Australian Cattle Dog

COUNTRY: Australia WEIGHT: 35-45 pounds HEIGHT: 17-20 inches COAT: Medium-short, harsh, straight, dense COLOR: Blue speckled, with black, blue or tan markings on head; red speckled, with darker red markings on head OTHER NAMES: Australian Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler REGISTRY: FCI, AKC, UKC, TKC, CKC GROUP: Herding

Derived through intensive and careful crossbreeding over a 60-year period, the Australian Cattle Dog was the result of the deliberate introduction of various breeds serving specific purposes.

The Australian Cattle Dog came into being because imported herding dogs were not capable of controlling the tough cattle on long treks to market. Most existing herding dogs, i.e., the Smithfields or the Black Bobtail, drove by barking and running after the cattle. The Black Bobtail, according to Robert Kaleski, "... bit like an alligator and barked like a consumptive," spooking the wilder cattle native to Australia and running the meat off them.

The Australian Cattle dogs used for driving these cattle had their problems too. All the running and barking on the journeys from the outback wore them out, and they were in as poor shape as the cattle by the time they arrived at market.

A native wild dog, known as the Dingo, was a silent worker that conserved energy, driving herds by biting or nipping at strays. The Dingo performed well in high temperatures, but was naturally aggressive and too wild to train.

During the 1830s the running, biting, barking Smithfield Collie was experimentally crossed with the silent-working Dingo. The offspring were called Timmon's Biters, which eliminated the barking problem, but accentuated the biting.

Later, in 1840, Thomas Hall, a squatter with two blue-merle, smooth-coated Collies, took a daring step by breeding his purebred Scottish imports to the Dingo. The half-breeds were impressive workers, and the best were retained. The red or blue get called Hall's Heelers, were hardy, silent drovers with prick ears. Further breeding experiments incorporating the Dingo, Timmon's Biters and Hall's Heelers were conducted by others.

Dr. Allen McNiven conducted an extensive breeding program and found that it takes 12 generations to get a good Australian Cattle Dog. He noted, "Most of the first generations run off." McNiven had men from the outback follow a Dingo slut for two weeks prior to whelping. When the pups were about two weeks old, a male would be taken from the litter while the dam was away hunting for food. They chose only the heavy-boned Red Deer Dingo because of its good head and intelligence. This male would be bred to one of McNiven's Blue Merle Collies. As Dingoes mate for life, he would breed no other females.

The next breed to be added to the melting pot was the Dalmatian, changing the merle to its current speckle, and adding loyalty to their masters and a rapport with horses. This combination, however, diluted the heeling ability. A drop of Bull Terrier blood was not enthusiastically received, infusing an excess of toughness. Cattle owners bred out the Bull Terrier influence; but a hint of this breed still is seen in the Australian Cattle Dog temperament and shape of the head. Still later, another cross brought in the black/tan Kelpie, which revived heeling capabilities. This was the final cross, and the Australian Cattle Dog has been pure since 1893.

An oddity inherited from their Dalmatian progenitor causes them to be born white. Although the pups do not show their true colors until several weeks of age, color may be ascertained by the paw pads. Reddish brown or brown pads indicate a red, and blue or black pads belong to blue speckle pups. The darker the pad, the darker the dog becomes. The Dingo influence is shown in the breed's speed, keen hearing and sense of smell, as well.