Australian Cattle Dog Dogs Information

Written by: Shawna L. Krautheim

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: AuCaDo, Queensland Heeler, Red Heeler, Blue Heeler

Common Misspellings:  Australian Cattledog, Austrailian Cattledog, Austrailian Cattledog

Learn all about Australian Cattle Dog Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Australian Cattle Dog dog breed. You'll find solid information about Australian Cattle Dog dog history, Australian Cattle Dog life expectancy Australian Cattle Dog dog appearance, Australian Cattle Dog temperament and personality, Australian Cattle Dog health problems, Australian Cattle Dog puppy care, training Australian Cattle Dog puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Australian Cattle Dog dog breeder.

Gutsy and smart, the Australian Cattle Dog, with its unusual speckled or mottled coat, is a breed with many devotees. The breed originated in the 19th century when collies were crossed with dingoes to create a quiet and willing cattle-herding dog.

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Australian Cattle Dog Facts

The Australian Cattle Dog Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: Australia

Australian Cattle Dog Height: 16-20 kg (35-50 lbs.)

Australian Cattle Dog Weight: between 45 to 50 cm (18-20 in.) in height, measured at the withers (shoulder).

Australian Cattle Dog Color Variations: Coat: Smooth, dense double coat (under- and top coat) with low grooming needs.

Colour: Blue or red, with a speckled or mottled body coat, is characteristic of the breed. A mask (single or double eye patches) are an appealing characteristic of the

Australian Cattle Dog Size Variations: None

Australian Cattle Dog Exercise Needs: Demanding

Australian Cattle Dog Grooming Demands: Reasonable

Australian Cattle Dog Trainability: Medium Difficult

Australian Cattle Dog Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

Average Australian Cattle Dog Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: No

Good With Other Pets: No

Breed Group: Herding

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Australian Cattle Dog Dog History

In 1840, Queensland resident George Elliot began experimenting with crossing the native Dingo with Scottish blue merle Collie dogs, in hopes of breeding a skillful herding dog that was better-suited to the Australian terrain and environment. The resulting puppies, called the Hall's Heelers, quickly gained the notice of local cattle men and were purchased as working dogs, where they gained recognition for their natural herding skills. To date, it is the Australian Cattle Dog who is given credit for the booming beef trade in Australia; this unique and skillful dog providing ranchers the ability to handle large herds of cattle on open terrain.

Two brothers, Jack and Harry Bagurst, decided to try and improve upon the breed even further and, in an attempt to make them more compatible with horses, introduced the horse-loving Dalmation to the bloodline. This produced the desired results, though a great deal of the original type was lost with the cross. Determined to maintain the dingo-like body style, they then crossed the speckled puppies to the black-and-tan Kelpie, another breed that was known for his herding abilities and rugged body style. It would be these two crosses that would not only create the desired dingo-like body type, but would also produce the characteristic black masking and uniquely speckled coat that the Australian Cattle Dog possesses today.

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Australian Cattle Dog Dog Appearance

The Australian Cattle Dog, not to be confused with the Australian Shepherd, is a unique breed, bearing a strong resemblance to their wild cousins, the Dingo. They are a hardy-looking breed, ideally suited for life in the bush and their dark eyes sparkle with a keen intelligence. The Australian Cattle dog stands an average of 17-20 inches high at the shoulder and is a lithely muscular canine with an average of about 30-50 pounds at adulthood.

The Queensland Heeler, as he is often known as in his home country, is a uniquely-colored dog, easily recognized by his prominently masked face and his coarse coat of mingled speckle and roaned hairs. They only come in two color varieties - the blue and the red, though the blue variety is most common.

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Australian Cattle Dog Grooming

With a medium-length coat, the Australian Cattle Dog requires a weekly or bi-weekly brushing in order to remove any dead hairs or dander from his skin, but maintenance of these beautiful dogs is minimal. Provided they are fed a quality food and plenty of fresh water, the Queensland Heeler is a relatively low shedder and will usually do quite well with a monthly bath. A good healthy Heeler's coat will shine and require very little upkeep!

Regular checks of the Heeler's ears should be made, ensuring there is no buildup of excess wax, foul-smelling discharge, or redness present. Care should be made when cleaning the ears never to put anything down into the ear canal. A soft Q-tip may be used to clean dirt from the outer parts of the ear but care should be taken as many dogs dislike this tickling sensation.

