03 February, 2007

Although the Australian Cattle Dog has been a known breed since the late 1800's, it wasn't until 1979, when John and Mary Holmes visited Australia and learned more about the breed that they decided to take on the monstrous task of importing the first ACD to the UK.  However, it was discovered that at the same time, Malcolm Dudding in Kent had just imported two blue pups into the country also. The Holmes imported from the Landmaster Kennels in Australia Landmaster Darling Red (Honey) into the Formakin Kennels.  Honey was in whelp at the time to Aust. Ch. Landmaster Eureka and these were born in Quarantine, the first litter to be born in the UK. As the Dudding dogs from the Swordstone Kennels were the only other ACD's in the U.K. it made sense that these two Kennels would then breed them together to form the base of the ACD's in the U.K. (Malcolm Dudding's Swordstone litter was the first to be born out of quarantine). To understand more about their history there is some information on The Imports into the U.K. (and more arriving yearly as the breed expands) and the Garreg Ddu Kennels (who had a close relationship with the Holmes' and was introduced to the breed through this relationship) and Warrigal Kennels who have imported some dogs from Australia.