He goes on to explain his belief that training is about opening communication channels, so that the dog knows what the handler wants it to do, and knows that it will be worth its while to do it. The most enduring of Kaleski's myths relate to Dalmatian and Kelpie infusions into the early Cattle Dog breed. It is ideally suited for navigating obstacle courses, since as a herding dog it is reactive to the handler's body language and willing to work accurately at a distance from the handler. Australian Cattle Dogs have a lifespan of about 10 to 13 years. [53], In the 1940s Alan McNiven, a Sydney veterinarian, introduced Dingo, Kelpie, German Shepherd, and Kangaroo Hound into his breeding program; however, the Royal Agricultural Society Kennel Club (RASKC) would not register the cross breeds as Australian Cattle Dogs, even though McNiven argued they were true to conformation, colour and temperament. [39], A droving dog was needed, but the colonial working dogs are understood to have been of the Old English Sheepdog type, commonly referred to as Smithfields. It has the most common form, progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD), a condition that causes the rods and cones in the retina of the eye to deteriorate later in life, resulting in blindness. He's a very strong dog, as well as a good watchdog. Herding instincts and trainability are measured at non-competitive herding tests, and basic commands are sometimes taught through herding games, where rules such as "stay", "get it" and "that'll do" are applied to fetching a ball or chasing a yard broom. Not particularly. Common health issues may include eye problems, hip dysplasia and deafness. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not an Australian Cattle Dog with a docked tail. It has a broad skull that flattens to a definite stop between the eyes, with muscular cheeks and a medium-length, deep, powerful muzzle. [41], By the 1890s, the dogs had attracted the attention of the Cattle Dog Club of Sydney, a group of men with a recreational interest in the new practice of showing dogs competitively. The resulting dogs were known as Halls Heelers. They were subsequently developed into two modern breeds: the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heelers near Battle Ground, Washington. Located in Washington State, we are breeders of AKC ACDs AKA Blue Heelers. His absolute lack of fear might contribute to a shorter lifespan if he challenges bigger dogs or otherwise hurts himself. Have a blessed day Because of the terrain of Australia, this cattle dog has been bred to have plenty of endurance, cover long distances, and generally have an assertive and athletic demeanor. [10], Among the most popular activities for an Australian Cattle Dog is dog agility. The Life Expectancy of Australian Cattle Dogs, American Kennel Club: Get to Know the Australian Cattle Dog, Petfinder: Adopt an Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Cattle Dog Club of America: Breed History, Vet Street: What You Need To Know About Australian Cattle Dog Health. There will often be a solid colour spot at the base of the tail and a white tip. Australian Cattle Dog has been nicknamed a "Red Heeler" or "Blue Heeler" on the basis of its colouring and practice of moving reluctant cattle by nipping at their heels. Rally obedience offers more interaction with the owner and less repetition than traditional obedience trials. [37] Based on a sample of 69 still-living dogs, the most common health issues noted by owners were musculoskeletal (spondylosis, elbow dysplasia, and arthritis) and reproductive (pyometra, infertility, and false pregnancy), and blindness. [17] Like other working breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog is intelligent and responsive; both of these traits can be an advantage in training where a structured, varied program is used, but can lead to unwanted outcomes if training is not consistent, or is repetitive and boring for the dog. Australian Cattle Dogs are not suitable for apartment life and do best with a large yard. The dog should be longer than tall, that is, the length of the body from breast bone to buttocks is greater than the height at the withers, in a ratio of 10 to 9. Cattle dogs may suffer from hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint; luxating patellas, or slipped kneecaps; deafness, and the eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy, which eventually leads to complete blindness. In the 19th century, New South Wales cattle farmer Thomas Hall crossed the dogs used by drovers in his parents' home county, Northumberland, with dingoes he had tamed. [44], Kaleski's standard was adopted by breed clubs in Queensland and New South Wales and re-issued as their own, with local changes. [7] However, it is reserved with people it does not know and naturally cautious in new situations. Robert Kaleski, who wrote the first standard for the breed, was influential in its development. Agility has been used by Cattle Dog owners to instil confidence in their dogs, and enhance their performance in training and competition. [1] An Australian Cattle Dog in good condition weighs around 18–25 kilograms (40–55 lb). She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and an Associate of Arts from the American Academy of Dramatics Arts, New York