Ever Thought About Getting an Australian Cattle Dog?

Australian Cattle dogs, referred to by many other names, are well known all over the world for their herding abilities. People quite frequently call them Blue Heelers, Queensland Heelers and Red Heelers also. No matter what you want to call them they are a very intelligent, agile breed that learns fast and is very attentive to their family.

Of all the different breeds of dogs that I have had over the years, I have to say that this breed was by far the most intelligent. Bred for herding they often respond well to hand signals. Their attentive eye that is always on you makes them easy to train. Ours was my daughters best friend for years and she would teach him new tricks all the time, he was always just as eager to please her as he was to protect her. They tend to be on the aggressive side and always ready to protect their herd. We, the family, were his herd so we were always under his protective eye. Although a very good family dog the aggressive behavior of this breed can get out of hand, they are definitely very stong willed and have a mind of their own.

One unique fact about this breed that I always enjoyed was that when the puppies are born they are basically white. Sometimes if they have a solid dark area it will show up right away, but usually they get most of their coloring as they age. They say this is due to having dalmatian in their lines of ancestry. Also in this dogs heritage are crosses with the Collie, Dingo and the Bull Terrier. You can see where the breed gets it stubborn and insistent personality. Our dog was a house dog but he was always in the working or professional mode, not a loving, affectionate dog.

The usual life span of an Australian Cattle dog is around 11 years old but there is one that is said to be one of the longest living dogs, reaching the age of 29. They are a very active breed, always looking for someone to play with them. Ours loved to play ball or frisbee and would keep you busy all day if you would agree to it. If you don't have the area or time to play this wouldn't be a good breed choice for you.

Among the most common health ailments for dogs, arthritis, elbow dysplasia, reproductive problems and blindness from retinal deterioration seem to be the most prevalent for this breed. Ours was always very healthy for the seven years we had him, never showing any of the mentioned health problems. He was always full of energy and ready to go if he thought you were ready to play.

The Australian Cattle dog is my favorite of all the dogs we have had over the years, definitely the most intelligent, but also the most aggressive. I would not recommend this breed to any one that did not live in an area that the dog could not have his fill of exercise each day and have plenty to stimulate its mind. A wonderful breed but one would need to take into account their living situation and the other animals on the property before acquiring one.