The Australian Cattle Dog, or simply Cattle Dog, is a breed of herding dog developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances across rough terrain. This breed is a medium-sized, short-coated dog that occurs in two main colour forms. It has either red or black hair distributed fairly evenly through a white coat, which gives the appearance of a "red" or "blue" dog.
As with dogs from other working breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog is energetic and intelligent with an independent streak. It responds well to structured training, particularly if it is interesting and challenging. It was originally bred to herd by biting, and is known to nip running children. It forms a strong attachment to its owners, and can be protective of them and their possessions. It is easy to groom and maintain, requiring little more than brushing during the shedding period. The most common health problems are deafness and progressive blindness (both hereditary conditions) and accidental injury.
Historical diagram representing the origin of the Australian Cattle Dog breed
This particular breed originated from nineteenth century crosses between British herding dogs and the native Dingo, either producing a compact, muscular animal with a broad skull and short muzzle (selective breeding), built for intense drive and control of cattle, which later, in the early twentieth century, branched out a more refined strain. These early working dogs were bred solely for function and require high levels of activity and mental stimulation, making them unsuitable for sedentary home life. A new strain emerged in the early twentieth century through the introduction of Dalmatian and Kelpie bloodlines, creating a steadier temperament and a type better suited as both worker and companion. From this period the breed became known as the Australian Cattle Dog as it was exported worldwide due to its popularity as a worker.
It remains important for prospective owners everywhere to understand that both the older working strain and the later companion strain still exist, and that careful research should be done before adoption to ensure the dog’s temperament and energy level are well matched to the planned context for its use. The breed is also employed successfully as a guide and assistance dog for people with disabilities, though it still requires substantial physical and mental stimulation to maintain a healthy balance.
The 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. The nickname "Queensland Heeler" may have originated in a popular booklet, published in Victoria.[1]
Characteristics
Appearance
There are two distinct forms of the Australian Cattle Dog: the refined twentieth century strain developed after the inclusion of Dalmatian and Kelpie bloodlines, and the older nineteenth century working strain that has remained largely unchanged from the widely successful cross breed of breed of Dingo and English Collie (Highland or Smithfield).
Prospective owners should understand the distinction between the two types considering this breed, to distinguish between them and take the time to reflect throughout further documentation. It appears that the lighter type being more adaptable as a companion and also bred for the purpose of exhibitions as in the early stages of its development, as city owners began to favour the appearance of this country breed, being to them of interest at the time (around 1890s).
Twentieth century refined strain of Australian Cattle Dog
The modern strain of ACD is the one most commonly seen in urban environments. It is a medium sized, short coated dog with a compact, balanced outline and smooth curves through the body. The head is finer in proportion rather than broad with a rounded top, a gentle stop between the eyes and a finer, more delicate muzzle that gives a balanced and refined appearance. The coat is close and, to a degree, weather resistant, rather than coarse. The ears are pricked, of medium size, and set well apart; the eyes are oval and dark with a keen, intelligent expression. The overall impression is of an alert, athletic dog capable of endurance and quick bursts of speed.
Nineteenth century working strain of Australian Cattle Dog
The nineteenth century working strain remains common in rural Australia, representing an estimated forty percent of the national population. These dogs are sturdier in frame, with thicker bone, a boxier head, a strong jawline, and a dense double coat providing protection from rain and scrub. Some display a small white star on the top of the head, reminiscent of the Bentley mark, a feature linked to the refinement of this strain during the late nineteenth century. Their square build, clear stop between the eyes, deep powerful muzzle, and heavier musculature reflect selection for toughness and stamina rather than refinement. This traditional form continues to be favoured by stockmen for demanding cattle work in rough conditions, although its appearance has also become the preferred style in modern dog shows.
