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Australian Cattle Dog Explained

"The Australian Cattle Dog has more aliases than most wanted felons."

This dog breed is also known as the Heeler, Red Heeler, Blue Heeler and Queensland Heeler.

The Australian Cattle Dog is the 'official' AKC breed name for this member of the Herding group.

These dogs are called heelers because they were developed in Australia for controlling cattle.

They were trained to herd by nipping and biting at the heels of cattle and horses in order to control the movement of the herd.



The origins of The Australian Cattle Dog are not known.

Austrilian herding dog  picture

We do know that the ancestors of the Australian Cattle Dog are:

  • Collies
  • Dalmatians
  • and the native Australian Dingo.


The resulting Australian herding Dog is heavier and more muscular than the Border Collie and has good herding ability.



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These dogs have been working on Australian ranches since early in this century.

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The Australian red heeler is a sturdy, compact herding dog, with well-developed muscles. The breed is very powerful, strong and agile.

These dogs are medium sized, weighing in at 32-35 pounds, with a height of 17-20 inches.

Since the breed was bred to withstand extreme temperatures and develop the resourcefulness to forage to feed itself like a wild dog.

It is no wonder that this Dog breed makes a very independent pet.

If you are looking for a cuddly dog that idolizes you, you will be disappointed. Still, Australian herding dogs are good with children because they are naturally protective.

However, this breed tends to frighten small children with its tendency to 'herd' them like cattle by nipping at their hands and feet.

The Cattle Dog is loyal, very protective, alert and is absolutely obedient to its master, but it is something of a one-person dog.



Australian Cattle Dog is not Suitable for Apartment Life.

This dog breed needs room to roam. They do best in a large open yard.

Also, this Australian herding Dog is a noisy animal and barks at any change in their environment, which would annoy your neighbors.

This breed of dog requires a lot of daily attention. A bored dog will find something to keep him busy, which will result in destructive behaviors!

Australian cattle dog breed explained picture

To keep your dog happy, you will have to spend time giving it regular exercise and training with positive reinforcement. They are very quick to learn and extremely eager to please.

Firm training from the start will produce a happy, obedient companion. Of course, you should allow the puppy time to adjust to new surroundings before serious training begins.

This dog breed has a double coat that is resistant to the elements. The top coat is smooth. These dogs shed constantly and require regular brushing.

You should also brush your dog's teeth and trim its nails.




Australian Cattle Dog Health

The breed does have some genetic health problems. These problems include deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and temperament abnormalities.

Attention deficit disorders are also common in this dog breed, which can make ownership extremely frustrating for anyone who has limited patience.

However, with all the breeds faults, few Cattle Dog owners complain of loneliness or lack of companionship.

This will will follow you wherever you go, including the restroom, bedroom and kitchen!

It just won't spend its time fawning over you.

The cattle dog breed is a brave and trustworthy guard dog and a good choice for a best friend.




Australian Cattle Dog Explained

Dog bullet  Australian Cattle Dog Breed
Country of Origin: Australia

Dog Breed Family The Australian dog belongs to the family known as the Herding group.
Alternative Names Australian Heeler; Blue Heeler; Red Heeler; Hall's Heeler; Queensland Heeler
Common Nicknames Bluey, ACD, Cattle Dog
Classification FCI: Group 1 Section 2 #287; AKC: Herding; ANKC: Group 5 - (Working Dogs); CKC: Group 7 - (Herding Dogs); KC (UK): Pastoral; NZKC: Working; UKC: Herding Dog


Australian Cattle Dog Links


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Australian Cattle Dogs Online - A Portal to all things cattle dog, heeler, Queensland, cow dog, herding and more.


Australian Cattle-Dog Club of America - All the back ground info for this herding dog breed.


Australian-Cattle Dog Club of Canada - The Australian herding Dog was developed to assist with the development of the cattle industry in early Australian conditions.

The principal requirement was a strong biting dog capable of mustering and moving wild cattle.

The long distances to be travelled made it essential that such a dog possess great stamina.

Welcome to cattle dog - The Web site has been in development since the VERY early days of the web.

It was, in fact, one of the very first sites devoted to any breed of dog even available on the internet.




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