Dog breed

Smithfield (dog)

Origin: not documented in our sources

The Smithfield, Smithfield Collie or Smithfield Sheepdog is a breed of herding dog. It is a large, strong dog of the collie type. The Smithfield can be black, grey or red with a white collar, or wholly white and they always possess floppy ears and shaggy hair on the body, face and legs. Two varieties exist, with one having a natural bobtail and the second with a longer tail. It was used for droving cattle in the southeast of England, especially the Smithfield Market in London, and although this breed of dog is believed to be extinct and was never recognised by any of the major kennel clubs before its extinction, dogs of a similar type are shown under the same name in Tasmania, Australia.