At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
medium-long, coarse, shaggy coat
A sturdy, square-bodied droving dog with a rough, shaggy coat that covers the face and legs, and drop ears. Many are born with a natural bobtail, while others have a stumpy or full-length tail.12
Personality what they are like
A hardy, confident worker that is calm and loyal at home and kind with children. It will bark to announce visitors but in a friendly way, and it moves stock by pressure and movement rather than by heeling roughly.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. A working droving dog that needs regular, vigorous exercise and ideally a job to do.12
Home where they are happiest
Traditionally a farm and stock dog, best suited to rural life or a very active home.2
Company who they like around
Loyal and people-friendly, known for being good-natured with children.12
The story where it all began
Drovers at London's Smithfield meat market used rough-coated dogs to move cattle through the streets, and these dogs travelled to Australia with early settlers. The English original has long since disappeared, but farmers in Tasmania kept working lines going, and a 1990s television feature on a Tasmanian breeder sparked a small revival.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The name comes from Smithfield Market in London, where the dogs helped drovers move cattle.1
- 2
Many Smithfields are born with a naturally short bobtail.2
- 3
Tasmania's Campbell Town Show has run dedicated Smithfield classes since the mid-1980s.2
- 4
More than 150 puppies were spread around Australia after a Tasmanian breeder appeared on television in the 1990s.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
- Not recognised as a pure breed; no major kennel club recognised the original English dog1
- Campbell Town Show, Tasmania
- Dedicated Smithfield classes since the mid-1980s, with entries for pure and part-bred dogs2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Smithfield. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia: Smithfield (dog) en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, status, coat, colours, temperament, height
- John Chandler: The 'Smithfield' Dog (wolfweb.com.au) wolfweb.com.auused for history, Tasmanian survival, appearance, temperament, show classes
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.