Australian Cattle Dog
445359
225256821
2008-07-12T18:56:24Z
SmackBot
433328
Date the maintenance tags or general fixes
{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}
{{Infobox Dogbreed
<!-- Put article text AFTER this infobox markup. See: -->
<!-- Wikipedia:WikiProject Dog breeds/Templates for more info.-->
| image = AustrCattleDogRed wb.jpg
| image_caption = A red Australian Cattle Dog, or "Red Heeler"
| name = Australian Cattle Dog
| altname = Australian Heeler<br>Blue Heeler (Blue dogs only)<br>Red Heeler (Red dogs only)<br>Queensland Heeler
| country = {{AUS}}
| fcigroup = 1
| fcisection = 2
| fcinum = 287
| fcistd = http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:xE4yeXl7tNkJ:www.fci.be/uploaded_files/287gb97_en.doc+http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/287gb97_en.doc&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1
| akcgroup = Herding
| akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_cattle_dog/index.cfm
| ankcgroup = Group 5 - (Working Dogs)
| ankcstd = http://www.ankc.aust.com/austcat.html
| ckcgroup = Group 7 - (Herding Dogs)
| ckcstd = http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&BreedCode=ACD
| kcukgroup = Pastoral
| kcukstd = http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/122
| nzkcgroup = Working
| nzkcstd = http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br504.html
| ukcgroup = Herding Dog
| ukcstd = http://mail.ukcdogs.com/UKCweb.nsf/80de88211ee3f2dc8525703f004ccb1e/179a8702d714308c85257049004689fe?OpenDocument
}}<!-- End Infobox -->
The '''Australian Cattle Dog''', also known as the '''Queensland Heeler''', '''Blue Heeler''', '''Red Heeler''' and ACD {{Fact|date=July 2008}} is a [[dog breed|breed]] of [[herding dog]] developed in [[Australia]] for controlling [[cattle]]. It is a medium-sized short-coated dog with a lot of energy, intelligence and an independent streak.
== Characteristics ==
=== Appearance ===
[[Image:Australian Cattle Dog Naava.jpg|thumb|A blue Australian Cattle Dog, showing alert stance and muscularity.]]
[[Image:Boys 3 weeks.jpg|thumb|Australian Cattle Dog puppies beginning to show color]]
The Australian Cattle Dog should be muscular, athletic and substantial in appearance, without any trace of weakness or fragility. However, excessively heavy or cumbersome build is also undesirable as it limits agility, a necessity for any good cattle herder. Along with athleticism, symmetry and balance are also essential, and no individual part of the dog should be exaggerated or draw excessive attention. Even when bred for companion or [[conformation show|show]] purposes, it should have well-conditioned, hard muscles.
====Size====
A female Australian Cattle Dog should measure about 17 to 19 inches (43 to 48 cm) at the [[withers]]. A male Australian Cattle Dog should measure about 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 cm) at the [[withers]]. An Australian Cattle Dog is a well-muscled, compact dog with a dense coat of coarse, rather oily hair with a slight ruff and fine, almost woolly, winter undercoat. It has a naturally long tail, generally carried low, with a slight white tip. An Australian Cattle Dog in good condition should weigh roughly 35 to 50 pounds (16 to 23 kg).
====Coat and Color====
The Cattle Dog's coat comes in two basic colors (blue and red) and a variety of markings and coat patterns, sometimes quite striking. The solid blue coat has a bluish appearance, caused by the mottling of black, gray and white hairs all over the dog's body. The solid red coat is distinctly red, generally with some variable percentage of white hairs frosting the coat. With the exception of solid coloring for a mask or a few body spots, the rest of the dog is covered with hairs which are alternately colored and white, like the hair on a [[roan (color)|roan]] horse. This roaning is also found in collies that are merle in coloration. But unlike merle collies, this color in Cattle Dogs should not be accompanied by odd-colored eyes and irregular albino patching. Contrary to popular belief, the Australian Cattle Dog is not roan. It gets its color from the ticking gene, not the roaning gene. The coat of a cattle dog should show an even disposition of color, save in the coat patterns of 'speckle' and 'mottle'. These two patterns (which show in both red and blue versions of the coat) are less common. A 'speckle' is a dark coat with a heavy roaning of white speckles, almost in a reverse spotted pattern. A 'mottle' is a light or white coat with regularly-placed denser areas of dark color showing up as spots. Both of these coat variations are considered unusual and uncommon, but acceptable by breeders.
