The Australian Cattle Dog is known by many names, including the blue heeler and red heeler. They are a common sight in outback Australia, where as farm dogs they are used to herd stock as well as guard them from prey.
Many other breeds have come to influence the Australian Cattle Dog over the years. They Blue Smooth Highland Collie, Hall’s Heeler, the Bull Terrier, the Dingo and the Dalmatian. The spotted colouring of the Dalmatians is why the Blue Heeler shows a spotted coat. Some strains of the Cattle Dog showed signs of aggression, from it Bulldog heritage, but selective breeding has on the most part seen this eliminated.
Ranked as the 10th most intelligent of working dog breeds, these are very smart dogs and will take well to a wide range of tasks.
The Australian Cattle Dog can be seen in movies such as Mad Max, Babe, Secret Window and Brokeback Mountain.
Appearance
An adult dog will grow to between 17 and 20 inches in height, the male slightly larger than the female. They weigh between 12 and 17 kilograms. The coat, which is coarse and of a medium length comes in two variations; the well known blue and also the red speckled. They have a double coat, which is slightly longer on the legs and neck.
They have a muscular build and are quite agile dogs. They can run at a good speed, which is required for their work as herding dogs. They have a medium sized head, pointed upright ears and dark coloured, almond shaped eyes. Puppies are born white, over time they begin to show colour.
Temperament
Very active and friendly, these dogs love getting outside and working. They also love to play, and enjoy nothing better than a game or a long walk with their master. They are intelligent dogs, and doing the same task repetitively will bore them quickly. Therefore, although they are suited to life in a backyard, if they don’t get outside often enough they will become bored and restless.
They are quite obedient dogs and capable of training. They will excel at sports like agility and competitive herding. In a family environment they will become quite attached to family members, and will often have a favourite.
Working and Tasks
The major skill of the Australian Cattle dog is, as its name suggests, to herd cattle. They do so by circling around the stock and nipping at their heels. For this reason, they will often nip at their owners during play; they mean no aggression by this.
Cautious and alert by nature, the Australian Cattle dog also makes an excellent guard on the farm or in a domestic home.
Health
Other than periods of shedding which occurs twice a year, the Australian Cattle Dog needs minimal amounts of grooming. Newborn puppies have a high incidence of deafness. They can also develop eye problems which lead to progressive blindness. If looking for a puppy, hip and elbow testing is recommended to avoid dysplasia. The average lifespan is between 11 and 15 years.