The Australian Cattle Dog reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle Dog
Alternative names
Australian Heeler Blue Heeler Hall's Heeler Queensland Heeler
Country of origin
Australia
Common nicknames
Bluey
Classification
FCI: Group 1 Section 2 AKC: Herding ANKC: Group 5 (Working Dogs) CKC: Group 7 - Herding Dogs KC(UK): Pastoral NZKC: Working
Breed standards (external links)
FCI - see ANKC, AKC, ANKC, KC(UK), NZKC

The Australian Cattle Dog, also known as the Queensland Heeler or Blue Heeler, is a herding dog developed in Australia for handling cattle.

It is a medium-sized dog with a lot of energy and an independent streak.

Table of contents

1 Appearance 2 Australian cattle dogs in movies 3 Personality

Appearance

The Cattle Dog's coat comes in a variety of markings, sometimes quite striking. The basic coat colors are blue and red speckle. The random distribution of color and patterns, especially on the face, can sometimes be jarring to people less familiar with combination coat colors, occasionally winning the "ugliest dog" title for certain individuals, although many people like the fact that their dog's markings are distinctive from any other dog's, even in the same breed. For dog owners whose interest is primarily in their qualification for dog shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings, and large solid-color marks on the body are undesireable. For owners who are more interested in their dogs' performance in activities such as herding or dog sports, the breed's strong work ethic and intelligence are of more importance than the exact coat markings.

Australian cattle dogs in movies

Dog in (1981)

Personality

Like many herding dogs, Cattle Dogs have high energy levels and active minds. They need plenty of exercise and a job to do, such as participating in dog sports, learning tricks and practicing them daily, or other activities that engage their minds. Cattle Dogs who do not receive the appropriate exercise and entertainment will invent their own, often destructive, activities.

Cattle Dogs drive cattle by nipping at their heels. When around people, their instinct to herd is sometimes hard to suppress and they can nip at people to herd them. If these dogs will be around children, they and their owners must have sufficient training to know how to manage or avoid such situations.

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