The Smithfield
The Smithfield
The Smithfield is not a breed but a ‘type’ and is ancestral to many breeds, including the Old English Sheepdog which it resembles closely. The Smithfield inherited its name from the Smithfield Markets in London in the 19th Century, and it may have been one of the early colonial dogs infused with the dingo in Australia. The only thing common to the Smithfield and the Stumpy is the natural bob tail.
The Stumpy is sometimes referred to as a ’Smithfield’ or ‘Queensland Heeler’. The breed possibly owes its early development to the properties owned by Thomas Hall in Queensland and Northern NSW. You can read more about the heritage in ‘A Dog Called Blue’ by Noreen Clark – an excerpt is provided on the Stumpy Heritage page.
'Smithfield'