Country of Origin: Australia
Size: Medium but sturdy, compact
Dogs 46-51 cms at withers
Bitches 43-48 cms at withers
Grooming Requirements: Low
Lifespan: Typically 12-15 years, but often longer
Exercise Requirements: High – high energy working dog
Common Names:– Australian Heeler, Hall’s Heeler, Queensland Heeler and Blue Heeler
Popularity in Australia: – Australia’s most popular dog
Most suited As: Working dog, or pet for high energy person with a large yard.
The Australian Cattle dog is a compact, sturdy working dog, well but not powerfully muscled they are strong and agile. Thyme are slightly longer than high with a slightly curved tail. Front legs are straight when viewed front on, head is broad with slight rounding between wide , somewhat pointed and pricked ears. Eyes should be oval and dark brown, teeth meeting in a scissors bit. Coat is a weather resistant dual coat, with a short dense undercoat and a short straight outer coat. Colours may be blue or red speckled. Blue Australian cattle dogs come may are allowed black speckles but often come without, they should have blue or tan markings on their head with tan points. Black body markings are undesirable. The red speckled Australian cattle dog is less common, they are usually evenly speckled all over but may exhibit darker head markings.
As Australia’s cattle country spread across the land in the early 1800’s, many European herding breeds were introduced for the task of working the cattle. Many of these breeds proved unsatisfactory for the task, due to the harsher, hotter Australian Climate and the wilder, strong wild nature of the cattle which were often left to graze outer paddocks for months or even years at a time. A new breed was needed that was sturdy, hardy, not prone to barking, shorter of coat to deal with the hotter temperatures. Blue Merle Collies were bred with dingoes by a man named Hall, thus their initial name of “Hall’s Heeler” . The breed was further developed with the introduction of Dalmatian, black and tan kelpie and bull terrier genes. So suited to the task were these new dogs, that they soon became the goto herding dog of the Queensland cattle industry and became known there as “Queensland Heelers”. As the cattle industry spread across the lan they became known as Australian heelers and Australian cattle Dogs.
A standard for the breed was first drawn up at the end of the nineteenth century.
Highly intelligent, sturdy, immensely brave, wilful, tenacious energetic and at times, unstoppable… these are the traits of the Australian cattle Dog. As a family pet, expect to invest many hours of exercising and entertaining your blue heeler, or they will find destructive ways to entertain themselves. This is not a dog suitable for an apartment or small yarded house. They respond well to training and new environments and are a common site in the back of a tradies ute where they are both guard dog and working companion. They have a tendency to herd small children, even adults though less so, with nip to the heels.
Young dogs should be socialised often with other dogs and children to ensure they learn good social skills(the dogs that is… not the children). Australian Cattle Dogs tend to be aggressive if cross bred with other herding dogs such as Labradors or German Shepherds, so avoid such cross breeds and seek out a pure breed from a registered breeder.
Care and Grooming
Very low maintenance dogs due to their short, weather resistant coat. An occasional brush with a firm bristle brush to remove dirt and lost hair is sufficient. They will shed more at the end of winter so brush more at this time.
Generally sturdy, healthy dogs due to the large gene pool in Australia ensuring they are genetically diverse. They are somewhere prone to dip dysplasia, PRA and deafness so do ask to view older dogs owned by your prospective breeder.
Australian Cattle Dog Organisations in Australia
Australian Cattle Dog and Kelpie Club of QLD Inc
President: Craig Kuhler:- 322-332 Camp Cable Rd, Jimboomba 4280.
Phone :5547 7146
Vice President: Joe Payne:- 1006 Brisbane Valley H’way, Fairney View 4306.
Phone : 5427 0501
Secretary: Christine MacDonald – 5 Cunningham Crt, Wynnum West, 4178
Phone : 3893 1735
Treasurer: Glenys Armstrong:- 20-28 Lance Rd, Munruben 4125.
Phone : 3297 5515
Editor: Sharon Morris :- M/S 2215 14 Woodward Rd, Bundaburg 4670
Phone : 4155 1107
Australian Cattle Dog Organisations in the UK
Australian Cattle Dog Society of Great Britain
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