Making a decision of using a particular dog only because it is accessible easily or because it means you can breed sooner, or because the puppies will be pretty could set the breed back severely. Breeding to be able to sell as a priority over creating better examples of the breed is disrespectful to the Koolie breed and and all the breeders before you.
This sectioning gives us the ability down the track to consider, if we feel our population and gene pool are large enough, restricting which dogs can be registered. Firstly the Section C would be closed, then at a later date the Section B, so all dogs registered would only be those eligible for Section A, bred from within the register. We would envisage this not happening for a very long time, if for no other reason than it was our intention at the formation of the club to welcome all Koolies and closing the register would not. It would also restrict our gene pool and eventually lead to inbreeding, one of the reasons recognised breeds have a lot of faults today. We fortunately have good genetic diversity in the breed.
Section B: are the foundation Koolies, neither parent is recorded with the club, but they are to the owner’s knowledge a Koolie. They exhibit traits, temperament and physical resemblance of the commonest types of Koolies. A colour photo of each dog is submitted with registration. We can record what history an owner does have for each dog, some have several generations of their own records and we are happy to record that information in the database, but all such information is shown on certificates in lower case and no registration number is recorded for the ancestors signifying the club can not verify the information as with registered Koolies. As all original dogs are registered here the number of dogs registered in Section B is quite large. If a Koolie does not have two parents registered in Section B it cannot move into Section A registration.
Section A: are the offspring of two Koolies already recorded in the register’s Section B or Section A. The number of dogs registered in section A is now quite large indicating that the current gene pool is being bred from significantly.
Section C: are dogs that are known Koolie crosses, or resemble or exhibit traits of other related working breeds. This section was included because one of the club’s priorities is to maintain the working ability of the koolies. Because of unavailability of koolies to some people wanting to breed their good working Koolies they have been forced in previous generations to breed to other working breeds. This section gives those people wanting to bring a good working line back to pure Koolie breeding an opportunity to record them. The offspring of a Section C dog bred to a Section B or A dog is eligible for registration in Section B. The offspring of two Section C dogs remains in Section C. (The number of dogs registered in this section is very small.) Section C is in no way meant to create lines of cross bred dogs. Whole litters of first cross breeding will not be accepted for registration. This is a Koolie breed club, the aim of all breeders must be to improve and evolve the Koolie breed not to dilute and change the breed.
There is also Section P: PET Section, this is for those Koolies that the breeder or owner feels are unsuitable for breeding. There are some Koolies for example with excess white colouring that could, if bred, produce blind or deaf puppies, but themselves are healthy dogs quite suitable as working dogs or companion dogs. No offspring will be registered from dogs in Section P. Those people giving a home to a rescue Koolie are invited to register their dogs here to also be part of our Koolie community. (The number of dogs registered in this section is small.) This section is not for registering cross bred dogs.
Each breeder chooses a kennel prefix, which forms part of each dog’s name ie. the prefix Spotted Dog would then follow with the dogs own name – Spotted Dog Buster. All subsequent generations registered will show the prefix of each dogs ancestors. Only the owner of a prefix can register using that prefix, registration of a prefix is forever, no one can use it at a later date. This is to ensure that a breeders name is only used on dogs they present and a 3rd party can’t try to cash in on a breeders name by passing another dog off as theirs. All dogs registered by a prefix owner, not bred by them has the breeders name shown on the certificate of registration as the breeder.
A certificate is issued to each dog registered, giving five generations of ancestors (if known) and as much information about each generation as room permits. Unlike many registration certificates that simply record sire and dam by name, we include such things as coat length, % of merle pattern, % of white, and eye colour. This way an owner or potential buyer has a genetic snapshot of their dog and when planning a mating can view the certificates of potential mates to predict what outcome there may be from a mating. Each dog’s registration number is appended with a number for which state it was bred in and the section it is registered in. A dog bred in Queensland, registered in section A would have a registration number such as 000123/4A.
A quick glance at the certificate would indicate what registration history each dog has. It is then each individual breeder’s decision whether what is behind each dog suites their own breeding plans. More information than what shows on certificates can be recorded against each dog, such as working abilities, trial successes or anything an owner sees as beneficial can be submitted for recording. Particularly in the case of a stud dog, members can request information that might be recorded from the registrar.
We have an all Koolies welcome policy to Section B of the register, that includes whether they are de-sexed or entire, working dog or companion dog. It is the responsibility of the breeder and the purchaser of any dog, to decide whether the parents of any dog, or puppy or potential mate are suitable for their needs or ideals, this club will not specify what is suitable or promote one dog over any other as better or worse. It is a breeder’s responsibility to ensure they consider all information before breeding from any Koolie. This way any dog registered in Section B must prove it’s worth before it’s line continues, those not passing scrutiny of breeders will not have any influence on the breed in the future. But those scrutinised by breeders and purchasers and seen as suitable will continue to influence the breed well into the future, with breeders becoming better informed we will see natural selection continue as the way the Koolie evolves.
Let the Buyer Beware is no truer in dogs as in horse trading. Buyers must consider their purchase carefully, ask questions about origins and working ability. Ask to see parents and registration for parents before agreeing to purchase. Once you hand over payment you are the only one responsible for the fact you have made this purchase. This club does not guarantee it’s breeders or oversee their breeding. It is expected of them to be honest, courteous and to provide accurate and truthful information to buyers. As a member of this club they represent a united group with standards and a Code of Practice and carry the reputation of all members with them when they breed or sell.
If you would like to enjoy the benefits of registration go to our documents page to download registration forms and a membership application form if you are not already a member. Only financial members of the Koolie Club of Australia can have koolies registered.
Koolies registered with the Koolie Club of Australia, are able to be registered on state sporting registers. This allows koolies to compete in dog sports run by those governing bodies and be recognized as Koolies on awards etc. Koolies are not able to be bench shown. Dogs are not required to be de-sexed to be registered on Sporting Registers.