Cattle Dog puppies are born white or black (save for any solid colored body or face markings) and grow darker as they mature. This characteristic is believed to be inherited from their supposed Dalmatian ancestry.
The more common color of the Cattle Dog is ''blue'', sometimes with ginger feet, ginger spots on the legs, and some of the ginger color on the face and underparts. This should not extend up the face, or high above the legs; when it does it is called a "creeping tan." This is not accepted in the breed standard. The alternate genetic color is ''red''. A red Cattle Dog should have no blue whatsoever, (although they can occasionally appear with black 'saddles', this is a strongly disfavoured marking). Its body is flecked with red and white, its mask is red and if it has patches on the body, they are red also. Red is the genetically dominant color, blue is the recessive (but preferred) color.
For dog owners whose interest is primarily in their qualification for [[conformation show]]s, even markings are preferred over uneven markings, and large solid-color marks on the body are undesirable. For owners who are more interested in their dogs' performance in activities such as [[herding]] or [[dog sports]], the breed's strong work ethic and intelligence are of more importance than the exact coat markings.
The mask is one of the most distinctive features of an Australian Cattle Dog. This mask consists of a blue-black patch over one or both eyes (for the blue coat color) or a red patch over one or both eyes (for the red coat color). The blue variety may also show some red on the face. Depending on whether one eye or both have a patch, these are called, respectively, ''single (or 'half') mask'' and ''double (or 'full') mask''. Australian Cattle Dogs without a mask are called ''plain-faced'' and may have small red "eyebrows". Any of these is correct according to the breed standard, and the only limitation is the owner's preference. [[Image:Double red ACD.JPG|thumb|This ACD's markings are an example of a double mask.]]
Most Australian Cattle Dogs have a stripe or spot of white hair in the center of the forehead, usually 1/2 inch to 1 inch by 2 inches to 3 inches (about 2 cm by 7 cm) called the ''Bentley Mark''. This is similar in appearance to the blaze or star markings sometimes found on [[horse]]s. This mark can be traced to a purebred dog owned by Thomas Bentley. According to legend, a popular dog owned by Tom Bentley passed on this distinctive mark to all Australian Cattle Dogs. They also frequently have a white tip to the tail and a small white patch on the chest.
====Tail====
[[Image:AustrCattleDogBlue wb.jpg|thumb|Blue Australian Cattle Dog with docked tail]]
Some breeders [[Docking (dog)|dock]] Australian Cattle Dog's tails. This is a controversial practice, and, in some countries, is illegal. The AKC breed standard for ACDs calls for an intact tail, and ACD owners are working hard in the U.S. to educate and discourage the practice of docking.
Docking Australian Cattle Dogs' tails is a practice peculiar to the United States, and is most often found in mixed- or pet-bred dogs. Australian Cattle Dog tails are not docked in their country of origin, Australia{{Fact|date=July 2008}}. The Australian Cattle Dog needs its tail for balance and steering while working or in agility{{Fact|date=July 2008}}. It is widely believed the tails are docked because of the mistaken notion that the dog will get its tail caught in doors or mouths of irate livestock. An ACD should never have a docked tail.
The Australian Cattle Dog is not to be confused with the [[Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog]], a square dog which is born with a naturally 'bobbed' tail. The Stumpy strongly resembles the Australian Cattle Dog, but the ASTCD has a taller, leaner conformation.
===Temperament===
Like many [[herding dog]]s, Cattle Dogs have high energy levels and active minds. They need plenty of exercise and a job to do, such as participating in [[dog sports]], learning tricks, or other activities that engage their minds. Some individuals find repetitive training frustrating and dull, so owners should aim to make training sessions varied and more exciting in order to keep their dog interested. Cattle Dogs who do not receive the appropriate exercise and entertainment will invent their own, often destructive, activities. These dogs are, by nature, wary. They are naturally cautious, and grow more so as they age. Their cautious nature towards strangers makes them perfect guard dogs, when trained for this task.
