The Dog Days of Summer
Summer is winding down here in the Southern Hemisphere. Normally, the grass has cured under a relentlessly hot sun, turning fields and paddocks to a silvery brown, blending with the olive green tones of our native Eucalypt trees. By now we are usually well and truly looking forward to the colder time of year when the flies stop their pestilence, when the dust from furnace-heated earth subsides, when we stop worrying that our water supplies won’t last out the next rains and when hope starts to grow that bushfires and the fear of the bushfire threat will be extinguished.
This year though the weather has been unseasonably wet and cool. The paddocks all around my town are still bright green, lush growth is everywhere, and I haven’t had to water a thing all season. We’ve had some hot days but most have been beautifully balmy or downright cold, like today. So it feels rather incongruous to be writing about the dog days of summer while I’m wearing a jumper and warm, fluffy socks. However, tomorrow is supposed to be 29 degrees (Celcius) so maybe it will put paid to that old dog.
In this article, we will explore why this time of year is referred to as ‘the dog days,’ and take a look at star lore about Sirius from some of our First Nations. Then, to honour the ‘dog star’ Sirius, we’ll also learn about our native Australian canid predator, the dingo, as well as the origins of the famous Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Kelpie. Funnily enough, while researching for this article, I found out that the Australian Shepherd isn’t Australian at all but rather originates from the western United States. Go figure!
The Dog Days
Have you ever wondered why the hottest days of summer are called the dog days? You might think it has something to do with dogs lying around in the heat, but the origin of this phrase is actually astronomical.
The dog days are named after Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which is also known as the dog star because of its location in the constellation Canis Major (Latin for Greater Dog). Sirius is so bright that it can be seen even during the day, especially in the early morning before sunrise.
The ancient Greeks and Romans noticed that Sirius rose and set with the sun during a period of about 40 days in midsummer. They believed that the extra heat from Sirius added to the sun's heat, making this the hottest and most uncomfortable time of the year. They also associated this time with drought, disease, and bad luck and called this period the dies caniculares or the ‘days of the dog star’.
Today, we still use the term ‘dog days’ to refer to the hottest days of summer, usually between early July and mid-August in the Northern Hemisphere and from mid to late Summer, which is mid-January and February, in the Southern Hemisphere. However, due to the slight wobble of the Earth's axis, the dates of the ‘dog days’ have shifted over time. Also, the heat of summer actually depends more on factors such as latitude, altitude, and ocean currents than on the position of Sirius.
In Australia, Sirius appears at two different times of the year: in Winter, Sirius shines prominently in the northern sky and is visible in the early evening hours when it begins to rise above the horizon. In Summer, Sirius is dazzling in the southeastern sky during the late evening or early morning. To find Sirius, locate the well-known constellation of Orion the Hunter. Sirius lies below Orion in the constellation of Canis Major.
Sirius and Australia’s First Nations
Australia's First Nations people have been observing and studying the sky for tens of thousands of years. Their astronomical knowledge is rich and complex, and it is woven into their culture, law, and social structure. This astronomical knowledge is used for practical purposes in seasonal calendars, marking the best times for hunting, fishing, planting, harvesting, and performing ceremonies. It is also used for navigation, with song lines mapped in the stars.
The stars, constellations and other astronomical bodies were also vital for socio-cultural reasons. Throughout many First Nations cultures, the night sky represented the myths, stories, moral guides, lores and laws embodied in the Dreaming.
In the country the landscape, the walking and dark on foot all around the country in the long grass, spearing, hunting, gathering with our Mum and all this but each night where we were going to travel back to the camp otherwise you don’t get lost and all the only tell was about a star. How to travel? Follow the star along. … While we were growing up. We only lay on our back and talk about the stars. We talk about emus and kangaroos, the whole and the stars, the turkeys and the willy wagtail, the whole lot, everything up in the star we named them all with Aboriginal names. Anyway we talked about a lot of that … but we didn’t have a watch in those days. We always followed the star for the watch. … Emu, Crocodile, Cat Fish, Eagle Hawk, and all in the sky in one of the stars. The stars and the Milky Way have been moving all around. If you lay on your back in the middle of the night you can see the stars all blinking. They’re all talking. Bill Yidumduma Harney, Wardaman Elder. Source: Australian Aboriginal Star Lore
I haven’t been able to find much star lore specifically related to Sirius, except for a well-documented story from the Boorong people, who once inhabited the mallee country near Lake Tyrrell in northwestern Victoria. Sirius is a central figure in the Boorong celestial narrative. He was known as Warepil, the male wedge-tailed eagle. According to Boorong tradition, Warepil is the chief of the Nuh-rum-bung-goo-tyas, the elders who played a role in creating the land. The wings of Warepil extend on either side of Sirius, connecting it to other less bright stars in the night sky.
The Dingo
To honour these ‘dog days’, let’s explore Australia's first domesticated canine species, the dingo.
Dingoes are not native to Australia in the strict sense, but they have been here long enough to become part of the natural ecological system, replacing the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) on the mainland, in its role as an apex predator. Some studies suggest that dingoes arrived in Australia from Southeast Asia between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago, possibly through New Guinea. Others argue this occurred much earlier, or that dingoes may have come naturally, without human intervention.
