Australian Cattle Dog Breed Facts and Information

Coat & Grooming: The AKC recognizes five standard coat colors for the Australian Cattle Dog breed standard: blue, blue mottled, blue speckled, red mottled, and red speckled. Standard markings for competition dogs are tan, red, and black & tan. If you find grooming an annoying chore, this is the breed for you. The Australian Cattle Dog is a “wash and wear” dog, requiring very little grooming. A brush-down every once in a while is plenty to keep your Australian Cattle Dog looking their best.

Coat length: Medium

Grooming: Occasional

Shedding: The Australian Cattle Dog is fairly low maintenance when it comes to shedding. It’s easy to maintain their coat outside of the heavy shedding weeks, especially if you invest in a good brush or grooming glove. It’s worth the cost to buy proper tools for the job. During the flying fur season, take some extra time to brush your Australian Cattle Dog to collect the stray hairs before they hit the carpet or the couch.

Training: One of the keys to training success with your Australian Cattle Dog is fun. They love a challenge, and their intelligence is remarkable. Learning tricks and playing games are great ways to build their obedience skills without too much boredom on their end. Australian Cattle Dog can be a big challenge to a novice trainer, but it’s worth the time and energy to nurture them. With proper socialization and early obedience lessons, your Australian Cattle Dog will become a faithful companion you can trust.

Barking: All herding dogs rely on a sharp bark and other calls to move cattle or horses around. Australian Cattle Dogs were specifically bred to be the best possible long-distance drovers in the punishing conditions of the Australian terrain. At home, your Australian Cattle Dog shouldn’t be barking at everything all the time, but you should expect them to use their voice now and again. If your dog is barking all the time, it can be a sign of mental stress or health problems. Australian Cattle Dogs are not meant to be cooped up all day inside, so don’t even try it. If you have your heart set on one and you work long hours, it’s a good idea to pay a dog walker to help with their exercise regime during the workday.

Temperament & Behavior: Australian Cattle Dogs are bold, confident, and independent. They aren’t pack animals, so it can be a struggle to play nice with other dogs. ACDs are used to running their own show, and they aren’t afraid of 2000 lb cattle or anything else in the world. Don’t be fooled by their playful nature – this breed can be cunning and deceptive if they think they can get away with mischief.

Behavior with kids: As with any herding breed, the Australian Cattle Dog may attempt to herd small children and may inadvertently knock little ones over in their excitement. Although they are generally good family-friendly dogs, supervision and care should be taken to supervise unfamiliar children around your Australian Cattle Dog.

Protection: Herders generally make good watchdogs, and the Australian Cattle Dog is no exception. It’s easy to see why they are a favorite of farmers and ranchers in Australia. They are alert, territorial, and keen to protect their family turf. Proper training is key, but the right instruction can turn an Australian Cattle Dog into a stalwart protector.

Life Span: On average, Australian Cattle Dogs live to be about 12-16 years old.

Inherited health issues: Health conditions can occur in any breed and the Australian Cattle Dog is no exception. Many health conditions have a genetic or inherited link, for which responsible breeders work to screen and test breeding animals in an attempt to decrease the incidence of these conditions. Other conditions occur at an increased frequency within the breed. Conditions include but are not limited to: congenital portosystemic shunt, congenital deafness, polioencephalomyelopathy of the Australian Cattle Dog, ceroid lipofuscinosis, cataracts, generalized progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, lens luxation and cystine urolithiasis.

Preventive care: Many of the more common health problems found in the Australian Cattle Dog have a genetic or inherited link. While it is not possible to directly prevent these conditions in your dog, responsible breeders work closely with veterinarians to perform screening tests in breeding animals. This screening can lead to a decreased incidence of these conditions in future generations of Australian Cattle Dogs. Even if your Australian Cattle Dog seems to be happy and healthy at home, this is no reason to skip over routine wellness visits to your veterinarian. Subtle changes may be detectable by your veterinarian that can diagnose and treat problems before they become bigger issues. Sustaining a healthy body weight for your dog is a critical step in maintaining long-term health.

Even though Australian Cattle Dogs are a highly active breed, overfeeding can still lead to overweight or obese dogs, resulting in a host of health problems. Feeding your dog a high quality balanced diet in proper portions is a crucial step in maintaining overall health. Lay off excessive treats or table foods since these can quickly pack on the pounds.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Australian Cattle is 2-3 cups

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Like any heeler, the Australian Cattle Dog is a bit of a biter. Even in playtime, they will often nip and bite to have fun and show off their confidence. It’s important to train them properly to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone around your dog. Communication is key, and it’s up to you to promote the right behavior and discourage bad habits. They aren’t a typical house pet –Australian Cattle Dogs love to nip, chase, dig, and defend their territory from all invaders (especially squirrels). If you aren’t ready to take on the training challenge of Australian Cattle Dogs, there’s no shame in building your skills with an “easier” breed before you dive into life with an Australian Cattle Dog.

Climate: Cold weather, hot weather, and everything in between is no problem for the sturdy and reliable Australian Cattle Dog. It’s easy to see why Australian cattle farmers loved the breed. They are tough, resilient, and eager to work in any condition. Always keep a keen eye on any dog in extreme cold or heat, but rest assured, your Australian Cattle Dog is happy to be outside 99.9% of the time.

Living space: Herding dogs are built for running and working long days in the field. They have a tremendous gas tank and an independent streak. Without enough time and energy spent on regular exercise, your Australian Cattle Dog won’t be its usually happy and healthy self.