The Australian Cattle Dog is a working dog. Good, muscular and powerful. His body length is slightly longer than his tail. The tail is held slightly low and often forms a curve. The skull is slightly curved between the ears and is broad. When alert, this breed has beautiful upright ears, which are wide. They have a black nose. They have oval eyes. Your teeth should come together in a scissors bite. Its front legs are straight and strong with small round toes. His coat is smooth, and it is a double coat. The undercoat of dogs is short. The colors are blue-speckled, red-speckled, blue, and blue-speckled; this can come with or without markings. Black markings are not desirable in the show ring. Their puppies are born white due to their gene pool having Dalmatian genes.
History: The ancestors of the Australian Cattle Dog came from Europe, these were the Smithfield and the Old Smooth Collie which is different from the one we see today. These other breeds could not handle the great distances they needed to cover, combined with the Australian climate. Here Dingo blue merle collies were crossed with Kelpies and black and tan Dalmatians. This gave an excellent working dog with the ability to cope with the weather. This breed works cattle on large farms, with great will and determination on extensive land. They have wonderful resistance. It has both guarding and herding skills. This breed is also known by other names, and, here are the main ones, “Heeler” Australian Heeler, Queensland Heeler, Blue heeler, and Hall’s Heeler. He also has a talent for recovery.
Temperament: The Australian Cattle Dog needs action and lots of it, whether through work or other activities, and I mean lots of mental and physical exercise, whatever the use, this dog needs strong daily leadership. They are excellent with obedience and do very well at high levels. They can be very suspicious of people or dogs, and they need you to be aware of their natural aggressiveness. If they are well balanced, they are fine with children and trustworthy. It’s best to avoid working line dogs, unless you’re looking to make it work. It is best not to have this dog as your first dog, as you should always be in control and be the leader at all times, understanding all of this dog’s needs.
Health Issues: Merle Cattle Dogs can be prone to deafness. PRA and hip dysplasia.
Grooming: The Australian Cattle Dog is a low maintenance dog and will only need brushing and grooming at times. You can bathe, but it is better to do it only when necessary. This is because the dog has short hair and a weather-resistant coat. They move twice a year.
Living conditions: The Australian Cattle Dog breed needs large gardens, the bigger the better. He is not a good dog to live in an apartment. This dog is best suited, as he was bred as a working dog, with plenty to do, not just sit. They seem to have infinite stamina and love every opportunity to get things done.