Temperament
Like many working dogs, the Australian Cattle Dog has high energy levels, an active mind, and a level of independence.[2] The breed ranks 10th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, rated as one of the most intelligent dogs ranked by obedience command trainability.[3] The Cattle Dog needs plenty of exercise, companionship and a job to do, so a non-working dog might participate in dog sports, learning tricks, or other activities that engage its body and mind.[2]
When on home ground, the Australian Cattle Dog is an affectionate and playful pet.[2] However, it is reserved with people it does not know and naturally cautious in new situations. Its attitude to strangers makes it an excellent guard dog when trained for this task, and it can be socialised to become accustomed to a variety of people from an early age as a family pet. It is good with older, considerate children, but will herd people by nipping at their heels, particularly younger children who run and squeal.[4] By the time puppies are weaned, they should have learned that the company of people is pleasurable, and that responding to cues from a person is rewarding.[5] 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. The Australian Cattle Dog can be the friendliest of companions although it is quick to respond to the emotions of its owners, and may defend them without waiting for a command.[6] It was originally bred to move reluctant cattle by biting, and it will bite if treated harshly.[4] The Australian Cattle Dog's protective nature and tendency to nip at heels can be dangerous as the dog grows into an adult if unwanted behaviours are left unchecked.[7]
While an Australian Cattle Dog generally works silently, it will bark in alarm or to attract attention.[citation needed] Barking can be a sign of boredom or frustration, although research has shown that pet dogs increase their vocalisation when raised in a noisy environment.[8] It responds well to familiar dogs, but when multiple dogs are present, establishing a pecking order can trigger aggression. It is not a breed that lives in a pack with other dogs.[4]
Size
The female Australian Cattle Dog measures approximately 43–48 centimetres (17–19in) at the withers, and the male measures about 46–51 centimetres (18–20in) at the withers. 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.[9]
As pets
Grooming
Known as a "wash and wear" dog, the Australian Cattle Dog requires little grooming. It is not a year-round shedder but blows its coat once a year (twice in the case of intact females).[10]
Training
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.[11] The Australian Cattle Dog is biddable, and responds well to training.[12]
Activities
The breed is well suited for agility trials.
The Australian Cattle Dog demands a high level of physical activity. Like many other herding dog breeds, the Cattle Dog has an active and fertile mind and if it is not given jobs to do it will find its own activities. It will appreciate a walk around the neighbourhood, but it needs structured activities that engage and challenge it, and regular interaction with its owner. While individual dogs have their own personalities and abilities, as a breed the Australian Cattle Dog is suited to any activity that calls for athleticism, intelligence, and endurance.[2]
Kennel club-sponsored herding trials with a range of events suit the driving abilities of the Cattle Dog. 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.[13]
The Australian Cattle Dog was developed for its ability to drive reluctant cattle to travel long distances and may be the best breed in the world for this work.[5] 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.[5]
Australian Cattle Dogs were bred to drive cattle, but are also used to herd sheep.
Among the most popular activities for an Australian Cattle Dog is dog agility. 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. Agility has been used by Cattle Dog owners to instil confidence in their dogs, and enhance their performance in training and competition.[14]
The Australian Cattle Dog thrives on change and new experiences, and many handlers find training the breed challenging for this reason. An Australian Cattle Dog can excel in obedience competition. It will enjoy the challenges, such as retrieving a scented article, but the breed's problem-solving ability may lead it to find solutions to problems that are not necessarily rewarded by the obedience judges. Rally obedience offers more interaction with the owner and less repetition than traditional obedience trials.[15]
Australian Cattle Dogs have been successful in a range of dog sports including weight pulling, flyball and schutzhund.[16] The breed is particularly suited to activities that a dog can share with its owner such as canicross, disc dog, and skijoring or bikejoring. It is an effective hiking companion because of its natural endurance, its general lack of interest in hunting, and preference for staying by its owner's side.[15] Most Australian Cattle Dogs love the water and are excellent swimmers.[17] 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. The Australian Cattle Dog is an adaptable dog that can accept city or indoor living conditions, if its considerable exercise and companionship needs are met.[18]
The Australian Cattle Dog can be put to work in a number of ways. Cattle Dogs are service dogs for people with a disability or are therapy dogs,[16] some work for customs agencies in drug detection, some as police dogs,[15] others haze pest animals, such as geese, for city or state agencies,[19] and some work as scat-detection dogs, tracking endangered wildlife species.[20]
Health and lifespan
An active seventeen-year-old Australian Cattle Dog
Lifespan
In a 2024 UK study of 50 dogs the breed had an average life expectancy of 14 years compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.[21] Many members of the breed are still well and active at 12 or 14years of age, and some maintain their sight, hearing and even their teeth until their final days.[22]
Common health problems
Cattle Dogs have more injuries than illnesses.