Cattle Dogs drive cattle by nipping at their heels or tails, but they have also been known to herd other animals, such as ducks, chickens, humans, pigeons, and even cars without instruction when left to their own devices.
To relieve the urge to nip, the Australian Cattle Dog can be encouraged to pick up and chew a toy or stick that is thrown for them. The Australian Cattle Dog, given a toy that would last another dog for an extended time, will happily sit down with the object between its paws and skillfully shred it into small pieces. An Australian Cattle Dog will remove the fuzz from a tennis ball as neatly as it would skin a rabbit. Any toy left with the Australian Cattle Dog needs to be extremely robust if it is to last.
The Australian Cattle Dog is gregarious to other dogs with whom it is familiar, working well in combination with other Australian Cattle Dogs, Kelpies, and Border Collies. Because of their plucky nature, the establishing of an order can result in a few scuffles and bites.
It is important for an owner to quickly establish a hierarchy in which they are the dog's pack leader, otherwise the young Australian Cattle Dog may bond to a senior dog, rather than to its owner. As an urban pet, if the young Australian Cattle Dog is allowed to bond too strongly with some senior dog in the neighbourhood, it can be very difficult for the owner to then establish control. If put in any situation where the ACD feels threatened, and/or uncomfortable, it will usually result to aggressiveness towards other, unknown dogs.
==Health and Lifespan==
===Lifespan===
Based on a small sample of 11 deceased dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs have a median longevity of 11.7 years (maximum 15.9 yrs)<ref name="KC Survey">http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007 </ref>. The median longevities of breeds of similar size are usually between 11 and 13 years<ref name="Cassidy Weight">http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007</ref>, so, assuming the 11 dogs were representative of the population, Australian Cattle Dogs appear to have a typical life span for a breed their size. Leading causes of death were cancer (27%) and cerebral vascular "stroke" (27%)<ref name="KC Survey"/>.
There is an anecdotal report of an Australian Cattle Dog (or an ACD-like dog) named [[Bluey (Australian cattle dog)|Bluey]] who lived 29.5 years, but the record is unverified<ref name="AnAge">http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Canis_familiaris AnAge entry for Canis familiaris AnAge Database. Human Ageing Genomic Resources. Retrieved July 17, 2007</ref>. Bluey is reported to have been born in 1910. The first Australian Cattle Dog standard was written in 1902<ref name="ACD Online">http://www.australiancattledog.com/ Australian Cattle Dogs Online Retrieved July 17, 2007</ref>, only eight years before Bluey was born. It is not clear how closely Bluey resembled, or is related to, the breed as it now exists.
===Common Health Problems===
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.<ref name="KC Survey"/>
==Australian Cattle Dog activities==
[[Image:Acd a frame.jpg|thumb|A young Australian Cattle Dog at the top of a dog agility A-frame]]
Australian Cattle Dogs not only tolerate a high level of physical activity, they almost demand it. Like many other [[herding dog]] breeds, they have active and fertile minds that turn mischievous if not properly channeled. Australian Cattle Dogs are highly intelligent and can be very bossy.
When not active, an Australian Cattle Dog can be kept occupied with mental puzzles.
Among the most popular activities for Australian Cattle Dogs is [[dog agility]]. While the Australian Cattle Dog is ideally suited for this work, since it is a [[herding dog|herding breed]] and thus very reactive to the handler's body language, some Australian Cattle Dogs become highly frustrated at the repetition and routine necessary to hone agility skills. As for many breeds, frequent brief training sessions are more effective than infrequent long training sessions.
For this reason, many handlers find training an Australian Cattle Dog to be challenging. It is important to always change the methods and exercises and not allow the dog or handler to get into a negative routine. Australian Cattle Dogs thrive on change and new experiences.
Only a few Australian Cattle Dogs, therefore, have excelled in [[obedience training|obedience competition]].
For example, the [[American Kennel Club]] awards an "Obedience Competition Championship" to the dog-and-handler team that defeats a large number of other teams in open competition. A handful of Australian Cattle Dogs have reached this level. While Australian Cattle Dogs enjoy the challenge of obedience competition, such as retrieving a scented article, the majority of Australian Cattle Dogs are easily bored with precision drilling.
