When we think of rounding up livestock, images of a black and white sheepdog often spring to mind. But the humble Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) — known for its high energy and drive — is equally effective in marshaling pastures green.
Australian Cattle Dogs originate from (you guessed it!) Down Under. According to the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America, these canines date back to the mid-1840s. Breeding began by crossing a Dingo with a Blue Merle Border Collie before being further crossed with a Dalmatian and then a Black and Tan Kelpie – after which they were known as ‘Blue Heelers’.
In 1903, the Kennel Club of New South Wales approved a standard for the breed. Their name was changed to Australian Heeler, then to the Australian Cattle Dog (although they’re sometimes still called Blue Heelers.)
Australian Cattle Dogs didn’t gain official recognition elsewhere until 1980 in the US and 1979 in the UK. Today, they’re bred across the world, where they’re kept as both working dogs and family friends.
Let’s take a closer look at our four-legged Aussie pals!
Key
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Origin: Australia
- Size: 17-20 inches in height at withers
- Weight: 35-58 lbs
- Activity level:
- Barking/howling level:
- Good with dogs: yes
- Good with kids: yes
- Good with strangers: yes
- Shedding:
- Shedding: Seasonal
- Hair type: Double coat
- Grooming level:
- Training level:
Breed Appearance
Stocky in build, ACDs are medium-sized and “should be 17-19 inches at the withers [shoulders] for females, or 18-20 inches for males,” explains Alexis Kurowski, an Australian Cattle Dog breeder and owner of Cobalt Kennels. Their weight ranges from 35-48 lbs for females and 40-58 lbs for males. “ACDs usually gain their final height by approximately 12 months old but can build muscle, bone, and substance until 3-4 years,” she adds.
Not many people know that ACDs are born all-white! Around a month later, their fur starts developing color, either blue-gray or red. “They can have speckles and spots, but the base color should not appear white,” Kurowski says. “Chocolate, slate, and creme-based colors are not accepted.”
There are distinctive markings to note, too. “Typically, [ACDs] have a white spot on the forehead,” Kurowski continues. “The goal is to not have body spots or solid patches of hair. But spots are fine (and even desirable) on the head and accepted at the base of the tail.”
Australian Cattle Dog Personality
ACDs’ personality is equally powerful and robust. “Australian Cattle Dogs are a loyal, tenacious breed,” says Amy Turner, ACD breeder at Turnabout Cattle Dogs. “They have a great work ethic and will excel in many different venues.” However, she adds, they require lots of mental and physical stimulation and can be naughty and destructive without proper training and socialization. As such, Turner doesn’t recommend first-time dog owners opt for an ACD.
Their strong-willed temperament means you must set boundaries and ensure they know who’s boss — especially if you have kids or other pets. Make it clear the kids are “above” the dog in the family hierarchy and that other pets are under the leader’s protection, Kurowski says. When boundaries aren’t in place, they’ll enforce rules by nipping and usurping control.
While Australian Cattle Dogs can be fiercely independent, they’re softies at heart, and being around others is super important. “They like when the family is together,” Turner says. “It can be tough on them if family members go to different parts of the house for long periods.”
Australian Cattle Dog Health
ACDs are purebreds — which unfortunately means they “are predisposed to inherited conditions, most commonly affecting vision, hearing, and joints,” says Dr Rebbecca Wilcox, a veterinarian based in Melbourne. However, Australian Cattle Dogs can live a good number of years. In general, these medium-sized dogs live to anywhere from 12 to 15 years old.
The main hereditary health concerns for Australian Cattle Dogs include the following.
- Premature Retinal Atrophy (PRA). There are two types of PRA in ACDs, shares Wilcox. She says the onset is gradual and not painful, but most dogs with it have total blindness.
- Primary Lens Luxation (PLL). Wilcox says PLL involves dislocation of the lens in the eye. Unsurprisingly, she adds this condition is painful and can lead to vision loss and, occasionally, glaucoma. “Up to 30% of ACDs globally may carry the gene for PLL,” she explains.
- Congenital deafness. “ACD puppies may be born with deafness in one or both ears,” Wilcox states. “Amazingly, this can be screened for using the same non-invasive hearing test given to newborn babies.”
- Cysturina. Wilcox says that when a dog’s kidneys cannot reabsorb an amino acid called cystine, cystine crystals and bladder stones may develop. “[These] can cause bladder obstruction in male dogs, which can be fatal,” she cautions.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia. Wilcox says ACDs are at “significant risk” of dysplasia, which is when the hip and elbow sockets develop incorrectly. This results in “lameness, chronic pain, and premature arthritis.”
But it’s not all doom and gloom! This breed is “generally hardy and healthy,” Wilcox assures. “I cannot overstate the importance of buying a puppy from a reputable breeder who actively screens for these diseases.”
Ideal Environment for an Australian Cattle Dog
We all want a happy dog, so what environment do Australian Cattle Dogs thrive in? Although originating from hotter climates, this breed is okay in both warm and cold weather.
Despite being a highly active and energetic breed, Kurowski reveals that house size is irrelevant because they want to be active with their pet parent. “They do not want to run around the yard without you, so more space does not equal a more tired dog,” she adds.
ACDs require lots of daily activity, so a quick stroll every morning and evening won’t cut it. Also, Kurowski says to be mindful of where and how you exercise with this breed and that the dog park should be avoided since it can sometimes trigger a confrontation.