The Australian Cattle Dog carries recessivepiebaldalleles that produce white in the coat and skin and are linked to congenitalhereditary deafness, though it is possible that there is a multi-gene cause for deafness in a dog with the piebald pigment genes.[23] Around 10.8% of Cattle Dogs in one Australian study were found to be deaf in either one or both ears.[24]
The Australian Cattle Dog is one of the dog breeds affected by progressive retinal atrophy. 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. PRCD is an autosomal recessive trait and a dog can be a carrier of the affected gene without developing the condition.[25]
Hip dysplasia is not common in the breed,[10] but it occurs sufficiently often for specialised pelvis radiographical screening tests to be offered to breeders and owners.[26] The Cattle Dog has a number of inherited conditions,[27] but most of these are not common. Hereditary polioencephalomyelopathy of the Australian Cattle Dog is a very rare condition caused by an inherited biochemical defect. Dogs identified with the condition were completely paralysed within their first year.[28] 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.[29] A study of dogs diagnosed at Veterinary Colleges in the United States and Canada over a thirty-year period described fractures, lameness and cruciate ligament tears as the most common conditions in the Australian Cattle Dogs treated.[30]
History
Originated from Australia
The early development of the Australian Cattle Dog traces back to two breeders who, during the nineteenth century, began similar work independently, Thomas Simpson Hall (and James Timmins) in New South Wales and George Eliot in Queensland. Each aimed to produce a tough, intelligent droving dog suited to Australia’s harsh climate and demanding cattle work.
Timmin's Experiment
Original 1797 illustration of the Dingo, classified as "Canis Dingo Blumenb." by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach.
In New South Wales, the story begins with James Timmins, one of the first recorded breeders to cross imported British herding dogs with the native Dingo. The experiment, undertaken around the 1840s, aimed to create a silent working dog better suited to the Australian climate and stock conditions. As the Dingo was observed to be already well adapted to heat, sparse feed, and long-distance travel across rough terrain. Studies such as The Molecular Ecology of Australian Wild Dogs (Stephens, 2011)[31] describe the Dingo as an apex predator introduced to Australia about 5,000 years ago, likely from Southeast Asia, capable of surviving in deserts to tropical forests. The Dingo is an elegant, medium-sized, high-stamina canine with a lean frame, upright triangular ears, and a coat varying from red-gold to cream or black and tan, adapted to its habitat. Known for endurance, intelligence, and independence, it rarely barks but howls to communicate, and its genetics link it closely to ancient Asiatic dogs rather than modern breeds.[32]
Timmins selected the Smithfield drover type, a working collie that had arrived in the colony with early British settlers, for its proven ability to move livestock in yards and over rough ground. These dogs were commonly brought from Britain aboard transport and merchant ships during the early nineteenth century, as they were the favoured droving dogs of English stockmen.[33] Contemporary accounts indicate that Timmins valued this breed not merely for availability but for its steady herding instinct and capacity to control cattle in confined yards under noise and heat, traits that colonial graziers relied on. His choice of a black bobtail specimen reflected the hardy, thick-set Smithfields that were already working throughout New South Wales by the 1830s, known for their patience and authority with livestock.[34]
The experiment was eventually abandoned after some of the crossbred offspring were found to occasionally attack and kill calves.
The Hall's Heeler
English Highland Smooth Collie (Cur), imported by T. Hall, early ancestor of ACD
Timmins experiments likely inspired Thomas Hall at Dartbrook Station in the Hunter Valley, who continued and refined the work on his own. Hall bred imported Blue Smooth Highland collies from Nothremberland North England (now extinct - see pic) and attempted his way, with his tamed Dingoes, since the mix with Smithfields failed. He produced successfully a speckled heelers what became known as Hall’s Heelers in the broader country. These dogs, after many attempts and field tests, throughout about a decade, started around 1832, stabilised in 1840, displaying the perfect herding attitude and control without the excessive aggressivity noted in Timmin's crosses.[35]
1910 - Early Australian Cattle Dog or Hall’s Heeler, attributed to David E. Funderburk Co.
