Australian Cattle Dog Breed Information Guide Gutsy and smart, the Australian Cattle Dog, with its unusual speckled or mottled coat, is a breed with many devotees. The breed originated in the 19th century when collies were crossed with dingoes to create a quiet and willing cattle-herding dog. Australian Cattle Dog History 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…