Ratings

Breed Introduction

The Australian Cattle Dog, once known as the Queensland Heelers, is famous for its strong bite. Due to its purpose of long-distance cattle herding in the Australian outback, this dog must adapt to a wilderness lifestyle. As a breed that is essentially highly active and outdoorsy, adequate exercise must be maintained during its upbringing.

In 1931, Australian pastoralists worked on improving the breed, developing a robust working dog. According to historians familiar with Australian dog breeds, the cattle dogs of that time had a biting strength like that of a crocodile, and their barking resembled that of a tuberculosis patient, making them not ideal working dogs. Therefore, pastoralists utilized various breeds to enhance the modern Australian Cattle Dog, introducing blood from the Australian wild dog, which resulted in a more robust and quieter breed; the inclusion of the strong Smithfield breed altered its appearance. Additionally, breeds such as the Highland Collie, Dalmatian, Australian Kelpie, and Old English Sheepdog were also added.

The general appearance is a solid, compact, and harmoniously structured working dog. Regardless of the difficulty of the tasks assigned to it, it demonstrates capability and a spirit of personal responsibility. The Australian Cattle Dog combines build, strength, balance, and robust muscles, giving a very agile, strong, and enduring impression. Being overweight or underweight are considered serious defects.

As its name suggests, the Australian Cattle Dog is of no noble lineage; it manages and drives cattle on open pastures. It remains alert at all times, extremely intelligent, vigilant, brave, and reliable. It can definitely be trained into an ideal dog.

The Australian Cattle Dog has a natural loyalty and guarding instinct, so it will take the initiative to protect its herdsman, livestock, and property. Its nature is suspicious of strangers, and it requires obedience to the handler in a competitive setting.