The origin lines of this dog breed start in 1800’s when Anglo-Australians began to settle and ranch in grasslands of Australia. Initially the British Smithfield was imported to help ranchers herd the cattle. This dog however was not suited for the temperatures, terrain and vast distances of the new continent it found itself on.
A new breed was created to help the ranchers by mixing the Australia’s Dingo with the Scottish Highland Collie. Later on, Dalmatian and Black and Tan Kelpie were added into the breed line creating the Australian Cattle Dog we know today..
The Australian Cattle Dog is also know as the Queensland Heeler and Blue or Red Heeler, depending the colour or their coat. A dog breed that is tough, durable, resistant to temperatures, able to travel long distances, faithful, protective and enjoys working.
Breed Size, Look and Lifespan
Australian Cattle Dog is medium in size, ranging from 17 inches to 20 inches (43-51cm) in height at the shoulder. It weighs between 35-50 lbv(15-22 kg) and has a lifespan of 12-16 years of age. Average lifespan of an Australian Cattle Dog is approximately 1.5 years longer than the average of other dog breeds. The oldest recorded Australian Cattle Dog was Bluey, who lived to the ripe old age of 29 (June 7, 1910 - November 14, 1939).
Heelers nave a smooth short double coat which requires occasional grooming. Heelers shed once to twice a year. They don’t drool (at least not a lot) and only need occasional baths.
Australian Cattle Dogs come in 5 different colours. Blue Mottled, Blue Speckled, Blue, Red Mottled and Red Speckled.
Characteristics
The Queensland Heeler is a working dog with needs for high energy expenditure and mental stimulation. It requires about 2-3 hours of exercise per day.
If a heeler does not have an actual job (like herding), it will need to be given other “work”. Whether it’s playing fetch, obedience training, puzzle toys, scent games, or running by your side, the Australian Dog needs something to do.
It is very intelligent, highly trainable, assertive, tenacious. It is frequently protective and weary of strangers and thus can also act as a guard dog.
If its energy and mental stimulation needs are met, the Queensland Heeler is good with young children, adapts well to family life and is playful. If understimulated, physically or mentally, the Australian Cattle Dog will likely develop destructive behaviours at home.
Hellers need basic obedience training and require strong consistent leadership. If left to their own devices they might be aggressive toward strangers or start herding running children, an activity which can include nipping of legs and ankles.
The Queensland Heeler is a wonderful dog (my favourite breed) but is not for everyone.
Ideal handler will be able to provide the heeler with lots of exercise, mental stimulation, time outdoors and strong leadership.
In Its Element
Australian Cattle Dog was bred for herding cattle. It is a difficult activity to learn requiring tenacity, power and intelligence. Training a dog to herd requires anywhere from 3-6 months of training.
Herding can be divided into four main activities:
Gathering: process of moving the animals towards the handler
Driving: process of moving the livestock away from the handler
Penning: moving the livestock into a pen, and
Singling: separating one or two animals away from the rest of the herd
Driving behaviour is more difficult to teach, compared to gathering as instinctively the dog wants to bring items toward the handler, as opposed to moving them away.
In order to be effective at performing the above tasks, the herding dog must be well trained to obey commands off leash within a distracting environment.
Herding training generally begins when the dog is about one year old. Younger dogs can be too excitable and inadvertently cause panic or injury to the livestock.
The dog is first taught various commands with a toy before it can work with animals. Once mastered, the training then progresses to working with animals, working with smaller groups first before moving on to larger herds.
Herding activity has 13 basic commands for the dog to master. These commands can be communicated to the verbally, but sometimes may be communicated via hand signals or whistles Some basic herding commands of include:
Come bye (or bye): going to the left of the stock
Away tome (away or way): going to the right of the stock
Stand
Stop, wait or lie
Cast: gathering animals into a group
Find: locate the stock
Get our (or get back): move away from the stock
Hold: keep stock in their current location
Bark
Look back: go back for missed animals
In here: go through a bap in the stock (this is used for separating or singling
Walk up (walk on or walk): move closer to the animals
That’ll do: stop working and return to handler
There may be many more commands or variations of above, but you get the idea.
To see an Australian Cattle Dog in working with cattle, check out this short 3.5 minute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0OISRAUFVY
Happy Raw Doggin!
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