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Origin: Australia
Height: 17-20 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 30-50 pounds
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 12-14
years
Good With Kids: No
Trainability: Moderate
Difficulty
Common Misspellings: The Queensland Healer,
The Queensland Blue Healer, Blue Healer
Alternate Names: The Queensland Heeler, The
Queensland Blue Heeler, Blue Heeler
In 1840, Queensland resident George Elliot
began experimenting with crossing the native
Dingo with Scottish blue merle Collie dogs, in
hopes of breeding a skillful herding dog that
was better-suited to the Australian terrain and
environment. The resulting puppies, called
the Hall's Heelers, quickly gained the notice of
local cattle men and were purchased as working
dogs, where they gained recognition for their
natural herding skills. To date, it is the
Australian Cattle Dog who is given credit for
the booming beef trade in Australia; this unique
and skillful dog providing ranchers the ability
to handle large herds of cattle on open terrain.
Two brothers, Jack and Harry Bagurst, decided
to try and improve upon the breed even further
and, in an attempt to make them more compatible
with horses, introduced the horse-loving
Dalmation to the bloodline. This produced
the desired results, though a great deal of the
original type was lost with the cross.
Determined to maintain the dingo-like body
style, they then crossed the speckled puppies to
the black-and-tan Kelpie, another breed that was
known for his herding abilities and rugged body
style. It would be these two crosses that
would not only create the desired dingo-like
body type, but would also produce the
characteristic black masking and uniquely
speckled coat that the Australian Cattle Dog
possesses today.
The Australian Cattle Dog, not to be confused
with the Australian Shepherd, is a unique breed,
bearing a strong resemblance to their wild
cousins, the Dingo. They are a
hardy-looking breed, ideally suited for life in
the bush and their dark eyes sparkle with a keen
intelligence. The Australian Cattle dog
stands an average of 17-20 inches high at the
shoulder and is a lithely muscular canine with
an average of about 30-50 pounds at adulthood.
The Queensland Heeler, as he is often known
as in his home country, is a uniquely-colored
dog, easily recognized by his prominently masked
face and his coarse coat of mingled speckle and
roaned hairs. They only come in two color
varieties - the blue and the red, though the
blue variety is most common.
The Australian Cattle Dog was bred
specifically as a working breed and, as if he
knew this, it seems that most of these dogs take
their jobs very seriously. Very dedicated
to their work and very athletic, the Australian
Cattle Dog has a keen eye for detail and a
strong tendency to 'work' when they aren't even
on the job. Herding other pets and people
seem to be a natural past-time and it's not
uncommon for a Blue Heeler to start herding the
kids around where he thinks they belong.
While very loyal to his owner, the Australian
Cattle Dog is often very wary of other people
and this wariness can give room to skittishness
or the tendency to nip. Judging strongly
frowns upon this and any show dog of this breed
must display a good even temperament or risk
disqualification. Buying from reputable
and experienced breeders will help to ensure
that you find a dog of quality temperament and
good health. Avoid any animals that show
extreme aggression or timidness.
The Australian Cattle Dog, or Queensland
Heeler, is an athletic dog that was bred
specifically as a working animal. His
temperament is that of a worker and these dogs
tend to have a get-up and go attitude.
Rarely do you find a Blue Heeler that's content
to laze around all day; if anything, you're more
likely to find one that will keep you on the go,
trying to keep up with him.
Because Australian Cattle Dogs are so
athletic and highly intelligent, failing to meet
their exercise needs can result in hyperactivity
and destructive behavior. Resorting to
anything from worrying the cat to destroying
furniture, a bored Cattle Dog is not something
many want to encounter. For this reason,
it's recommended that your Australian Cattle Dog
have access to a large fenced-in yard or
frequent trips to the local dog park.
Daily walks are seldom enough for these canine
athletes, so be forewarned, should you be
interested in such a breed.
With a medium-length coat, the Australian
Cattle Dog requires a weekly or bi-weekly
brushing in order to remove any dead hairs or
dander from his skin, but maintenance of these
beautiful dogs is minimal. Provided they
are fed a quality food and plenty of fresh
water, the Queensland Heeler is a relatively low
shedder and will usually do quite well with a
monthly bath. A good healthy Heeler's coat
will shine and require very little upkeep!
