Red Dog is believed to have been born in the town of Paraburdoo in 1971.[5] People called him by a variety of names to those who knew him, including: Bluey, Tally Ho, and Dog of the Northwest.[6] Tally Ho was his first name, given to him by a man called Col Cummings, who is believed to have been his first owner and the one who brought him to Dampier. The nickname "Red Dog" has been attributed to the red dirt of the Pilbara Region (although 'red dog' is a common nickname for red kelpies and heelers, much in the same way as 'blue dog' or 'Bluey' is a common nickname for the Australian cattle dog).
His second owner was John Stazzonelli, a bus driver with Hamersley Iron, who took the dog with him in his bus. With John, Red Dog travelled as far as Perth, Broome, Roebourne, Point Samson and Port Hedland.[7]
Following Stazzonelli's death in 1975, Red spent a lot of time traveling on his own. He was also taken in by many members of the community and a veterinarian who treated him. Each time he visited the vet, it was with a new owner.[6] Red was made a member of the Dampier Salts Sport and Social Club and the Transport Workers' Union. He was also given a bank account with the Bank of New South Wales, which is said to have used him as a mascot, with the slogan: "If Red banks at the Wales, then you can too."[6] Although the dog was well liked, it is believed that he was deliberately poisoned in 1979 by strychnine. Red is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Roebourne, Western Australia. [8]