The Australian Cattle Dog Breeds, Devoted, Intelligent and Compact
Immensely popular, a courageous and hard working herder, intelligent, extremely agile, and wrapped up into a compact medium sized dog, this is the essence of the Australian Cattle Dog breeds. Also known as Blue Heelers, Australian Heeler, Hall’s Heeler and Queensland Heeler, the one thing in common is his innate ability and desire to work very hard for his master.
Amazingly, when born, a cattle dog puppy is white, but as he matures, usually at around four or five weeks, he begins to develop either a blue or red mottling of color. Another trait of the Australian Cattle Dog breeds is his temperament. Loyal, affectionate, trusting and intelligent, those who have raised a cattle dog as a member of their families then grieved when his time came to pass away, have time and time again brought another one into their homes and lives, because they discovered they really missed all the challenges and excitement that come with owning one.
Standing about seventeen inches high and weighing approximately thirty to thirty five pounds, wearing a double coat, muscular, and well built, this little dog instills fear and complete compliance from the much larger cattle he herds. Always the prolific herder, anyone who has owned Australian Cattle Dog breeds will brag on how extraordinarily intelligent his was. These are two of the reasons cattle dogs are not suitable for life in an apartment or backyard. This dog wants to work, as it is his instinct to do so. Tragically, due to not enough research of their canine instincts before adopting or acquiring one, statistics show this breed has been known to jump fences when bored and become either lost or hit by cars.
Herding dogs have a tremendous amount of energy. Still, in addition to exercise, and taking into consideration his remarkable intelligence, specifically with the Australian Cattle Dog breeds, he requires stimulation of his mind. This can be accomplished in fun ways which will not only socialize him, but assist in building the bond between owner and dog. Agility training complete with hurdles, long walks, and running alongside his owner as they jog, are great ways to spend time with a cattle dog. Given proper attention, exercise, love and a willingness to understand the breed, will give owner and dog years of happiness.
