They have alert and happy facial expressions, pointed ears, and although they appear small, they are muscular and agile. They come in a mixture of colors--mostly blue with tan and black, or mostly red speckled.
They were bred as a combination of Scottish collies and Australian dingoes and blended with some Australian Kelpie, Dalmatian, and Bull Terrier to be an extremely hardy breed that can withstand long hours and harsh weather conditions with ease.
ACD's are more 'work-minded' than other herding breeds and as a rule, are not as good as pets because of the aggressive characteristics specifically bred into them. But, as with every breed, there are often exceptions to the rule.
Here's the breakdown:
Temperament 2 out of 5
The Australian Cattle Dog is an excellent companion and is always awaiting the next command from its master. But ACD's need a lot of exercise or they will become highly destructive.
About two hours a day is ideal. They need to be with their pack (that means you!) most of the day or else they develop behavioral problems. These can include severe aggression, depression, or anxiety. This is not a breed to leave at home for hours on end, nor tied up in the back yard. If an ACD must be left alone, they will do best with one or two other dogs for companionship. They are bred to be highly sensitive guard dogs, so as a rule they do not like strangers coming onto their property.
ACD's should be socialized regularly if you want them to be friendly toward other animals and guests. ACD's do not distinguish a difference between wild animals or your small pets, so they are not recommended around cats, rabbits, mice, or smaller dogs. Most of the time, a well-socialized ACD will do well with children, but they are not recommended. They often herd children, so keep an eye on them--you don't want them to snap at your child's heels. Even a highly socialized dog can be aggressive, depending on the child it interacts with.
Training 5 out of 5
ACD's have what I like to call, "extreme intelligence." Like Border Collies, they can be trained to do just about anything. The downside of a highly sophisticated breed, though, is that they become bored easily so you always need to have a job for them. The sky is the limit on what you can teach them.
ACD's can be very independent and stubborn due to their intelligence, so firm training is a must. This breed responds well to consistent training and discipline, although they catch on quick and hate to disappoint their masters.
Grooming 4 out of 5
The ACD's short coat is weather resistant but they are average shedders so brush often with a firm bristle. You only need to bathe when necessary. They never need shaving or haircuts--their coat has been developed to endure all kinds of weather. Never dock their tail--they need it for work! Even the AKC recognizes a full tail, so there's never a need to dock.
Overall Score 3.5 out of 5
ACD's weigh about 30-55 pounds and live about 12 to 15 years. They do best on the farm with animals to herd, but if you don't raise cattle or sheep, a large yard will do, along with plenty of exercise.
ACD's are great candidates for competitions such as agility trials, flyball, frisbee, and of course, herding. I recommend ACD's for owners who wish to work with their dog, compete with them, or give them a job on the farm. They are not suited for suburban or city life.
They tend to be very vocal so its best not to have neighbors too close by. If you're buying your ACD puppy from a breeder, consider purchasing two or three from the same litter. They'll be happier pets in the long run having their brothers and sisters with them. Adopting an ACD is tricky if you have existing pets, so make sure you talk with the organization you're adopting from--they'll know if that particular ACD would do well with other animals.
The Australian cattle dog, also known as the Blue Heeler, are popular working dogs and pets and are easily picked out by their high-energy enthusiasm and intelligence.
This breed of dog is known to be muscular and active, making the ideal for herding and obedience trials, and if given enough room to run and enough exercise are excellent pets for the right owners.
The breed first emerged as an independent entity a little over a hundred years ago, when a breed of dog known as Smithfields were used in Australia to herd cattle.
Because these dogs were too noisy and too rough with the cattle, they were crossbred with the Australian wild dog known as the dingo.
This resulted in a dog that was quieter, but still had a tendency to bite too hard, so at that point, collies, who were used to herd sheep and therefore were a bit gentler were bred into the mix, with some bull terrier bred into to give the breed a little more aggression.
The Australian cattle dog was born and became almost instantly popular as sporting and guard dogs at the turn of the century.
"Australian cattle dogs have cool heads under pressure and is absolutely fearless when it comes to cattle"
They were bred to move the herds where they were indicated and did so by weaving through recalcitrant animals and nipping lightly at their heels to get the moving.
This is problematic when the same behavior gets transferred over to humans and other animals like horses. If you decide to adopt an Australian cattle dog, this is a behavior that you might have to spend some time curbing.
Australian cattle dogs, due to the fact that they were originally bred to be working dogs, have a high energy level and require a great deal of exercise. They are most happy when they are at work, whether that means herding cattle or participating in obedience trials or competitions.
To keep their active minds interested, the owners of Australian cattle dogs should make sure that their training routines do not turn dull or repetitive.
These dogs are naturally wary of strangers and tend to bond early in life with an individual or an older dog. When adopting an Australian cattle dog, make sure that you quickly impress upon it that you are the pack leader.
While they can be excellent guard dogs due to a combination of the their strength, speed and intense distrust of strangers, they are not really good family dogs.
Although this breed does work well with Kelpies and collies as well as with other members of their breed, they can be quite aggressive when it comes to unknown dogs. Ideally, they are kept in a situation where they have a job and can do it every day.
In terms of health, the Australian cattle dog is quite hardy. They can be prone to musculoskeletal disorders as well as to infertility.
These are dogs that will become bored and frustrated quite easily and therefore should be kept entertained and exercised.
"Australian cattle dogs can be excellent pets, but only in the right conditions"
John E Adams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Terrier Dogs and Dog Breeds. By John Adams Dog breeds explained. The Australian cattle dog is headstrong, alert, fearless and desperate to please. Is that you: