Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog — the Blue or Red Heeler — is an Australian herding breed built for stamina, bred to move cattle across long distances in hard country.

History

It was developed in nineteenth-century Australia by crossing droving dogs with the native dingo and, later, other working breeds, to produce a dog that could nip at the heels of cattle and turn them over great distances. The mottled blue or red coat is a breed signature.

Temperament

The breed is known for being intensely energetic, intelligent and devoted to its owner, with a strong working drive and a wariness of strangers. It wants a job, and an under-worked one will find its own.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of daily exercise and mental work, and it thrives on training, dog sports and anything that uses its head. The short double coat is easy, shedding seasonally.

Health

Known tendencies include inherited deafness and progressive retinal atrophy, along with hip dysplasia. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.