11 fun facts about Australian Cattle Dogs

Fancy learning a few Australian Cattle Dog facts? You’re in for a treat. But first, a quick note…

Here at TrustedHousesitters, we love almost anything fluffy that walks around on four legs, and probably has a tail. We’re only human: the mind wanders, and so do our Google searches. So when we can, we’re gazing at adorable images of other people’s pets, and of course, our own. 

And while we take much pleasure in chewing our family’s ears off about new cute breeds we’ve learnt about, we thought we’d do something useful with it, i.e. share our knowledge with you, a community who loves pets just as much as we do. It turns out that this time, our online rabbit hole has travelled down under. So, put your feet up, grab a cuppa, and dive into these 11 fun facts about Australian Cattle Dogs.

1. They’re related to Dingoes

It’s true - these cute fluffies are related to Australia’s top land predator: the Dingo. Before they were mixed with other breeds to create the compact working dog we know and love (i.e. the Australian Cattle Dog), it’s thought that Dingoes were brought to Australia around 4000 years ago. They were domesticated by humans around that time by ancient people surviving the harsh conditions with four-legged friends for company. 

So, how are Australian Cattle Dogs related to Dingoes? Well around 4000 years later after being taken under the wing of ancient humans, a budding breeder named George Elliot was experimenting with Dingo-Blue Merle Collie crosses, according to the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America. To find out more about what happened to these dogs and how they resulted in Australian Cattle Dogs, head to fact number three. So, like their canine cousin, the Old English Sheepdog, there's a whole lot to be learnt just from their name!

2. They go by 500,000 aliases

Okay we’re exaggerating slightly - these pooches aren’t undercover, and it’s not quite half a million names. But there are a fair few! They’re often referred to as Australian Heelers, Blue Heelers, Queensland Heelers, Queensland Blue Heelers and Red Heelers.

3. Australian Cattle Dogs are related to Dalmatians

Let’s explore this breed’s history - according to the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America. Back in the year of 1840, George Elliott of Queensland was cross-breeding dogs. He was experimenting with Dingo-Blue Merle Collie crosses. It turned out that Elliott knew his stuff when it came to breeding dogs, as great working dogs came out of his trials. The pooches were sold to various cattle workers, including Jack and Harry Bagust from Sydney. 

Like Elliot, they also experimented with breeding dogs. They wanted pooches who loved horses and would be more faithful to their masters. To do this, they bred the dogs from Elliott with Dalmatians and were successful in their attempts. Unfortunately, these new pooches weren’t quite as successful on the work front as their Queensland ancestors.

So, they looked further afield for another pooch to mix this new breed with. They decided on the Black and Tan Kelpies, which was a form of sheepdog. This resulted in a dog who shared the same build as a Dingo, who was active and efficient. From there, no further mixing was carried out by the brothers. Instead, they continued to breed only the best of these pooches, a breed which formed the route of today’s Australian Cattle Dog.

4. They’re nicknamed heelers because they bite at cattle heels

The Australian Cattle dogs’ temperament served them well when it came to their working life and were revered workers in the cattle industry. They were extremely good at their jobs, which was to drive cattle around their living and grazing areas. They did this by nipping at the heels of the cows they were herding, which resulted in the name ‘heeler’. And nothing changes when these cuties are welcomed into the home. Like their mixed offspring, the Cowboy Corgi, they'll happily nip at their humans' ankles to get what they want.

5. Australian Cattle Dogs are born white

While they don’t remain white Australian cattle dogs for very long, many Australian Cattle puppies are actually born white. This is potentially due to their Dalmatian mix that helped the dogs to work alongside their two-legged friends more effectively and affectionately. It’s only in their later days that they grow into their unique coats.

6. An Australian Cattle dog holds a Guinness World Record

This has to be one of our favourite Australian cattle dog facts! Bluey, an Australian heeler from Victoria, Australia, lived until the grand old age of 29 years and five months. And he wasn’t a domestic pet - this pooch lived out his life for what he was bred for. He earned his keep (or something like that…) among cattle and sheep for almost 20 years after he was brought in as a puppy in 1910, and before he was put to sleep on 14th November 1939.

7. They played a key part in Australia’s early cattle farms

The first cattle dogs in Australia weren’t quite fit for purpose. Afterall, they were bred for British terrain, not the Australian outback. These dogs were a breed known as the Smithfield, brought over by the British and badly suited for the scorching temperatures and the long distances asked of them. So, if you were wondering why Elliot (and other breeders) were experimenting with mixing dogs, it’s because they needed working dogs that could endure Australia’s hostile environment while successfully herding cattle.

After experimenting with different breeds, the resulting Australian Cattle dog was the tough working dog they were after - they were as successful at herding cattle as the Black and Tan Kelpies was at herding sheep. These cuties were bred for endurance and their ability to drive cattle across long distances in challenging conditions. They’re rough dogs, and weren’t afraid to bite at the cattle to get them in line - just one of the reasons why these dogs need strict training in modern domestic settings.

8. They can tolerate intense heat and extreme cold

These herding dogs are as tough as they come and well-suited to the challenging conditions of the Australian outback. Despite its scorching temperatures in the day time, the Outback drops way below freezing at night. So, no matter where these tough fluffballs live, they’ll endure almost any environment - as long as they’ve got enough space to roam and reason to burn energy.

9. Their coat can be red or blue

Ever heard of a blue heeler? They’re Australian Cattle dogs with so-called ‘blue’ mottled fur. Scattered over the blue is a mix of white and tan along with blue, black and tan markings over the head. You’ll also find red heelers with, as expected, a warmer-coloured coat. 

Aside from their different coat colourings, Queensland Heelers have thick, water-resistant double coats with short and straight fur. While their undercoat sheds up to twice a year, the top coat is a successful protective layer that helps to shield them from the harsh conditions they were bred for. Both red and blue heelers are also known for the white patch of fur on the centre of their heads which is known to some as the ‘Bentley Mark’, and others as the ‘Bentley Star’. Also find tan markings on the lower half on their legs, black over their bodies and a black spot on the tail root of blue heelers. And unlike the Australian stumpy tail cattle dog, Queensland heelers have thick, luscious tails.

If you’re thinking about welcoming an Australian heeler into your life, these tough cookies need only a little grooming as they don’t shed often and will only need occasional baths (unless any joyful mud rolling has taken place). According to the American Kennel Club, Australian heelers should be brushed around once a week with a thorough groom-out every few days during shedding season.

10. They’re the Einsteins of the dog world

Yep, they’re up there with some of the brightest canine cuties around. And it makes sense - they’re related to Collies who are also known for their intelligence. Alongside that, they’ve got a history of working amongst cattle and obeying strict orders. As well as their toughness, these cuties have been bred to understand that going by their master's rules means survival, so they’re not shy of learning rules and even a few cool tricks. While their mental abilities somewhat speak for themselves, Australian Cattle Dogs need lots of training and exercise so that their intelligence can be harnessed and streamlined.

11. They’ve got stumpy-tailed cousins

It’s true, the Australian stumpy tail cattle dog is related to Australian Cattle Dogs. Another herding breed successful at driving cattle, the Australian stumpy tail cattle dog is naturally bob-tailed or born without one.

Already looking for your next doggy fact fix? Get to know the adorable Australian Shepherd dog, and prepare to fall head over heels (or paws) in love with this sweet Aussie pooch.

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