City. Origin: Australia. This breed is very sensitive and eager which makes its … A number of breeds show ticking, which is the presence of colour through white areas, though the overall effect depends on other genes that will modify the size, shape and density of the ticking. You can channel that energy positively by taking your dog to obedience school and participating in canine sports such as agility, tracking or herding. [54], In the late 1950s a veterinarian in Santa Rosa, California, Jack Woolsey, was introduced to Lougher's dogs. In May 1980 the Australian Cattle Dog was accepted for registration by the American Kennel Club. There were relatively few motor vehicles in Australia at the beginning of the 20th century, so most dogs of any breed would have been accustomed to horses. Feel free to email me with any questions. [38], George Hall and his family arrived in the New South Wales Colony in 1802. [32], The Australian Cattle Dog carries recessive piebald alleles that produce white in the coat and skin and are linked to congenital hereditary deafness, though it is possible that there is a multi-gene cause for deafness in a dog with the piebald pigment genes. In recent years, information technology enabling the manipulation of large databases combined with advances in the understanding of canine genetics has allowed a clearer understanding of the development of the breed. [28] A larger survey of 100 deceased dogs yielded a mean longevity of 13.41 years with a standard deviation of 2.36 years. Still, he's one tough customer. Remember, he was bred to herd cattle, and guess what little kids running around remind him of? Breed classification Working dog Size Medium Origin Australia Lifespan 10-12 years Colors Red and blue Cost $650 – $1000 Common hereditary problems Deafness, blindness, arthritis, elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament problems. [55], The first registered Australian Cattle Dogs to arrive in the United Kingdom were two blue puppies, Lenthal Flinton and Lenthal Darlot, followed in 1980 by Landmaster Darling Red in whelp. MUSTANG (RIVERSONG LITTER) Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heeler, Terrier. 2 Heeler dogs are born white, and their distinctive markings and colors develop about a month after birth. It is easy to groom and maintain, requiring little more than brushing during the shedding period. Breed Name: Australian Cattle Dog. What is the Australian Cattle Dog’s average Life Expectancy? The Australian Cattle Dog was developed in Australia during the 19th Century as a working or drover’s dog. LIFE SPAN: 12-15 years. [12], While an Australian Cattle Dog generally works silently, it will bark in alarm or to attract attention. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australian_Cattle_Dog&oldid=999545585, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, ACD, Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Red Heeler, Queensland Heeler, blue, blue mottled, blue speckled, red mottled, red speckled, This page was last edited on 10 January 2021, at 18:57. [1] Both colour forms can have a white "star" on the forehead called the "Bentley Mark", after a legendary dog owned by Tom Bentley. There is perhaps no better example of that than the Australian Cattle Dog, so dubbed because it was bred in Australia for – what else? [42] Of these breeders, the Bagust family was the most influential. Dog life expectancy calculator and chart: Dogs lifespan varies greatly for … [29] Many members of the breed are still well and active at 12 or 14 years of age, and some maintain their sight, hearing and even their teeth until their final days. Average lifespan of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle dog is between 13 and 15 years. Feeding. The Australian Cattle Dog is known for having one of the longest life expectancies. Australian Livestock Pet dog details. Chocolate and cream are considered to be faults. It has either brown or black hair distributed fairly evenly through a white coat, which gives the appearance of a "red" or "blue" dog. [18] The Australian Cattle Dog is biddable, and responds well to training. Over the next few years additional Cattle Dogs arrived in the UK from the Netherlands, Kenya, Germany and Australia, although prior to relaxation of rules regarding artificial insemination, the UK gene pool was limited. Though similar to them, the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are not Australian Cattle Dogs with docked tails, but are cousins to that breed, and a breed in their own right. Thomas Hall addressed the problem by importing several of the dogs used by drovers in Northumberland, his parents' home county. [7], When on home ground, the Australian Cattle Dog is an affectionate and playful pet. [1], In the United States, tails are sometimes docked on working stock. CHICP certification means the breeder has puppies evaluated according to the program's requirements. To increase your chances of having a healthy, long-lived dog, buy from a reputable breeder who offers a health guarantee and participates in the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Information Center Program. Most of all we strive to produce a good family companion. This breed is very sensitive and eager which makes its training easier. With a short double coat and