Australian Cattle Dog - a relentless potter from Australia
The Australian Cattle Dog, bred for demanding tasks, is considered an extremely brave and intelligent pet. He is a reliable, loyal and caring companion with a strong sense of duty.
Australian Cattle Dog - a relentless potter from Australia
Australian Cattle Dog - the history of the breed
The breeding of this breed was a real challenge and is the culmination of numerous experiments to create the perfect dog for herding cattle in Australia. The need for a suitable shepherd dog arose in the early XNUMXs when settlers began taking over vast lands west of Sydney. Often these estates consisted of hundreds or even thousands of square kilometers of unfenced land. For the English Shepherd Dogs, which were then used to graze, the high temperatures, uneven terrain and large areas of pasture proved too much of a challenge. Moreover, their tendency to bark loudly (desirable for herding sheep) put wild herds in chaos.
After many genetic tests, it was finally possible to create an ideal breed. The smooth-haired Blue Merle Highland Collies brought from Scotland were crossed with a local wild dingo dog to produce quiet, docile and hardy dogs. As a result of subsequent crosses with imported Dalmatians and black and tan sheepdogs, the first individuals were bred. The Australian Shepherd Dog was either blue or red. Exceptional dedication, diligence and a calm grazing style have made the Australian Cattle Dog very sought after by landowners. At the end of the 1963th century, this dog was widely recognized and standardized in Australia. The current name - Australian Cattle Dog was approved in XNUMX.
Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
According to the FCI classification, Australian Cattle Dog belongs to group I - herding and driving dogs, section 2, driving dogs, without working trial.
Appearance
The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized dog with a harmonious, solid build. He has a muscular body with well-developed fore and hind limbs. The muzzle and jaw are strong in appearance, with prominent cheekbones. The neck is quite massive, the head is large, the ears are constantly erect, the tail is mostly lowered. The official description of the breed states that dogs of this breed reach a height of 51 cm at the withers, female dogs up to 48 cm and weigh up to 20 kg.
The Australian Cattle Dog has a hard, medium-length coat that is water-resistant. The double coat consists of an outer protective layer of fairly short straight hair of medium texture and a short thick undercoat. Only around the thighs is the hair fluffy. Puppies of this breed are born exclusively white with small black spots. Consequently, as the dog grows, it turns blue or reddish in color, with black or brown spots on the head. The undercoat is generally yellow-brown in color.
Character of the Australian Cattle Dog
To fully appreciate the Australian Cattle Dog's remarkable disposition, it is important to remember what the breed was bred for. A sense of the herd, exceptional devotion and trust towards the owner come first. The Australian Cattle Dog quickly becomes attached to the family, is faithful and obedient, ready to perform any task. She cares for and protects her relatives with particular dedication. He is vigilant and wary of strangers.
Owners often emphasize the high intelligence of their pets. It is true that the Australian Shepherd Dog is obedient, learns tricks very quickly and learns new skills. He is open to challenges and works tirelessly to achieve his goals. Therefore, it is perfect as a farm, sports or service dog. In any case, he needs a good dose of activity every day. For this reason, it feels great in a house with a garden, close to a large open space.
Care
The Australian Cattle Dog does not require any particularly time-consuming maintenance. It is enough to brush the hair with a special brush that allows you to remove loose wool or wipe the coat with a wet glove. This procedure should be performed on average once a week and every other day during the moulting period. It is not necessary to bathe your pet frequently, it is best to limit it to situations in which the dog is really dirty. Then it is worth using a special, odorless shampoo (e.g. for children). Regular care treatments include care for the skin around the eyes, teeth and claws, which you only need to trim once a month.
The health of the Australian Cattle Dog
Representatives of this breed pride themselves on excellent health, thanks to the genes of wild ancestors they perfectly adapt to all conditions. Their average lifespan is about 15 years, but there have been cases when animals of this breed lived well beyond their estimated age. However, some individuals may suffer from characteristic genetic disorders: congenital deafness, hip dysplasia, gradually developing blindness, and tooth loss. Fortunately, these diseases can be identified by special genetic analysis.
Interesting and worth knowing
The Australian Cattle Dog is also known as the "shadow dog". He is simply extremely loyal to his owner and does not want to part with him.
Australian Sheepdogs are extremely active physically and mentally. They need constant work, fatigue, to protect them from behavioral problems. Also, keep in mind that biting is part of their natural instinct. Patient, consistent and friendly upbringing significantly reduces these tendencies.
As with other fashionable breeds, Australian Cattle Dogs have become pets, especially popular with villagers. However, they retained their ability to work, and in their homeland they became legendary quadrupeds.
