This dog is not recognized as a standardized breed by any of the major breed registries or kennel clubs anywhere in the world, such as the United Kennel Club or the American Kennel Club. Both McNab and Border Collie has almost same life span. Families considering a McNab for a pet will need to set aside plenty of time to spend with their dog.[3]. The McNab coat is close, dense and weather resistant. Refinement of the McNab Shepherd continued and additional dogs were imported from Scotland for breeding and ranching purposes.[9]. The McNab shepherd, also called a McNab Sheepdog, McNab Border Collie, The McNab dog, and the McNab Herding Dog, is a developing breed of dog. The dog is medium-sized with females standing 16–21 inches at the shoulder and weighing 30–50 pounds and males standing 18–25 inches at the shoulder and weighing 35–65 pounds. Renowned for their incredible endurance, McNabs have been known to cover over a hundred miles a day driving their herds. Henry's been writing pet content for over 10 years and will continue to do so as long as dogs and cats are with us! The MSR is what is known as a "founding registry" because they exclusively utilize discovered genetic markers and DNA verification for registration. In the late 19th century, Alexander McNab left Scotland and established a sheep ranch in the area that is now Hopland, California. The McNab, also called the McNab Shepherd or McNab Sheepdog, is a medium-sized dog that originated in Northern California in the 1800s. The dog is medium sized with females standing 16-21 inches at the shoulder and weighing 30-50 pounds and males standing 18-25 inches at the shoulder and weighing 35-65 pounds. They also come in all black or tricolor with various markings. McNabs are also used for herding geese, goats, llamas and gathering horses in from the pasture. McNabs are hardy dogs with no breed specific health problems. If you have not heard of this dog before, you may be interested in learning a little more about the breed. The McNab Dog, also called the McNab Shepherd or McNab Collie is a herding dog that originated in Hopland, Mendocino County, Northern California. This small-medium breed has many fantastic traits that make it ideal as both a pet or as a working dog. They are also more likely to defend their territory and family members than many of the more sensitive herding breeds. This drug and others can cause serious health problems or even death. Unlike some other herding breeds, McNabs are not hyperactive. They are also exceptional competitors in barn hunt and nose work. For this reason, you may see some McNab Border Collies with long tails and others with their tails docked. McNabs are now competing successfully in agility trials, dock diving, disc dog competitions, herding, lure coursing, dog sledding, skijoring and flyball. The test can be completed by sending them a cheek swab through the mail. The McNab was bred to withstand the tough conditions found in California such as heat, burrs, foxtails, and rugged terrain. McNab may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Border Collie. Their outstanding athletic prowess and agility coupled with high intelligence make them ideal competitors. Learn how your comment data is processed. Where many other breeds have to be pulled off the search because the dog is tiring, the only limitation for the McNab is the energy of its handler. This small-medium breed has many fantastic traits that make it ideal as both a pet or as a working dog. McNabs come in colors of black, red, blonde, blue, lilac and sable with variations of solid, added white or added white and tan (tri colored). This status may change in the future. McNab Shepherds require more daily physical exercise and mental stimulation than many other breeds. The appearance of the McNab can vary considerably. This breed is energetic, affectionate, and easy to train, and is great as either a working ranch dog … McNab aptly called his dogs “McNab Shepherds.”[8], In the early 1900s, the elder McNab passed the ranch down to his youngest son, John McNab, an attorney and stockman who reinvigorated his father's breeding style. Many ranchers are competing with McNabs in the relatively new sport of Ranch Dog Herding where dog and handler on horseback work as a team herding three head of cattle through five obstacles and then into a stock trailer.[7]. Tails are either short (bobbed naturally or mechanically) or long. Their coat is dense and weather-resistant. I recently rescued what I thought was a Border Collie mix- but it turns out he is a young McNab. Alexander McNab left his native Scotland in the late 19th century homesteading his 10,000 acre sheep ranch located in the Sanel Rancho, which later became Hopland, California. There are several color variations of the McNab Border Collie breed available. 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the McNab Border Collie, Interesting Facts About the West Highland Terrier, Dog Breed of the Day: The Yorkshire Terrier, The Top Ten Dog Breeds that are Children Friendly, Service Dog Gets a Spot in Yearbook Next to Favorite Little Girl, Guy Moves into Animal Shelter to Help Unwanted Pitbull Get Adopted, Rescue Dog Keeps Hugging News Reporter Until He Adopts Her, After Owner Dies in a Crash, Firefighters Go The Extra Distance to Help His Dog, 10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Chi Chi Dog, 10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Chow Shepherd, 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Frengle, How to Tell if a Dog is Mentally Challenged, How to Stop Your Dog From Begging at The Table, A Grain-Free Diet Might Be Deadly for Dogs. A working McNab frequently runs for miles a day, using its herding skills to control livestock, and they can become restless if isolated or neglected. Here are ten facts about the McNab Border Collie that you probably did not know. Mcnab Herding Dog; Mcnab Sheepdog; Mcnab Border Collie; Overview. Originally bred to herd sheep, stock handlers quickly discovered that the McNabs bold nature and working abilities made them ideal for herding cattle. The McNab is currently not recognized as a standardized breed by any major kennel club, including the American Kennel Club (AKC). These include the McNab Stock Dog, the McNab Collie, the McNab Sheepdog, and the McNab Herding Dog. For this reason, the appearance of the McNab can vary considerably. He turned up at The Rescue Ranch in Yreka, perhaps wandering off of a ranch. McNabs can be assertive and demanding, and they do best with guardians who are firm, consistent and skilled in positive dog training methods that don't trigger the McNabs instinct to push back against obstacles. The McNabs reputation as an indefatigable "all-weather" dog is also opening up a new avenue of work for the dog: Search and Rescue. This is to prevent their tail from hindering them in their duties. Their average life span is 13–15 years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Originally, this bred was predominantly used for herding sheep and then expanded to herding many other species of animal. One of the distinctive features of the McNab is their cat-like feet which contribute to their agility.[1]. Although this breed is considered generally healthy and does not have any specific health conditions to which it is prone, they may carry the MDR1 mutant gene. There is a test available to check if dogs are carriers of this mutant gene that simply involves taking a cheek swab. [6], McNabs are becoming increasingly popular in the world of dog sports. McNab may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Border Collie. According to the MSR, their goal is to continue the betterment, advancement and welfare of the McNab Shepherd. They can have a slick single short coat, a short double coat, or a medium length single coat, but their fur is never long. He needed herding dogs that could cope with the rough terrain at his ranch. While this is true of the McNab Border Collie to an extent, the breed is also described as being a little skittish. The dogs have a variety of ear sets from pricked ears to floppy ears and everything in between. McNab dogs may carry the MDR1 mutant gene and can be very sensitive to Ivermectin, which is a common ingredient in heartworm prevention medications. Beginning in 2014, the MSR worked with Mars Veterinary on a study in an attempt to establish a unique genetic signature for the McNab Shepherd. It is sometimes simply referred to as the McNab Dog. Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heeler, Mcnab Rescue Dog For Adoption in Pampa, Texas The McNab Border Collie is one of the lesser known breeds of herding dog that originates from California in the United States. Their eyes are set well apart, almond shaped, and brown, hazel, or copper colored. The McNab Border Collie is not the best breed of dog for people who live in apartments to keep because they need a lot of exercise. [4] A DNA test that demonstrates whether a dog has the mutation is available through the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. They are also good at endurance activities as working dogs can often run over one hundred miles in a day while completing their herding duties. Currently McNabs are working as evidence search dogs, cadaver dogs, archaeology dogs, and area search dogs for missing persons.