Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is a hardy and independent member of the Herding Group. This breed has a moderate build which helps balance the speed and agility needed to control cattle. For more than 200 years these dogs have been excellent herding canines. Today this service is still in use throughout Australia and other parts of the world where the Aussie Cattle Dog is raised.

As its name suggests, the Australian Cattle Dog has its roots from Australia, dating back to the 1800s. There were vast lands that were used for grazing cattle at that time. The cattle became too wild and boisterous for the services of a traditional herding dog, so a new dog was needed that could handle the job.

Several bloodlines when into the creation. A man named Hall began the process in 1840 by breeding Dingos and several smooth blue merle Highland Collies. The strain became known as “Hall's Heelers”. More breeders began crossing Hall's Heelers with the Bull Terrier, Black and Tan Kelpie, and the Dalmatian.

The result was a breed known as the Queensland Blue Terrier. The name was later changed to the Australian Heeler, and then finally to the Australian Cattle Dog. The standard for the breed was created in 1897. In 1980, the Australian Cattle Dog was officially recognized by the AKC and today is still used to herd cattle and can be seen regularly in herding trials.

Read more about the Australian Cattle Dog.