This breed has since disappeared in its pure form, surviving only through the bloodlines taken from the country by Hall’s workers, Bentley (NSW) and Eliot (QLD), described further along (see Cattle Dog of Australia & Queensland Heeler).
The Queensland Heeler
1892 – Likely one of Eliot's breed Cattle Dog descent
Meanwhile in Queensland during the 1870s, George Eliot, a drover and breeder, began developing his own strain of working dog to match the conditions of the northern cattle runs. Drawing from smooth-coated collies descended from the Hall strain and incorporating the native Dingo for endurance and silence, Eliot produced a compact, intelligent, and tireless worker suited to the heat and vast distances of Queensland. These dogs became widely known among station hands as Eliot’s Heelers, prized for their ability to move cattle quietly without agitation. By the 1890s the type had spread across northern New South Wales and Queensland, where stockmen referred to them collectively as Queensland Heelers.[36]
Eliot’s experiment succeeded where Timmins’ didn’t because Eliot had better base stock and timing. By the 1870s, Hall’s smooth-coated herding dogs had been refined through selective breeding, so when Eliot crossed those Hall-descended collies with Dingoes, the offspring retained the collie’s control but gained the Dingo’s endurance and silence. Hall’s dogs had already proven the cross viable decades earlier, Eliot simply worked from established, proven lines rather than untested ones. That’s why his “Queensland Heelers” persisted and spread instead of vanishing like the earlier Timmins strain.
Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Origins
1891 - Original Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog from archives (Canberra National Library)
Timmins himself turned his focus to developing a short-tailed working variety that later evolved into the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. This hardy, square-built type remained a mainstay of rural stations through the early twentieth century, but by the 1940s its numbers declined sharply. The causes included the growing popularity of the more fashionable Bagust–Kaleski standard, wartime disruption of breeding programs, and kennel club recognition that favoured the tailed Australian Cattle Dog. As mechanised transport reduced the need for large droving teams, working demand fell, and many pure stumpy lines disappeared from the register, surviving only in remote outback stations until renewed interest revived them decades later with the work of Iris Heal from Glen Iris Kennels, state of Victoria during the 1960s.
Late 19th, early 20th Century Refinements
Following Hall’s death in 1870, his tightly controlled strain became more widely available. Hall had previously restricted use of his dogs to his own stockmen, which limited public access. A Sydney butcher named Fred Davis, working in Glebe Island, which was at the time, the dock receiving stock from other areas of costal Australia, acquired several of these dogs and began trailing them at agricultural shows, where they attracted public's attention for their skill and appearance.
Davis attempted to improve their build by introducing Bull Terrier blood, hoping to enhance strength and bite control. However, the cross produced dogs that locked onto cattle, making them unsuitable for working use as per standards. Despite this setback, Davis’s public exhibitions sparked broader interest in the breed and drew the attention of Sydney breeders, Bagust brothers, Jack & Harry.[37]
Modern genetic studies have confirmed the breed’s distinct ancestry, identifying unique variants in pigmentation and neurological genes that distinguish the Australian Cattle Dog from related breeds such as the Kelpie and Border Collie.[38][39]
The Cattle Dog of Australia (CDoA)
2025 - "Bender", living decent from Bentley's Lineage, performing a creep
Following Davis’s trials, Thomas Bentley, another Sydney butcher working on Glebe Island, acquired studs believed to descend from the existing working pool. Bentley focused on maintaining the Hall strain’s strength and temperament through careful inbreeding rather than introducing new blood. From a single stud he developed a consistent line noted for stamina, precision, and loyalty. His dogs became well known throughout Sydney’s working yards, often referred to as Bentley’s Dogs. Their hallmark was a distinctive white star on the forehead, later called the Bentley's Mark, which remains a recognised feature within the breed today.[40]
Bentley’s breeding program is believed to have relied on a few key foundation dogs that consistently passed on the desired working traits. Among these early progenitors were dogs such as *Blue Jack* and *Queen*, both known for their endurance and temperament. These individuals formed the cornerstone of Bentley’s line, ensuring strong genetic continuity between Hall’s original Heelers and the later Bagust foundation stock described by Robert Kaleski and Bert Howard.