Ideal Human for an Australian Cattle Dog
If you’re frequently away from home, like your own space, and spend your spare time on the sofa, Australian Cattle Dogs aren’t for you. Ideally, Kurowski says an ACD pet parent will want a dog that will be their shadow and go most places with them. She adds that they will also work to keep their dog’s body and mind active, engaging them in dog sports and games, trick training, and obedience skills.
ACDs need a pet parent with a personality as strong as theirs. “They are not ideal for people who are not willing to enforce rules and give corrections,” Kurowski adds.
Although ACDs aren’t a great choice for those with allergies, they’re a good option for those with sensitive ears since this breed isn’t known to bark frequently.
Australian Cattle Dog Training
Thanks to their strong-willed nature, it can be trickier to train ACDs. While this personality trait served them well for the job they were originally bred to do, “a pet dog family might find this type of temperament quite challenging,” says animal behavior and training expert Andrea Arden.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t train them. Arden says Australian Cattle Dog parents should pay extra attention to early socialization and manners training. Otherwise, ACDs aren’t much different from other breeds.
“They learn best when their family focuses on developing a strong bond with them and uses appropriate management to set them up for success,” she continues. “They should also be engaged in motivation/reward-based training to teach them important skills, such as come when called, leash manners, impulse control, and sit, down, stand, and stay.”
You can teach Australian Cattle Dogs to do many things — not just rounding up cows or sheep! Thanks to their abundance of energy, Arden says they’re usually super engaged during training. “When given outlets in dog sports like agility, obedience, rally, fly ball, and herding, ACDs can thrive,” she adds.
Finally, Arden says there’s no specific timeline for training an Australian Cattle Dog. Instead, it depends on what you’re training them to do, the individual dog, and the handler’s skills and time commitment.
Australian Cattle Dog Grooming
Luckily, an Australian Cattle Dog’s grooming schedule is far less demanding than their exercise routine!
This breed typically has a double coat. The top layer comprises “hair that you can see and feel when you pat them — which is what gives them their color, feel, and protection from the sun,” explains Colleen Beagley, Student Education Supervisor at Dog Diversity Grooming School and contributor to igroomhub.com.au. “But they also have an undercoat beneath this to “help regulate their temperature and keep them toasty warm.”
ACDs aren’t heavy year-round shedders, and hairs on the top layer shed similarly to human hair, says Beagley. Instead, the undercoat sheds seasonally, usually in summer and winter. At this time, hair falls out in bigger tufts.
Grooming can be done by a pet parent or a professional groomer. “As a general rule, aim to give a thorough brushing at least once a week, and book in for a professional groom every change of season at a minimum,” Beagley states. Can’t commit to at-home brushing? She adds it’s best to get your dog on a 4-6 weekly schedule with a trusted groomer.”
The time an Australian Cattle Dog can spend in the sun depends on a couple of factors. While their reasonably short coat is ideal for hot weather, if they have a thick undercoat, Beagley says they can overheat. Coloring is important, too. “A darker-colored dog [will] get warmer in the sun than a lighter-colored dog,” she adds.
Ears and nails also need maintenance. Nails don’t need frequent clipping as they often file down naturally when the dog runs around; however, Beagley says this isn’t always the case. “Ideally, you want the nails to be slightly off the ground when your dog is standing,” she adds.
To keep a dog’s ears clean, Beagley says a warm, lightly damp cloth or wipe can be used to wipe the external area of the ear to clean any debris. However, if the inside of the ear shows signs of concern, don’t try to treat it yourself; visit your vet.
Famous or Notable Australian Cattle Dogs
While he might not have a distinctive white spot on his head, Bluey — everyone’s new favorite cartoon dog — is an Australian Cattle Dog! Bluey and Dad have blue coats, while Mum and little brother Bingo have red coats.
Before the TV show, there was another famous Bluey: an ACD who lived to the age of 29 years and five months and once held the world record for the oldest living dog.
Getting an Australian Cattle Dog
For those keen to bring an ACD home, there are a few key points to remember.
First, this breed is incredibly active, and aside from going on runs, ACDs love engaging with others. “ACDs are not good for people who want an outside-only dog that lives and sleeps apart from the family or is left behind while everyone is off adventuring,” Kurowski says.
Additionally, potential parents must offer control and order, meaning laidback folks should probably consider a different breed. “They will try to bring order to their environment if they perceive chaos,” Turner explains. “In the Australian Outback, they did this by biting, gaining them the nickname ‘Heeler’.” Also, Kurowski notes that ACD parents should be ready to invest in training time.
While taking Australian Cattle Dogs might require more attention than others, Turner says it can be incredibly rewarding. However, she says pet parents should do their research and be prepared before they make the commitment.”
Breeds Like Australian Cattle Dogs
If you don’t have the hours to dedicate to an Australian Cattle Dog but love the idea of having a dog similar in energy or size, why not consider one of these?
- Border Collie. Another herding breed, “These are extremely intelligent dogs with a similar heritage to the ACD,” Wilcox reveals. “They’re athletic, high energy, similar in size, eager to please, and easily trained.”
- Australian Shepherd. While smaller in size, Wilcox says, these dogs are they’re energetic, clever with boundless personality, and have blue or red coats.
- Corgis (Pembroke and Cardigan). Perhaps best known for being a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth, Wilcox says Corgis were bred for herding. “[They] share the energy, intelligence, and enthusiasm for work of the ACD.”