FAQ: What Kind of Dogs Are Those?

As we wander through Montreat with the three cow dogs, we are frequently asked: “What kind of dogs are those?” Some of the breeds we hear people guess are sometimes quite reasonable possibilities, and sometimes the suggestions are quite puzzling. We’ve heard them called Jack Russells, Welsh corgis, sharpeis, boxers, bulldogs, rat terriers, hounds, border collies, Australian shepherds, and in Simba’s case, Great Dane. You might say that cow dogs are the Rorschach test for dog lovers—we see what we want to see in them. Australian Cattle Dog, Red Heelers, Cow Dogs, and Queensland Heelers—they are the same. They all trace a common lineage to their dingo ancestors. The white diamond on their foreheads, called Bentley’s Mark, verifies their cow dog credentials. Hanna, Chelly, and Simba are all Australian Cattle dog mixes. Chelly has a pointed fox nose, Hanna has a sweet petulant face with a pug nose. And Simba has a flat boxer face. But all three have the cow dog freckles, Bentley’s mark, and the can-do attitude, temperament, and sensibilities of their dingo cousins. There are no blue-bloods among us, no pedigree, or registrations in this pack, but qualify for a three-ring circus.