2006 - Representative specimen of a CDoA reported working in Switzerland.
These dogs were not selected for export and were instead distributed across regional stations, where they became known for their reliability and working consistency. After Hall’s business collapsed, some of his former workers and family relatives continued breeding on their own, and their dogs likely joined the same working pool informally out on stations as motorised transport expanded with petrol and diesel vehicles. The Bentley line was gradually interbred with the northern *Queensland Heeler* (Eliot’s lineage, see further along), blending the two strains informally across Australia’s working properties.
It is to be noted that this dog remains only recognised as an ACD by kennel clubs across the world, however, since its gene pool only features two or three clear recognised ancestors, its name is suggested to remain only Cattle Dog of Australia (CDoA) since originally it wasn't bred to work overseas, thus reality did gradually shift and those can be found in notifiable populations away from Australia. It must be outlined that its heritage is strictly grounded from the 19th-century breeding work and therefore can be found today in various work environments, looking sturdier than the other type which comprises five known ancestors providing a more elegant style.
Note from the author of CDoA title - 2025
"This term was put together to clearly distinguish between the two present-day types, as people often stop us in public to ask whether our dog is crossed with a Staffordshire."
ACD: 4 ancestral lines. Export and refined strain (Hall–Bagust lineage, exported from the 1940s).
CDoA: 2 ancestral lines only. Working cross between Hall’s, Thomas Bentley’s, and George Eliot’s strains, the living continuation of the original Hall type in rural Australia before the shift towards Border Coolie happened.
The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD)
By the 1890s, the Bagust brothers, building on the work of earlier breeders including Fred Davis and Thomas Bentley, who had established key progenitor dogs such as Bentley’s stud sire from the Glebe Island pool and Davis’s early Hall-descended females, began standardising the type by incorporating limited blood from the Dalmatian, to improve compatibility with horses, and from the Kelpie for agility and working drive. Their work, later promoted by author and dog fancier Robert Kaleski, produced the balanced, short-coated, speckled cattle dog recognised as the Australian Cattle Dog in the early twentieth century.
According to Robert Kaleski, the early progenitors that influenced the Bagust brothers’ breeding work came from carefully selected Hall-descended dogs maintained by local breeders, including known foundation dogs such as Nipper, Tim, and Smut, which Kaleski cited in his 1907 writings as early progenitors forming the basis for the Bagust brothers’ line. Nipper was reportedly Hall-bred, while Tim and Smut were known sires used directly by the Bagusts. These dogs provided the foundation stock used to establish consistency in type. This continuity linked the early Hall working strains to the refined standard that would later define the recognised Australian Cattle Dog.
Further Foundations
During the 1940s, Queensland breeder Robert McNiven exported several dogs to the United States, where they contributed to early recognition of the breed overseas, though these exports did not establish a lasting line.Howard, A.J. (Bert) (2009). Origins of the Australian Cattle Dog. Australian Documents Library.
In the United States
Soldiers stationed in Australia during WWII played a role in the breed's introduction to the US.US soldiers met the Cattle Dog mascots of Australian divisions overseas. This puppy is being bathed in preparation for a visit by General Douglas MacArthur.
