Australian Roohound

The Australian Roohound is one of several hound breeds, and is a type of hunting/tracking dog. Spirited and often independent, this particular breed is suitable for energetic adults but not young children. A rare breed, the Australian Roohound finds its origin from Oceana and can be seen throughout Pacific islands and has slowly made its way to the North-western region of the United States.

Australian Roohound

Australian_Roohound_in_Park.jpg

Other names Croc Beagle
Nickname Kadybug
Country of Origin Australia

Weight

Male

45 - 55 lbs

Female

35 - 45 lbs

Height

Male

59 – 68 cm

Female

58 – 67 cm

Coat

Smooth, short, thin and straight

Color

Golden overcoat with white underlying patches, common gray undercoat

Litter Size

5 - 10 pups

(Avg 7.6 pups)

Lifespan

10 – 15 years

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Anamalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Subfamily: Caninae
Genus: Canus
Species: C. lupus macropuscanem
Binomial Name
Canus lupus macropuscanem

History and Characteristics of Breed

Bred for agility and hunting techniques, the Australian Roohound exhibits extraordinary speed, flexibility and endurance. One key feature of the breed is its tremendous jumping capabilities, far out-jumping any current competing breeds. Zoologists in recent years have been intrigued by the breeds' ability to verbalize its emotions, a trait not commonly seen in other dog breeds. The Roohound's official classification was discovered by the late scholar and associate of Eastern Washington University1, Timothy L. Robertson. The most famous of the Roohounds is Katrina Jane Hoover, the "Best in Show" of the Fillmore State Dog Show.

Misidentifications

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While often confused with the Australian Greyhound (refer to Kangaroo Dog), particularly for its name and body structure, the Australian Roohound can be easily identified by its crooked tail, Labrador-like ears and the distinct club-shaped mask on all known Kadybugs. Many scholars have pointed to similarities between the Croc Beagle and dogs found in Egyptian hieroglyphics. Such theories have since been rendered false, due to lack of scientific evidence.

References


1. http://www.ewu.edu/cshe/programs/biology
2. Kardong, Keneth V. Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution. McGraw Hill (New York, 2012).
3. Herron, John C. and Scott Freeman. Evolutionary Analysis. Pearson Education (Boston, 1998).
4. http://www.spokanehumanesociety.org