powerful limbs, imbued with the agility and strength of an Olympics hopeful, the Australian Cattle Dog makes a dandy picture of a wild cattle dog. Animal Location Filters SEARCH PETS. The distinctive adult colouration is the result of black or red hairs closely interspersed through a predominantly white coat. Name Australian Cattle Canine. [10] The bond that this breed can create with its owner is strong and will leave the dog feeling protective towards the owner, typically resulting in the dog's never being too far from the owner's side. Page for an awesome breed The Cattle Dog has a number of inherited conditions,[36] but most of these are not common. [22] Landmaster Darling Red was imported by John and Mary Holmes, and proved to be an outstanding brood bitch. By 1825, the Halls had established two cattle stations in the Upper Hunter Valley, and had begun a northward expansion into the Liverpool Plains, New England and Queensland. [52], The prominence of Little Logic and Logic Return in the pedigrees of modern Australian Cattle Dogs was perpetuated by Wooleston Kennels. Training, therefore, involves helping the dog adopt a lifestyle that is probably very different from that of its droving ancestors. They are generally healthy but are prone to certain health conditions like all breeds. [10] Many of a Cattle Dog's natural behaviours are undesirable in a pet: barking, chewing, chasing, digging, defending territory, and nipping heels. A fenced-in backyard gives him the opportunity to expend energy. [24] It is not a hyperactive breed, and once one has had its exercise, it is happy to lie at its owner's feet, or to rest in its bed or crate while keeping an ear and eye open for signs of pending activity. During the next thirty years, the Halls Heelers, as they became known, were used only by the Halls. The average life expectancy of the Australian Cattle Dog is 11-15 years. The National Stock Dog Registry of Butler, Indiana, registered the breed, assigning American numbers without reference to Australian registrations. He's not the dog for a timid individual, as he must know you are the pack leader. This is not merle colouration (a speckled effect that has associated health issues), but rather the result of the ticking gene. Take him on long hikes and jogs. [10] However, some working dog trainers have expressed concern that dogs bred for the show ring are increasingly too short in the legs and too stocky in the body to undertake the work for which they were originally bred. [54], The breed gained official recognition from the Canadian Kennel Club in January 1980 after five years of collecting pedigrees, gathering support, and lobbying officials by two breeders and enthusiasts. The compact but muscular Australian Cattle Dog, also called Blue Heeler or Queensland Heeler, is related to Australia’s famous wild dog, the Dingo. In a small sample of 11 deceased dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs had a median longevity of 11.7 years (maximum 15.9 yrs). His writings from the 1910s give an important insight into the early history of the breed. Either have experience with this breed or do your research! It has a distinctive intense, high-pitched bark. The Outback Australian Cattle Dog Rescue - Seymour Pet Shelter We are a privately run rescue group dedicated to saving Australian Cattle Dogs and mixes of Australian Cattle Dogs from euthanasia in animal control facilities in Indiana and bordering states. [19], The Australian Cattle Dog demands a high level of physical activity. You have to leave it to dog breeders: they make very simple names for their breeds. [29] The median longevities of breeds of similar size are between 11 and 13 years. Bluey lived a total of 29 years and 5 months. We are breeders of many AKC champion and performance titled dogs, both blues and reds. The Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1996. Bluey lived on a farm for more than 29 years. In conformation shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings. Depending on whether one or both eyes have a patch, these are called, respectively, "single" (or "half") mask and "double" (or "full") mask. Clark County, Vancouver, WA ID: 21-02-01-00330. Any of these are acceptable according to the breed standard. [35], Hip dysplasia is not common in the breed,[16] although it occurs sufficiently often for many breeders to have their breeding stock tested. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of food. Even for the show ring it needs no more than wiping down with a moist cloth. [54] The AKC Parent Club members began researching their dogs, including exchanging correspondence with McNiven, and discovered that few of them had dogs that could be traced back to dogs registered in Australia. [27], In a small sample of 11 deceased dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs had a median longevity of 11.7 years (maximum 15.9 yrs). Australian Cattle Dogs were competing successfully in obedience and working trials in the UK during the 1980s. Thinking of getting an Australian Cattle Dog and want to know if an Australian Cattle Dog is suitable for your household? Feeding How much a mature dog eats depends on it’s size, age, build, metabolism and activity level. Are Australian Cattle Dog easy to train? Dogs without a mask are called plain-faced.