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. McNiven responded by giving his pups registration papers from dead dogs, and was consequently expelled from the RASKC and all of his dogs removed from the registry. Meanwhile, Greg Lougher, a Napa, Californiacattle rancher who met Alan McNiven while stationed in Australia during World War II, had imported several adults and several litters from McNiven. After his de-registration McNiven continued to export his "improved" dogs to the United States. Many U.S. soldiers who were stationed in Queensland or NSW during the War discovered the Australian Cattle Dog and took one home when they returned.[41]
In the late 1950s a veterinarian in Santa Rosa, California, Jack Woolsey, was introduced to Lougher's dogs. With his partners, he bought several dogs and started breeding them. The breeders advertised the dogs in Western Horsemen stating they were guaranteed to work and calling them Queensland Heelers. Woolsey imported several purebred Australian Cattle Dogs to add to his breeding program, including Oaklea Blue Ace, Glen Iris Boomerang and several Glen Iris bitches. The National Stock Dog Registry of Butler, Indiana, registered the breed, assigning American numbers without reference to Australian registrations.[41]
Australian Cattle Dogs had been classified in the "miscellaneous" category at the American Kennel Club (AKC) since the 1930s; to get the breed full recognition, the AKC required that a National Breed Parent Club be organised for promotion and protection of the breed.[41] In 1967 Esther Ekman met Chris Smith-Risk at an AKC show, and the two fell into conversation about their Australian Cattle Dogs and the process of establishing a parent club for the breed. By 1969 the fledgling club had 12 members and formally applied to the AKC for instructions. One of the requirements was that the club had to start keeping its own registry for the breed and that all dogs on the registry would have to be an extension of the Australian registry, tracing back to registered dogs in Australia.[41] 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. The AKC took over the club registry in 1979 and the breed was fully recognised in September 1980. The Australian Cattle Dog Club of America is still active in the promotion of the breed and the maintenance of breed standards. The National Stock Dog Registry continued to recognise Cattle Dogs without prerequisite links to Australian registered dogs, on the condition that any dog of unknown parentage that was presented for registry would be registered as an "American Cattle Dog", and all others would still be registered as "Australian Cattle Dogs".[41]
In Canada
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.[42] The small number of Australian Cattle Dogs in Canada at the time were primarily working dogs on farms and ranches scattered across large distances. However, the fledgling breed club held conformation shows, obedience and agility competitions, and entered their dogs in sports including flyball and lure coursing. At the end of 1980, Landmaster Carina was named the first Australian Cattle Dog in Canada to gain both her conformation and obedience titles.[42]
In the United Kingdom
The first registered Australian Cattle Dogs to arrive in the United Kingdom were two blue puppies, Lenthel Flinton and Lenthel Darlot, imported in 1980 by Malcolm Duding. They were followed soon afterwards by Landmaster Darling Red in whelp.[15]Landmaster Darling Red was imported by John and Mary Holmes, and proved to be an outstanding brood bitch. 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. In 1985 the Australian Cattle Dog Society of Great Britain was formed and officially recognised by the Kennel Club; before this they had to compete in the category "Any Variety Not Separately Classified". Australian Cattle Dogs were competing successfully in obedience and working trials in the UK during the 1980s.[15]
Director George Miller first planned for Max’s canine companion in Mad Max 2 to be a three-legged blue heeler called "Trike", but abandoned the idea when it became clear that sourcing such a dog ethically would be difficult, as blue heelers are working dogs and a casting call risked encouraging people to maim their own animals for money. The production instead sought a four-legged dog with strong character. Stuntwoman and animal trainer Dale Aspin was asked to find the right animal and, at the Sydney animal shelter in Yagoona, she selected a two-year-old blue heeler listed for euthanasia for chasing vehicle tyres, after seeing him eagerly fetch and return a stone she threw, which convinced her he was trainable. Under RSPCA rules he had to be desexed before leaving the pound, leading to a compromise vasectomy because a full castration was considered inconsistent with the film’s post-apocalyptic setting.
After around three months of training the dog was ready to work but proved extremely nervous around loud engines, to the point of soiling himself, and he disliked cars so much that, in some interior shots, Aspin’s husband and fellow stuntman Max Aspin had to hold him to stop him bolting, while the crew used tossed pebbles and off-camera food to cue his movements. On set the dog bonded strongly with actor Bruce Spence, who played the Gyro Captain, which made it hard to get convincing hostility on screen, so Miller relied on careful cutting and dubbed growls and barks to create the impression of aggression in scenes such as the struggle over the snake.
