Koolie — breed guide
Australia's other working dog — bred purely on ability with no closed studbook, so type varies wildly between the hills and the plains.
At a glance
- Group
- herding
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 15–24 kg (33–53 lb)
- Life span
- 12–18 years
- Coat
- Short to medium, often merle
Living with a Koolie
- Very high energy — built for work and long days out.
- Almost no grooming.
- Moderate shedding.
- Quick to learn.
- Quiet.
- Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
- Gets along with other dogs.
- Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Handles warm weather well.
- Average cold tolerance.
Temperament
Quick · Willing · Watchful · Driven
Health to watch
- Deafness in double merles
- Collie eye anomaly
- Hip dysplasia
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Koolie good with kids?
With care. Koolies generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.
Is a Koolie good with cats?
It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.
How much exercise does a Koolie need?
Hours — this breed needs a job or a long day out.
Can a Koolie handle hot weather?
It copes well with warm days.
Leash Life keeps a Koolie's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.