Regular checks of the Heeler's ears should be
made, ensuring there is no buildup of excess
wax, foul-smelling discharge, or redness
present. Care should be made when cleaning
the ears never to put anything down into the ear
canal. A soft Q-tip may be used to clean
dirt from the outer parts of the ear but care
should be taken as many dogs dislike this
tickling sensation.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a highly
intelligent dog, but can also be a very stubborn
individual. Training these dogs can either
be very easy or a definite difficulty, depending
on your individual canine companion and your
personal training methods. Persistence and
patience are two words to keep in mind, when
training a Queensland Blue Heeler.
Obedience courses work very well with these
dogs and individuals who do not have the
opportunity to live in a 'working' environment,
like they were bred for, usually benefit from
classes that will challenge them. When
dealing with an Australian Cattle Dog, bear in
mind that they can be somewhat timid and care
should be taken never to strike or yell at your
dog - doing so will only make him more
uncooperative. Routine and positive
reinforcement will work best when training these
unique dogs.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a relatively
healthy and long-lived breed. With an average
life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, with many
dogs living well beyond that age, the
longest-lived dog (as recorded in the Guinness
Book of World Records) is an Australian Cattle
Dog who reportedly lived to the ripe old age of
29 (in human years)!
No breed of dog, however, is without genetic
defects or health concerns. Fortunately, the
Australian Cattle Dog has relatively few threats
to his general well-being. These include, but
are not limited to:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Deafness
- Juvenile Cataracts
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
The Australian Cattle Dog is a wonderful
canine and cannot be beaten when it comes to the
job he was specifically bred to do.
Capable of driving large herds of cattle over
open terrain, they are quick, athletic and
highly intelligent canines. This does not,
however, mean that the Queensland Heeler is the
perfect dog for everyone.
Bred as a hardy working dog, the Australian
Cattle Dog is ill-suited for apartment style
living, nor does he take well to being a
pampered house pet. He enjoys herding and
being on the go - dogs who are deprived of this
opportunity tend to show their frustrations by
acting out in destructive manners and showing a
strong tendency to be high strung and hyper
active.
If you're considering a Blue Heeler for a
pet, please realize that these unique dogs take
a good amount of one-on-one time and attention
in order to keep them happy. They require
quite a bit of exercise and they have a tendency
to be very wary or skittish around strangers.
While they can make the perfect pet for the
right person, careful thought should be given to
whether or not the Australian Cattle Dog is the
right breed for you.
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Australian Cattle Dog dog breed. We've compiled a
list of Australian Cattle Dog information sites to assist you in
quickly locating quality information about the Australian Cattle Dog
dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more
than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in
general. If you know of an Australian Cattle Dog information site
that offers unique, quality information and photos of the Australian
Cattle Dog breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief
description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our
list below.
Australian Cattle Dogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By
looking at Australian Cattle Dog pictures, you can usually gain more
insight into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and
this can help you decide if you really want to become an Australian
Cattle Dog owner. The following sites below offer pictures of
Australian Cattle Dog dogs, Australian Cattle Dog puppy photos,
funny Australian Cattle Dog photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Australian Cattle Dog is the
right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Australian Cattle Dog breeder from which to buy a
healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there
are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the
first Australian Cattle Dog puppy you find at the cheapest price
available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Australian Cattle Dog
breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional
money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste
from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
Australian Cattle Dog breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Australian Cattle Dog breed and is in it for the love of the breed,
rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Australian
Cattle Dog puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many,
many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca
for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer
clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective
in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Australian Cattle Dog clubs and rescues web sites can help you
learn even more about the Australian Cattle Dog dog breed, help you
locate a responsible Australian Cattle Dog breeder, or help you find
an Australian Cattle Dog dog or puppy in need of a second chance for
a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of
Australian Cattle Dog clubs and Australian Cattle Dog rescues web
sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Australian Cattle Dog puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Australian Cattle Dog. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new
Australian Cattle Dog puppy over the first days or weeks, you should
at least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There
are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some
are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately,
are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in
on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Australian Cattle Dog puppy. These sites offer
inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that
have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the
right name for their new baby!
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