When filming finished there was considerable competition among the crew to adopt him. After some argument he first went home with Max and Dale Aspin to their farm near Gosford, north of Sydney, where he continued typical heeler behaviour of rounding up stock and raiding the chicken coop. Because the couple were often away working on other movies they eventually rehomed him with another Mad Max 2 stuntman, Gary Gauslaa, with whom the dog lived out the remainder of his life[43].
Other appearances:
The Last of the Dogmen (1995) includes a Blue Heeler named Zip, used by bounty hunter Lewis Gates.
The Pack (2015) uses trained Australian Cattle Dogs to portray the feral dog pack in several close-up scenes.
Brokeback Mountain (2005) shows working Blue Heelers in the ranching sequences.
Bush Christmas (1947 and 1983 remakes) feature early Queensland/Heeler-type working dogs in station scenes.
Television
The animated series Bluey (from 2018) centres on a family of Heelers: Bluey and Bingo (Blue Heelers) and their parents Bandit and Chilli (Red Heelers).
McLeod's Daughters regularly depicts Australian Cattle Dogs as station workers throughout the series.
A Country Practice occasionally features Blue Heelers in rural scenes.
The police drama Blue Heelers (1994–2006) derives its title from the breed and includes the dogs sporadically in early episodes.
Video games
Red Dead Redemption 2 includes Australian Cattle Dogs as ambient working dogs in ranching towns.
Fallout: New Vegas modding community frequently uses Blue Heeler models and reskins for dog companions; several remain among the most downloaded canine retextures.
Official Standards
The breed standard maintained by Dogs Australia (formerly the ANKC) describes an Australian Cattle Dog of well-conditioned muscle and symmetrical build, with no exaggerated features that would limit agility or endurance. Whether bred for work, companionship, or show, the dog should appear balanced and strong rather than delicate or cumbersome, reflecting the stamina and agility essential to a working animal. "Dogs Australia Breed Standard – Australian Cattle Dog".
Coat and colour
Red hairs will grow through the puppy's white coat as it matures.
There are two accepted coat colours, red and blue. Chocolate and cream are considered to be faults. Blue dogs can be blue, blue mottled, or blue speckled with tan on the legs and chest and white markings and a black patch or "mask" on one or both sides of the head. Red dogs are evenly speckled with solid red markings and similarly to the blue dogs can have a brown (red) patch "mask" on one or both sides of the head and sometimes on the body.[44]
Both red dogs and blue dogs are born white (except for any solid-coloured body or face markings) and the red or black hairs show from around four weeks of age as they grow and mature. The distinctive adult colouration is the result of black or red hairs closely interspersed through a predominantly white coat. This is not merle colouration (a speckled effect that has associated health issues), but rather the result of the ticking gene. 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.[45]
In addition to the primary colouration, an Australian Cattle Dog displays some patches of solid or near-solid colour. In both red and blue dogs, the most common are masks over one or both eyes, a white tip to the tail, a solid spot at the base of the tail, and sometimes solid spots on the body, though these are not desirable in dogs bred for conformation shows. Blue dogs may have tan midway up the legs and extending up the front to breast and throat, with tan on jaws, and tan eyebrows.[9] Both colour forms can have a white "star" on the forehead called the "Bentley Mark", dog said to have been owned by an unsubstantiated Tom Bentley whose descendants allegedly could be identified by a white spot on the forehead and a black tail bar.[46] Common miscolours in the Australian Cattle Dog are black hairs in a red-coated dog, including the extreme of a black saddle on a red dog, and extensive tan on the face and body on a blue dog, called "creeping tan".[47] The Australian Cattle Dog has a double coat—the short, straight outer guard hairs are protective in nature, keeping the elements from the dog's skin while the undercoat is short, fine and dense.
A Cattle Dog with a single mask and a "bentley mark" shows the breed's typical alert expression.
