Playful but can be nippy, a quality needed to herd cattle. Happiest when working or training. It needs action in its life and will do best with a job. Strong independent character means he is best with experienced owners.
Australia, 1800s. The Australian Cattle Dog was developed by pioneer settlers in the 1800s by crossing Dingo-blue merle Collies to Dalmatians and black and tan Kelpies. Some sources say the Bull Terrier breed may have been added as well.
Cattle herding.
Hardworking, independent, energetic, alert, courageous.
43 to 51 cm, 16 to 20.5 kg. Colours are red speckled, blue or blue-mottled; puppies are born white because of a gene they inherited from the early Dalmatian crosses.
Straight outer coat, short dense undercoat. Minimal care; a good brushing once a week is sufficient, bathe when necessary. Moderate shedding twice a year. Estimated Basic grooming charges in Singapore: S$70 – S$90.
Eye problems (PRA, cataracts), merle-coloured dogs are prone to deafness, hip dysplasia.
Very high; a tireless working dog. It needs a lot of exercise and something to occupy its mind daily or it will become bored, leading to serious behaviour problems. The Australian Cattle Dog is an excellent jogging companion.
Would not do well in an apartment; needs lots of space to meet his high exercise needs. Does best with a large yard.
Needs to be supervised with children. Suspicious of strangers. Suspicious of and dominant to other dogs; will chase cats. If you are adopting a pet, avoid working lines, as these dogs may be too energetic and intense for home life.
Extremely high; positive reinforcement works best with this energetic breed.
Cattle herding, herding trials.