The Koolie (also known as the Australian Koolie or by the historic misnomer 'German Coolie') is an Australian dog breed. The Koolie is a working or herding dog which has existed in Australia since the early 19th century when it was bred from imported British working dogs. The Koolie coat ranges from short/smooth (like that of the original blue merle Collies from Scotland), short (like a working Kelpie), medium and, not common, long (like the show Border Collie). Koolie colours can be solid (all one colour black or red/chocolate (this includes Koolie who are cryptic merle: carry the merle gene but do not display it obviously)) 'bi' (black & white or red & white) 'tri' (solid red or black, with white markings, normally with brown points), or 'tri merle' (same description but merle) 'merle' (grey, black, red/chocolate or white undercoat with large splashes of darker colourings of red/chocolate for red merles or black/grey for blue merles).