The mask consists of a black patch over one or both eyes (for the blue coat colour) or a red patch over one or both eyes (for the red coat colour). Depending on whether one or both eyes have a patch, these are called, respectively, "single" (or "half") mask and "double" (or "full") mask. Dogs without a mask are called plain-faced. Any of these are acceptable according to the breed standard. In conformation shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings.[9]
Tail
The breed standards of the Australian, American[48] and Canadian kennel clubs[49] specify that the Australian Cattle Dog should have a natural, long, un-docked tail. There will often be a solid colour spot at the base of the tail and a white tip. The tail should be set moderately low, following the slope of the back. It should hang in a slight curve at rest, though an excited dog may carry its tail higher. The tail should feature a good level of brush.[9]
In the United States, tails are sometimes docked on working stock.[citation needed] Tail docking is illegal, except in special circumstances, in all states and territories of Australia.[50]
The Australian Cattle Dog shares ancestry and early history with the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. A breed standard, current in Queensland during the 1930s, describes two varieties of Cattle Dog, "long tail" and "short tail". The short tail variety was to be same as the long tail variety except for tail length.[51] The two varieties were exhibited in separate classes. In 1963 the Australian National Kennel Council distinguished the two varieties in separate breed standards.[citation needed]
↑Woodruff, Roger A.; Green, Jeffrey S. (1995). "Livestock herding dogs: a unique application for wildlife damage management". Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings. 12. Ardmore, OK: Noble Foundation: 43–45.
↑Wasser, Samuel K. (October 2008). "Lucky Dogs"(PDF). Natural History. American Museum of Natural History: 48–53. Archived from the original(PDF) on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
↑Petersen-Jones, Simon M. (2003). "Progressive Retinal Atrophy: an overview". Proceedings of the 28th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
↑Brenner, O.; de Lahunta, A.; Summers, B.A.; Cummings, J.F.; Cooper, B.J.; Valentine, B.A.; Bell, J.S. (July 1997). "Hereditary polioencephalomyelopathy of the Australian Cattle Dog". Acta Neuropathologica. 94 (1): 54–66. doi:10.1007/s004010050672. ISSN0001-6322. PMID9224531. S2CID20918157.
↑Kennel Club (2004). "Pure-bred Dog Health Survey". British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
↑Cattle Dog and Kelpie Club of Queensland (1923). Cattle Dog, in The Kennel, Brisbane Courier 1 December 1923, p. 12.
General and cited references
Beauchamp, Richard G. (1997). Australian Cattle Dogs. New York: Barron's Educational. ISBN978-0-8120-9854-9.
Beauchamp, Richard G. (2007). Australian Cattle Dogs: 2nd edition. New York: Barron's Educational. ISBN978-0-8120-9854-9.
Buetow, Katherine (1998). The Australian Cattle Dog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet. New York: Howell Book House. ISBN978-0-87605-446-8.
Clark, Noreen R. (2003). A Dog Called Blue: The Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, 1840–2000. Wallacia, NSW: WriteLight Publishers. ISBN978-0-9581934-3-6.[self-published source]
Hamilton-Wilkes, Monty; Cumming, David (1982). Kelpie and Cattle Dog: Australian Dogs at Work. Sydney, NSW: Angus & Robertson. ISBN978-0-207-14490-5.
Holmes, John; Holmes, Mary (1993). The Complete Australian Cattle Dog. Simon and Schuster. ISBN978-0-87605-014-9.
Howard, A. J. (Bert) (1990). "Halls Heelers". In Russell W. Warner (ed.). Over-Halling the Colony: George Hall, Pioneer. Sydney, NSW: Southwood Press. ISBN978-0-908219-07-0.
Kaleski, Robert (2005). Australian Barkers and Biters. Warwickshire, UK: Vintage Dog Books. ISBN978-1-905124-75-6.
Lithgow, Scott (2001). Training and Working Dogs for Quiet Confident Control of Stock. Brisbane, Qld: University of Queensland Press. ISBN978-0-7022-2394-5.
Ruvinsky, Anatoly; Sampson, Jeff (2001). The Genetics of the Dog. Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing. ISBN978-0-85199-520-5.
Schwartz, Charlotte (2009). Australian Cattle Dog: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club Books. ISBN978-1-59378-368-6.
Shaffer, Mari (1984). Heeler Power: A Guide to Training the Working Australian Cattle Dog. Medford, WI: Countryside Publications. OCLC12987177.
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