McNab Dogs: California's Stockdog

Since late 1999 I have been exploring the McNab dog and I have heard many tales of its development and origin. What fascinates me is the number of people I've met who claim to know someone in "The McNab" family and are convinced they know all about the breed.

One old guy kept saying how he knew "the old man" and how the dogs were crossed with coyote and similar nonsense. He was always quite definite about the McNabs he says he grew up with. Finally I got tired of it and asked "which McNab"? Because by this time I had done enough reading to know that there were at least two lines. This brought him to a sputtering stop with "Well, you know, THAT McNab" Uh huh. So I said, well OK, what was his wife's name. Um um um

Another guy liked to tell me about how he grew up "with the McNab family." He told me that the McNab had Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed in. I've seen no evidence whatever to support that, although the breed history of the Ridgeback suggests introduction of collie type dogs so the other way around is possible.

Based on conformation and behavior I think that the McNab, Border Collie and Kelpie shared the same ancestors, but developed separately. A recent genetics study seems to support the idea that the McNab is not just a smooth coated border collie.

The study followed the genetic mutation responsible for Ivermectin sensitivity. The sensitivity was found in the Australian Shepherd, Collie, English Shepherd, Longhaired Whippet, McNab, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, and Silken Windhound. It was not found in any significance in either the Kelpie or the Border Collie.

The sources that suggest that dogs of the Basque shepherds were included in the mix are consistent with this genetics study. The Australian shepherd is thought to have originated from the Basque shepherd dogs, and that breed is one of those sharing ivermectin sensitivity. Given that there are absolutely no reports of merle in the McNab, however, it is likely that the shared ancestry split off before the introduction of that characteristic.

Sometimes you will see a McNab with a docked tail. This has nothing to do with breed standard (there is no breed standard), but a practice common among some cattlemen. They believe the tail is at risk for being stepped on by cattle. I'll just leave you to ponder on that one.
Part of the original McNab ranch is now a winery.

Gwen is a McNab found on the side of a highway in Oregon. She is very protective of her house, car, cats, person, etc. just like the accounts of McNabs say. She is a copper color with white.
Gwen is about 5 years old. She has her flyball championship and enjoys tracking, competing in agility and hiking with her family. She also has received her Canine Good Citizen award from the AKC, a real achievement for a rescue dog who does not like strangers to touch her at all. She has had experience herding cattle and sheep, though she does not live in a place where there is ready access to livestock.

Does it bother you that in the United States we kill millions of dogs a year? You can't change it by yourself but you can choose not to contribute to the problem. Don't encourage careless breeding by rewarding breeders who don't care what happens to their dogs after they are sold.

PLEASE! do not buy any dogs advertised via Google. Good breeders don't produce enough dogs for that advertising to pay!

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where to get a great dog, without adding to the problem.