![\"Breed](\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Breed-Profile-Australian-Cattle-dogs-Title.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCharacteristics & Traits of the Australian Cattle Dog <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLife Expectancy<\/strong>: 12-16 years<\/p>\n\n\n\nAppearance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Height<\/strong>: Male: 46\u201351 cm, Female: 43\u201348 cm (Male: 18-20 inches, Female: 17-19 inches)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Weight<\/strong>: 15\u201322 kg (35-50 pounds)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Colours<\/strong>: blue, blue mottled, blue speckled, red mottled, red speckled<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Care \/ Grooming Requirements<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\nCoat<\/strong>: Short double coat<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrooming<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Australian Cattle Dogs generally need just a quick brush once a week to keep them neat and tidy. Their coat has no odour or oily residue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Australian Cattle Dog sheds their undercoat twice a year. During shedding season, these dogs will need a thorough brushing every few days to remove the dead hair and prevent matting or hot spots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bathing the Australian Cattle Dog is only as needed – usually when they\u2019ve gone and made themselves really dirty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s recommended to brush your Australian Cattle Dogs teeth at least two times a week to prevent tartar buildup.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trim your Australian Cattle Dogs nails once a month or as needed. This can vary with the amount of activity they undertake and the surface they spend the majority of their time on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check your dogs ears once a week for any signs of infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Breed](\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/puppytales-breedprofile-australiancattledog-breedinfographic-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHistory of the Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCountry of Origin<\/strong>: Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther Names<\/strong>: ACD, Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Red Heeler, Queensland Heeler<\/p>\n\n\n\nHistory<\/strong>: The Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred by settlers in Australia. They crossed their various breed (and some suggest some dingo bloodlines) to create a unique, tough, hard-working cattle dog. One that\u2019s ideally suited to the tougher, warmer Australian conditions and outback. Other breeds involved in the mixing process were the Dalmatian and Collies. The Australian Cattle Dog is largely credited for using its expertise to help farmers efficiently expand the Australian beef industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDog Group\/Type<\/strong>: Herding group<\/p>\n\n\n\nTemperament & Personality of the Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Bred to perform demanding tasks, the Australian Cattle Dog is extremely alert, intelligent, watchful and courageous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The breed is also considered to be highly trustworthy and reliable. And they have a tenacious sense of duty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Australian Cattle Dogs are loyal to their owners and wary of strangers. They can be fiercely protective when used as a watchdog, although they are not generally known to be barkers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Australian Cattle Dog can be aggressive with other dogs if they have limited interactions with them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Australian Cattle Dog Living & Exercise Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Australian Cattle Dog is energetic and generally not considered well suited for apartment living. As an athletic dog they need more than just a quick walk or a short burst of playtime in the backyard. They are going to thrive in homes where they get regular exercise and have a fenced area or property to run and play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can meet Australian Cattle Dog’s exercise requirements through activities and games like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Running, biking, or skating<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Flying disc and flyball<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make use of a dog treadmill<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Self-play with interactive and puzzle toys<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit dog park and play with other dogs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Backyard agility<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Swimming<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Australian Cattle Dog is highly intelligent. They love when they have a job to do. They have a tendency to become destructive when bored or confined without activity and company. Early socialisation and obedience training are considered a must for these dogs. They are going to especially enjoy any training that incorporates their natural talents like herding or agility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like all dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs need exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences during puppyhood. Start training as early as possible, ideally when the pup is between 8-12 weeks of age. Our Puppy Socialisation Checklist <\/a>is a great starting point if you\u2019re welcoming a new Australian Cattle Dog puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAustralian Cattle Dogs are playful dogs and enjoy playing with their human family. They are known to be gentle and friendly with children where appropriate interactions, introductions and training have occurred. They should, however, be supervised, especially during playtime, where they may display their natural dominance herding or nipping behaviours toward children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A healthy and nutritious diet is going to contribute significantly to the overall health of your Australian Cattle Dog. As active canines, they are going to need good nutrition to meet their needs and appropriate to their dog age, metabolism and physical activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Health Issues <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAustralian Cattle Dogs are generally healthy but are prone to certain health issues. It\u2019s important to be aware of the following health conditions that the Australian Cattle Dog is more susceptible to having:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Hip Dysplasia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elbow Dysplasia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Deafness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Celebrity Australian Cattle Dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Movie stars Matthew McConaughey and Owen Wilson are Australian Cattle Dog parents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mike Wolfe of the TV show “American Pickers” owns an Australian Cattle Dog.