ACDs are very organized animals. If the owner has established a "toy box," or some other type of holding area for the dog's possessions, it is not unlikely for an ACD to return whatever it has taken back to this area. Hence the numerous claims of the ACD "putting away its toys," or "picking up after itself." It is not unusual for an ACD to put away bones or items that have been taken out of the area by other dogs as well — hence the many claims that the ACD "picks up after others."
The dog is strong and muscular, yet compact and symmetrical, with the ability and willingness to carry out any task — no matter how enduring or hard.
Australian Cattle Dogs are expert Frisbee catchers and with just a little work they can master this activity and enjoy it for a lifetime.
== History ==
The precise origins of the Blue Heeler are not known, but they appear to have been a distinct breed as early as 1897. It began when Smithfields were originally used in Australia for herding cattle. They were noisy and bit too hard, so they were bred with the [[Dingo]], a wild dog prevalent in Australia. The resulting crosses were known as “Timmins Biters,” which were quieter, but still bit hard.
A primitive stage of Collie unlike that of today's [[Border Collies]] and [[Smooth Collies]], used for herding sheep, were then bred to the Dingo. In 1840, Thomas Hall bred a couple of Blue Smooth Highland Collies with dingoes and got the “Hall’s Heeler.” Then, in the 1870’s Fred Davis bred some [[Bull Terrier]] into them to make the dogs more aggressive. These were relatively common as sporting and guard dogs in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The resulting Cattle Dog was of a slightly heavier and more muscular build than the Border Collie and of less temperamental nature, with good herding ability, the stamina to withstand extremes of temperature and the resourcefulness to forage and to feed itself on an omnivorous diet like a wild dog. Physically the Heeler has inherited a big broad head and strong jaws from the Bull Terrier. From the Dingo comes the distinctive sandy color of the legs and rather large pricked ears.
Like the [[Koolie]], the Heeler is fearless with cattle and has a tendency to nip their heels to keep them moving when herding. This trait is undesirable when the dog applies it to humans and horses. It is rumoured that in order to create a breed that had a strong natural affiliation with horses, the Cattle Dog was crossed with the [[Dalmatian]], which although not a working dog, was popular during the 19th and early 20th century as a carriage dog, running beside the horses. As a result of Dalmatian being introduced ACD pups are born all white and rarely some adult dogs will have floppy ears, although undesirable it is purely superficial and won't affect their abilities.
It was thought that the breeding with the Dalmatian led to the spotted coloration in some Blue Heelers, though this is considered undesirable and is most commonly seen in mixed breed dogs that have ACD in their ancestry. For many years "Blue Heelers" commonly had large black patches on the body, as well as the Collie's mask. It was also common for them to have ears that lay back against the head like some Collies. The flat ears are now considered undesirable for conformation showing.
== References ==
<references/>
==External links==
{{commons}}
* [http://www.australiancattledog.com Australian Cattle Dog website: Cattledog Breed FAQ, Photos, Breeders]
* [http://www.acdca.org Australian Cattle Dog Club of America website]
* [http://www.acdcc.ca Australian Cattle Dog Club of Canada website]
* [http://www.cattledog.com CattleDog.com Centralized repository for all things ''"Cattledog"'']
* [http://www.aucado.us AuCaDo - Australian Cattle Dog chat and rescue forum]
* [http://www.acdagility.com ACD Agility website]
* [http://search.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?action=1&pet.Breed=Cattle+Dog&pet.Animal=Dog Adopt A Cattle Dog]
* [http://www.acdra.org Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association (Eastern US)]
==Additional Reading==
* Christian, Ajeemo. ''The Australian Cattle Dog'' ISBN 0-944875-65-3.
* Buetow K. ''The Australian Cattle Dog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet'' ISBN 0-87605-446-7.
[[Category:Dog breeds]]
[[Category:Herding dogs]]
[[Category:Animal breeds originating in Australia]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Australia]]
[[cs:Australský honácký pes]]
[[de:Australian Cattle Dog]]
[[es:Pastor Ganadero Australiano]]
[[fr:Bouvier australien]]
[[it:Australian cattle dog]]
[[nl:Australische veedrijvershond]]
[[no:Australian cattledog]]
[[pl:Australian Cattle Dog]]
[[fi:Australiankarjakoira]]
[[sv:Australian cattle dog]]