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Australian Cattle Dog Exercise Needs

The Australian Cattle Dog, or Queensland Heeler, is an athletic dog that was bred specifically as a working animal. His temperament is that of a worker and these dogs tend to have a get-up and go attitude. Rarely do you find a Blue Heeler that's content to laze around all day; if anything, you're more likely to find one that will keep you on the go, trying to keep up with him.

Because Australian Cattle Dogs are so athletic and highly intelligent, failing to meet their exercise needs can result in hyperactivity and destructive behavior. Resorting to anything from worrying the cat to destroying furniture, a bored Cattle Dog is not something many want to encounter. For this reason, it's recommended that your Australian Cattle Dog have access to a large fenced-in yard or frequent trips to the local dog park. Daily walks are seldom enough for these canine athletes, so be forewarned, should you be interested in such a breed.

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Australian Cattle Dog Temperament

The Australian Cattle Dog was bred specifically as a working breed and, as if he knew this, it seems that most of these dogs take their jobs very seriously. Very dedicated to their work and very athletic, the Australian Cattle Dog has a keen eye for detail and a strong tendency to 'work' when they aren't even on the job. Herding other pets and people seem to be a natural past-time and it's not uncommon for a Blue Heeler to start herding the kids around where he thinks they belong.

While very loyal to his owner, the Australian Cattle Dog is often very wary of other people and this wariness can give room to skittishness or the tendency to nip. Judging strongly frowns upon this and any show dog of this breed must display a good even temperament or risk disqualification. Buying from reputable and experienced breeders will help to ensure that you find a dog of quality temperament and good health. Avoid any animals that show extreme aggression or timidness.

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Australian Cattle Dog Training

The Australian Cattle Dog is a highly intelligent dog, but can also be a very stubborn individual. Training these dogs can either be very easy or a definite difficulty, depending on your individual canine companion and your personal training methods. Persistence and patience are two words to keep in mind, when training a Queensland Blue Heeler.

Obedience courses work very well with these dogs and individuals who do not have the opportunity to live in a 'working' environment, like they were bred for, usually benefit from classes that will challenge them. When dealing with an Australian Cattle Dog, bear in mind that they can be somewhat timid and care should be taken never to strike or yell at your dog - doing so will only make him more uncooperative. Routine and positive reinforcement will work best when training these unique dogs.

Australian Cattle Dog Health

The Australian Cattle Dog is a relatively healthy and long-lived breed. With an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, with many dogs living well beyond that age, the longest-lived dog (as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records) is an Australian Cattle Dog who reportedly lived to the ripe old age of 29 (in human years)!

No breed of dog, however, is without genetic defects or health concerns. Fortunately, the Australian Cattle Dog has relatively few threats to his general well-being. These include, but are not limited to:

Hip Dysplasia
Deafness
Juvenile Cataracts
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

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Is the Australian Cattle Dog Right For You?

The Australian Cattle Dog is a wonderful canine and cannot be beaten when it comes to the job he was specifically bred to do. Capable of driving large herds of cattle over open terrain, they are quick, athletic and highly intelligent canines. This does not, however, mean that the Queensland Heeler is the perfect dog for everyone.

Bred as a hardy working dog, the Australian Cattle Dog is ill-suited for apartment style living, nor does he take well to being a pampered house pet. He enjoys herding and being on the go - dogs who are deprived of this opportunity tend to show their frustrations by acting out in destructive manners and showing a strong tendency to be high strung and hyper active.

If you're considering a Blue Heeler for a pet, please realize that these unique dogs take a good amount of one-on-one time and attention in order to keep them happy. They require quite a bit of exercise and they have a tendency to be very wary or skittish around strangers. While they can make the perfect pet for the right person, careful thought should be given to whether or not the Australian Cattle Dog is the right breed for you.

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Australian Cattle Dog Prices

Average Australian Cattle Dog Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Australian Cattle Dog dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Australian Cattle Dog puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Australian Cattle Dog dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Australian Cattle Dog puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Australian Cattle Dog breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Australian Cattle Dog prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Australian Cattle Dog puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Australian Cattle Dog Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Australian Cattle Dog puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Australian Cattle Dog Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Australian Cattle Dog breeders. We actively screen Australian Cattle Dog breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Australian Cattle Dog breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Australian Cattle Dog puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Australian Cattle Dog puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Australian Cattle Dog dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Australian Cattle Dog Resources:

• Australian Cattle Dog Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Australian Cattle Dog Breed Profile
• Australian Cattle Dog Pictures
• Australian Cattle Dog Videos

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