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If you look closely, you\u2019ll find Australian Cattle Dogs in the movies, Mad Max and Brokeback Mountain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Special Talents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- The Australian Cattle Dog is rated as one of the most intelligent dogs, ranking 10th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If you like clean and neat, the Aussie Cattle Dog could be the perfect choice for you. As the breed requires little grooming, they are known as a “wash and wear” dog. And they have very low drooling potential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Australian Cattle Dog doesn’t usually have high wanderlust potential. However, if they become bored, their curiosity and intelligence can lead them to become escape artists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Australian Cattle Dog Fun Facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Australian Cattle Dog puppies are born all white. This trait is believed to come from some Dalmatian heritage. Puppies start getting their colours by six weeks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The name \u201cHeeler\u201d comes from the fact that they nip at the heels of cattle. While the Blue and the Red with Heeler comes from the blue and red coat colours found in the breed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Guinness Record for the oldest dog is held by an Australian Cattle Dog. Bluey, who lived with Les Hall of Rochester, Victoria, Australia had a record-breaking lifespan of 29 years and 5 months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Australian\u2019s Cattle Dog\u2019s unique coat is water-resistant, keeping them dry in the rain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Australian Cattle Dogs love to chew more than normal. Be prepared to get tough toys and large bones to keep them entertained.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One nickname for Australian Cattle Dogs is \u201cshadow dogs\u201d. This comes from how close they want to stay to their owners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Australian Cattle Dog made its way to the United States after World War 2 when soldiers who were stationed in Australia fell in love with the breed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Your Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you like vigorous outdoor exercise, an Australian Cattle Dog could make a great canine companion. Just remember that these are intelligent dogs who need stimulation. Don\u2019t expect them to keep themselves entertained all of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019d love to photograph your Australian Cattle Dog for Project Dogalogue\u2122<\/span> and hear some personal stories about life with these Australian Cattle Dogs! Register them for our pawsome project here<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Do](\"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/puppytales-breedprofile-australiancattledog-cta-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Australian Cattle Dog is among the more popular dog breeds around, especially in Australia where they originated. These dogs are categorised in the Kennel Club’s Herding Group. And while they’re at home on farms and properties, they are can also be great companions dogs. If you\u2019re looking for a high-energy, friendly and intelligent dog, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":37141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1620],"tags":[442],"class_list":["post-37137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-breeds","tag-australian-cattle-dog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Appearance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Care \/ Grooming Requirements<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coat<\/strong>: Short double coat<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grooming<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Country of Origin<\/strong>: Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Names<\/strong>: ACD, Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Red Heeler, Queensland Heeler<\/p>\n\n\n\n History<\/strong>: The Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred by settlers in Australia. They crossed their various breed (and some suggest some dingo bloodlines) to create a unique, tough, hard-working cattle dog. One that\u2019s ideally suited to the tougher, warmer Australian conditions and outback. Other breeds involved in the mixing process were the Dalmatian and Collies. The Australian Cattle Dog is largely credited for using its expertise to help farmers efficiently expand the Australian beef industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dog Group\/Type<\/strong>: Herding group<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Australian Cattle Dog is energetic and generally not considered well suited for apartment living. As an athletic dog they need more than just a quick walk or a short burst of playtime in the backyard. They are going to thrive in homes where they get regular exercise and have a fenced area or property to run and play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can meet Australian Cattle Dog’s exercise requirements through activities and games like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Australian Cattle Dog is highly intelligent. They love when they have a job to do. They have a tendency to become destructive when bored or confined without activity and company. Early socialisation and obedience training are considered a must for these dogs. They are going to especially enjoy any training that incorporates their natural talents like herding or agility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like all dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs need exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences during puppyhood. Start training as early as possible, ideally when the pup is between 8-12 weeks of age. Our Puppy Socialisation Checklist <\/a>is a great starting point if you\u2019re welcoming a new Australian Cattle Dog puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australian Cattle Dogs are playful dogs and enjoy playing with their human family. They are known to be gentle and friendly with children where appropriate interactions, introductions and training have occurred. They should, however, be supervised, especially during playtime, where they may display their natural dominance herding or nipping behaviours toward children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy and nutritious diet is going to contribute significantly to the overall health of your Australian Cattle Dog. As active canines, they are going to need good nutrition to meet their needs and appropriate to their dog age, metabolism and physical activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Health Issues <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Australian Cattle Dogs are generally healthy but are prone to certain health issues. It\u2019s important to be aware of the following health conditions that the Australian Cattle Dog is more susceptible to having:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like vigorous outdoor exercise, an Australian Cattle Dog could make a great canine companion. Just remember that these are intelligent dogs who need stimulation. Don\u2019t expect them to keep themselves entertained all of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019d love to photograph your Australian Cattle Dog for Project Dogalogue\u2122<\/span> and hear some personal stories about life with these Australian Cattle Dogs! Register them for our pawsome project here<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Australian Cattle Dog is among the more popular dog breeds around, especially in Australia where they originated. These dogs are categorised in the Kennel Club’s Herding Group. And while they’re at home on farms and properties, they are can also be great companions dogs. If you\u2019re looking for a high-energy, friendly and intelligent dog, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":37141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1620],"tags":[442],"class_list":["post-37137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-breeds","tag-australian-cattle-dog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puppytales.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHistory of the Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Temperament & Personality of the Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Australian Cattle Dog Living & Exercise Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Celebrity Australian Cattle Dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Special Talents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Australian Cattle Dog Fun Facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Your Australian Cattle Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"