The Australian
Cattle Dog's general appearance is that of a
strong compact, symmetrically built working dog, with the ability and
willingness to carry out his allotted task however arduous. Its
combination of substance, power, balance and hard muscular condition
must convey the impression of great agility, strength and endurance. Any
tendency to grossness or weediness is a serious fault.
|
|
| Breed Name |
Australian Cattle Dog |
| Country Of
Origin |
Australia |
| Group |
Herding |
|
Coat |
Short, Straight |
|
Height |
17" to
20" |
| Weight |
25 to 50 lbs |
| Temperament |
Independent, Intelligent |
| Activity Level |
Very High |
| Learning Rate |
High |
|
Litter Size |
4 to
8 |
| Life Span |
12 Years |
|
|
Other Names |
Australian (Blue, Red, Hall's or
Queensland) Heeler |
If you are interested in an
Australian Cattle Dog
puppy:
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PUPPIES FOR SALE
or use our
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General Appearance
The general appearance is that of a strong compact, symmetrically built
working dog, with the ability and willingness to carry out his allotted
task however arduous. Its combination of substance, power, balance and
hard muscular condition must convey the impression of great agility,
strength and endurance. Any tendency to grossness or weediness is a
serious fault.
Characteristics
As the name implies the dog's prime function, and one in which he has no
peer, is the control and movement of cattle in both wide open and
confined areas. Always alert, extremely intelligent, watchful,
courageous and trustworthy, with an implicit devotion to duty making it
an ideal dog.
Temperament
The Cattle Dog's loyalty and protective instincts make it a
self-appointed guardian to the Stockman, his herd and his property.
Whilst naturally suspicious of strangers, must be amenable to handling,
particularly in the Show ring. Any feature of temperament or structure
foreign to a working dog must be regarded as a serious fault.
Head and Skull
The head is strong and must be in balance with other proportions of the
dog and in keeping with its general conformation. The broad skull is
slightly curved between the ears, flattening to a slight but definite
stop. The cheeks muscular, neither coarse nor prominent with the
underjaw strong, deep and well developed. The foreface is broad and well
filled in under the eyes, tapering gradually to form a medium length,
deep, powerful muzzle with the skull and muzzle on parallel planes. The
lips are tight and clean. Nose black.
Eyes-- The eyes should be of oval shape and medium size, neither
prominent nor sunken and must express alertness and intelligence. A
warning or suspicious glint is characteristic when approached by
strangers. Eye color, dark brown.
Ears-- The ears should be of moderate size, preferably small
rather than large, broad at the base, muscular, pricked and moderately
pointed neither spoon nor bat eared. The ears are set wide apart on the
skull, inclining outwards, sensitive in their use and pricked when
alert, the leather should be thick in texture and the inside of the ear
fairly well furnished with hair.
Mouth-- The teeth, sound, strong and evenly spaced, gripping with
a scissor-bite, the lower incisors close behind and just touching the
upper. As the dog is required to move difficult cattle by heeling or
biting, teeth which are sound and strong are very important.
Neck
The neck is extremely strong, muscular, and of medium length broadening
to blend into the body and free from throatiness.
Forequarters
The shoulders are strong, sloping, muscular and well angulated to the
upper arm and should not be too closely set at the point of the withers.
The forelegs have strong, round bone, extending to the feet and should
be straight and parallel when viewed from the front, but the pasterns
should show flexibility with a slight angle to the forearm when viewed
from the side. Although the shoulders are muscular and the bone is
strong, loaded shoulders and heavy fronts will hamper correct movement
and limit working ability.
Body
The length of the body from the point of the breast bone, in a straight
line to the buttocks, is greater than the height at the withers, as 10
is to 9. The topline is level, back strong with ribs well sprung and
carried well back not barrel ribbed. The chest is deep, muscular and
moderately broad with the loins broad, strong and muscular and the
flanks deep. The dog is strongly coupled.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are broad, strong and muscular. The croup is rather
long and sloping, thighs long, broad and well developed, the stifles
well turned and the hocks strong and well let down. When viewed from
behind, the hind legs, from the hocks to the feet, are straight and
placed parallel, neither close nor too wide apart.
Feet
The feet should be round and the toes short, strong, well arched and
held close together. The pads are hard and deep, and the nails must be
short and strong.
Tail
The set on of tail is moderately low, following the contours of the
sloping croup and of length to reach approximately to the hock. At rest
it should hang in a very slight curve. During movement or excitement the
tail may be raised, but under no circumstances should any part of the
tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root. The tail
should carry a good brush.
Gait/Movement
The action is true, free, supple and tireless and the movement of the
shoulders and forelegs is in unison with the powerful thrust of the
hindquarters. The capability of quick and sudden movement is essential.
Soundness is of paramount importance and stiltiness, loaded or slack
shoulders, straight shoulder placement, weakness at elbows, pasterns or
feet, straight stifles, cow or bow hocks, must be regarded as serious
faults. When trotting the feet tend to come closer together at ground
level as speed increases, but when the dog comes to rest he should stand
four square.
Coat
The coat is smooth, a double coat with a short dense undercoat. The
outer-coat is close, each hair straight, hard, and lying flat, so that
it is rain-resisting. Under the body, to behind the legs, the coat is
longer and forms near the thigh a mild form of breeching. On the head
(including the inside of the ears), to the front of the legs and feet,
the hair is short. Along the neck it is longer and thicker. A coat
either too long or too short is a fault. As an average, the hairs on the
body should be from 2.5 to 4 cms (approx. 1-1.5 ins) in length.
Color (Blue)
The color should be blue, blue-mottled or blue speckled with or without
other markings. The permissible markings are black, blue or tan markings
on the head, evenly distributed for preference. The forelegs tan midway
up the legs and extending up the front to breast and throat, with tan on
jaws; the hindquarters tan on inside of hindlegs, and inside of thighs,
showing down the front of the stifles and broadening out to the outside
of the hindlegs from hock to toes. Tan undercoat is permissible on the
body providing it does not show through the blue outer coat. Black
markings on the body are not desirable.
Color (Red Speckle)
The color should be of good even red speckle all over, including the
undercoat, (neither white nor cream), with or without darker red
markings on the head. Even head markings are desirable. Red markings on
the body are permissible but not desirable.
Size
Height:
Dogs 46-51 cms (approx. 18-20 ins) at withers
Bitches 43-48 cms (approx. 17-19 ins) at withers
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in
exact proportion to its degree.If you are
interested in a
Australian Cattle Dog Puppy:
See our
PUPPIES FOR SALE
or use our
FREE PUPPY FINDER program. |