Dingoes are important for First Nations peoples, who have lived and adapted with them for thousands of years. They were not only companions but also sources of food, fur, tools and spiritual inspiration. Some dingoes were taken from wild litters and raised by First Nations people in their camps. Others were left to roam freely and interact with humans occasionally. Dingoes have a special place in many First Nations cultures and stories, and some believe that they are related to the ancestral beings who created the land.
IN TRADITIONAL Aboriginal society, women travelled with canine companions draped around their waists like garments of clothing. Dingoes played an important role in the protection and mobility of the women and children, and are believed to have greatly extended women’s contribution to the traditional economy and food supply… Dingo pups were taken from the wild when very young. The pups were a highly valued ritual food source, while others were adopted into human society. They grew up in the company of women and children, providing an effective hunting aid, a living blanket and guarding against intruders. Nursing young dingo pups was also deeply embedded in traditional customs. The Cultural History of the Dingo in Australian Geographic.
Dingoes were also revered by First Nations people for their ability to locate water above and below ground.
Written records, artworks and photographs in museum archives reveal dingo water knowledge as recorded by European explorers. Records reveal a number of accounts of wild/semi-wild dingoes leading Europeans to lifesaving water springs… In Australian cartography, a “Dingo Soak” refers to a waterhole dug by a mythical or live canine. There are other freshwater landmarks across the continent – “Dingo Springs”, “Dingo Rock”, “Dingo Gap”.
In Aboriginal mythology, the travels of ancestral dingoes map out songlines, graphemic maps tracing pathways across the continent from one water source to the next. Their stories tell of the formation of mountains, waterholes and star constellations. In some accounts, dingoes emerged from the ground as rainbows; in others they dug the waterholes and made waterfalls as they travelled through the landscape. The Cultural History of the Dingo in Australian Geographic.
When European colonists arrived in Australia, they attempted to exterminate dingoes to protect their sheep and cattle. Dingo populations declined dramatically and although dingoes are now protected, it is no longer common to see them in the wild. However, some places such as K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) in Queensland, do have large packs of wild-roaming dingoes.
Dingoes are unique animals that deserve respect and protection. They are part of Australia's biodiversity and heritage, and they have a role to play in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. They are also living symbols of the long and complex relationship between humans and animals in this continent.
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog, also known as the blue or red heeler is a loyal, smart, and hard-working dog. This breed was developed in Australia in the 1800s by crossing dingoes with English drover's dogs. The result was a tough and agile herding dog that could handle the harsh terrain and climate of the Australian outback.
It has a distinctive appearance, with a blue or red speckled or mottled coat and a black or tan mask. The coat is short and dense, with a thick undercoat that protects the dog from the weather. The ears are erect and alert, and the eyes are dark and expressive. The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized dog, weighing between 15 and 22 kg and standing between 43 and 51 cm at the shoulder.
It is a highly energetic and intelligent breed that needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation whether it is herding, agility, obedience, or any other activity that challenges its mind and body. It is also very independent and can be stubborn at times.
The Australian Cattle Dog is very loyal and devoted to its family, but it can be wary of strangers and other dogs. It can also be protective of its territory and possessions. It is not a good choice for families with small children or other pets, as it may nip or chase them.
Australian Heelers have recently been immortalised in the world-famous and beloved Australian children’s cartoon series, Bluey.
Australian Kelpie
The Australian Kelpie is a world-famous working dog that can herd and move stock with amazing speed, energy and tenacity. Its origins are a bit of a mystery, but there are some clues that point to its ancestry. The first dog known as a Kelpie was a black and tan female pup with floppy ears, born in 1871 near Casterton, Victoria. She was bought by Jack Gleeson, a sheepman who named her after a mythical water creature from Scottish folklore.
Gleeson later acquired another dog, a black male named Moss, who had some dingo blood in his veins. He bred Kelpie with Moss and produced a litter of pups that inherited their parents' exceptional working abilities. One of these pups, also named Kelpie, was given to C.T.W. King, who entered her in the first sheep-dog trial in Australia in 1879. She won the competition and impressed everyone with her skills.
From then on, dogs of this type were called Kelpies or Kelpie's pups, and they became very popular among Australian sheep farmers. They were also crossed with other imported collies and native dingoes to create different strains and colours of Kelpies. Today, the Kelpie is recognized as an official dog breed and is found in many countries around the world.
The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog renowned for its intelligence, alertness and eagerness to work. It can learn almost anything and thrives on challenges and new tasks. The Kelpie is also very devoted to its duty and its family and will protect them from any threat. The Kelpie is not a barker but will alert its owners if something is wrong. It has a lean, muscular and agile body, with a short and weather-resistant coat that comes in various colours, such as black, red, blue, fawn or chocolate. The Kelpie has a chiselled muzzle, a proportionate head and alert ears. The average height of the Kelpie is 40-51 cm and the average weight is 11-20 kg.
I hope you enjoyed learning about the ‘dog days’ of Summer, the ‘dog star’ Sirius, and Australia’s own wild and domesticated dog breeds. Next week we will explore the sweet history of honey and honey bees in honour of the last honey flows of the season.