Australian Cattle Dog

Independent dog

Image: cynoclub/Shutterstock.com

Quick Overview

Name:                                                                  The Australian Cattle Dog, the Cattle Dog, Blue/Red Heeler

Size:                                                                       18-20 inches to the shoulder of a full grown adult male,                                                  medium sized.

Weight:                                                                Anything up to 50 pounds

Grooming:                                                          Short haired, not a lot

Training:                                                               Easy if you want them to herd, hard if you want them not to.

Exercise:                                                              Runners and herders, moderate exercise, 2hours+ per day

Temperament:                                                 Smart… You thought collies were smart then you met the                              ACD.

Origins:                                                                 Australian Plains

Lifespan:                                                              12-16 years

Breed Type:                                                        PASTORAL (field dogs)

History of the Australian Cattle Pup

This breed is sometimes known as the Queensland Heeler, among other things. It is renowned for being a wild breed to come out of the Australian continent, being a great herder, and being more than readily able to outsmart its owner.

The true history of this breed starts with the ‘colonisation’ of Australia by the British. Sometime in the 1800s, they imported dogs because the cattle market was growing bigger than they could control. The Australian plains made a perfect habitat to rear cattle – but they simply didn’t have the dogs needed to help out. Other cattle herding breeds such as the Great Pyrenees were too furry and prone to overheat, other types of dog weren’t hardy enough to last the journey. Eventually, Scottish terriers and English collies were brought over, but it was the same story. Neither breed could handle the heat and still be expected to work.

The Australian’s came up with a bit of an ingenious solution, to be honest. They mixed collie genetics, terrier genetics, and dingo genetics – seriously, we would hate to see how they managed to rear dingo pups – and came up with the Heeler. This perfectly smart, versatile, adaptable, cattle-herding breed was named the Queensland Heeler in honour of one George Elliot, a farmer who managed to rear a litter to dingo-cross-collie puppies and passed them on to farmers in the Queensland area. These were the first Australian Cattle Dogs. A few years later, another man bred those same pups with Dalmatians. This led to a wiry, muscle-bound runner that was as quick as a whip and smart to boot.

What can’t they do? They’re not brilliant guard dogs. If they see something attack, they are more likely to silently attack it back than to bark and warn you. They are smart, fast, and able to hold their own against cattle kicks. The rest, as they say, is history. They joined the American Kennel Club in 1980 and the British Kennel Club around the same time.

Fun Facts!

There are fun facts about every breed if you pay enough attention. Here are the Five Minutes Spare fun facts about the Australian Cattle Doggo:

• The National Breed Club wasn’t set up until 1967 by Esther Ekman and Chris smith-Risk. It took only two years to gain recognition and enough members to keep a registry.
• The first UK ACD was called Landmaster Darling Red… the two blue puppies it had were named Lenthal Flinton and Lenthal Dariot. Seriously. Who names these animals??
• The Australian Cattle Dog has some genetic descendants. The Texas Heeler is a cross breed of it and the Australian Shepherd and has no Texas ancestry whatsoever other than being bred there. Ah Texas. Causing problems for future historians everywhere.
• The Aussies occasionally refer to this dog as ‘wash and wear’. This just means you can hit them with a blast of the hose, and they are clean again. It’s a reference to how little grooming they need.

Don’t you just love the Australian Cattle Dog? If not, then keep reading…

How Hard is it to Train an Australian Cattle Dog?

You might want to consider obedience training as this dog is the embodiment of the term ‘ankle biter’. More specifically, they will nip at your heels to make you walk where they want you to… for example, back to the kitchen for more treats. This comes from being herders. If you can make training varied and interesting – but consistent – you will find you have an intelligent animal that consistently exceeds your expectations. If you don’t train them? You are in for a tough ride.

What About Grooming them?

As we mentioned above, these are a wash-and-wear breed according to the natives of Australia. Run them under some water and they are good. You won’t need to brush them, but it can be good bonding for both of you.

The Temperament of Australian Cattle Breed

Clever, resourceful, as likely to outsmart you as it is to outsmart the cattle it was reared to herd. They need about two hours a day minimum of exercise and if they don’t get it, they will be troublesome and cheeky. They like to nip your ankles when they are worked up and nobody likes that. For the sake of a happy family life, let them burn off that energy on long walks and you will have a happier dog.

General Health and Known Breed Issues

There are few health issues with this breed, considering their long history. This is probably due to the ambiguity of their origins, having been bred from multiple sheepdog/collie/terrier/dalmatian genes. They are more likely to have an injury than an illness because of their love of climbing, running, jumping, and chasing. The terrier instinct is strong in them. If they see a potential threat, they will chase it without thinking of their own safety.

Hereditary deafness has been connected to the white coat colour in this breed – i.e. the piebald pigment genes. You may want to watch out for deafness. Another illness mentioned is retinal atrophy, which would usually affect a dog in later life and involves progressive blindness.

Where Can I Buy An Australian Cattle Dog?

You should always buy from a reputable breeder. This means your dog will come with documentation and guarantees on history and health. You can find registered breeders through the UK and US kennel clubs. Alternatively, we suggest checking out local shelters. If you happen to live in Australia, we recommend this course of action first. Throughout the rest of the world they are rarer.

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