Dog's Help

As the name suggests, the Australian Cattle Dog’s prime ability is control and protection of cattle. Also known as the Australian Heeler, Queensland Heeler, Hall’s Heeler and the Blue Heeler, the dog was first bred in Australia in the late nineteenth century to herd cattle. It is a true working dog with intelligence and ability to solve problems. It has power, agility and endurance coupled with the willingness to do assigned tasks. Medium sized, compact and sturdy, it has strong muscles that convey an impression of elegance and strength.

Height:
17 – 20 inches (43 – 51 cm) males
17 – 19 inches (43 – 48 cm) females

Weight:
32 – 35 pounds (15 – 16 kg) males
30 – 35 pounds (14 – 16 kg) females

Litter: 1 – 7 (5 on an average)

Lifespan: 11 – 15 years

Coat:

The coat is a rain-resisting, smooth double coat. There is a short dense undercoat and a short straight outer coat. It is blue or red speckled. The feel of the coat is woolly and fine.

Temperament:

Australian Cattle Dogs don’t like to be kept confined. They love open spaces and like to do many different things. They are loyal to the core and their inborn protective instincts make them self-appointed guard dogs. They are naturally suspicious of unknown people and animals and can get aggressive with them if necessary. Watchfulness, courage and trustworthiness are their innate qualities. Devotion to duty is something they don’t need to be trained in. They like to be dominating, especially with the herd.

Australian Cattle Dogs are intelligent. They love to play games with children in the family. They tend to herd them by nipping at their heels.

They need to be raised or trained by owners who understand their instincts. Meek owners or those who don’t provide them enough activity will always have problems.

Activity:

Australian Cattle Dogs are highly active. If their energy is not channeled right, they can get naughty and sometimes destructive. They need a lot of exercise and at other times need to be kept busy. Since they are quite intelligent they can be given puzzling activities to stimulate their brain. They can get bored with routine games like agility training. It is challenging to train Australian Cattle Dogs as you need several props and plans ready. They thrive on new routines and their master needs to come up with many. Frisbee catching is a game they love. They have immense stamina and can never really tire themselves out.  

Health:

They may be prone to musculoskeletal ailments like spondylosis, dysplasia and arthritis, reproductive difficulties, and blindness.

Grooming:

Since the coat is straight and water-resisting, grooming is easy. Bathing should be occasional. Brushing and combing with hard bristles is necessary. Shedding of coat happens once or twice a year.