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 The Australian Cattle
Dog
(Updated 6-12-09)
The breed has been known by many official
names: Australian Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Australian Heeler, Red Heeler,
Hall's Heeler and Queensland Heeler. Nicknames include ACD, Aussie, Bluey,
Dingo, or just plain Cattledog. All of these refer to same working and herding
dog from down under.
 According to the breed standard of the
American Kennel Club, the Australian Cattle
Dog should be "a strong, compact, symmetrically built working dog with the
ability and willingness to carry out his allotted task however arduous." The
Heeler is a medium size dog of 17 to 20 inches in height at the withers. A
healthy cattledog should weigh between 35 and 50 pounds. The ACD colors are
either a good red speckle, hence the name Red Heeler, or a blue, blue mottled,
and blue speckled pattern, universally called "Blueys." The Australian Cattle
Dog is always alert, extremely intelligent, and a loyal, trustworthy working
partner.
The Queensland Heeler is a well known export
of Australia. The settlers of Australia in the early nineteenth century brought
their working dogs with them. While excellent herders, they required more
stamina for the harsh conditions of the Australian Outback. There were several
attempts to cross these dogs with the
Dingo, the wild dog indigenous
to the Outback. The result of these early breedings all had their faults. In
1840, Thomas Hall of New South Wales, Australia imported a pair of
Blue
Smooth Highland Collies. The Highland Collie of the 1840s, unlike today,
was described as blue merle dogs similar to either the border collies or
bearded collies of today. Mr. Hall crossed these dogs with the
Dingo. The resulting progeny
were either blue or red speckled and became known as "Hall's Heelers."
 One dog of the pure Hall strain
became well known as being beautifully built and an incredible worker was owned
by Tom Bentley. Known only by the name of "Bentley's Dog," he was used widely
used as a stud to retain the outstanding qualities he possessed. It is said
then that the white blaze on the forehead of all Australian Cattle Dogs is the
"Bentley Mark" and can be attributed to Tom Bentley's dog.
The ACD continued to evolve and included the
infusion of other breeds, most notably the
Black
and Tan Kelpie, the Dalmatian, and a re-infusion
of Dingo. By the twentieth
century the Blue Heeler had found its way to the United States. In the late
1960s, fans of the breed formed the first Australian Cattle Dog Club of America. Their
goal was to move the breed out of the Miscellaneous Group of the
American Kennel Club. The
AKC took over breed registry in 1979 and
fully recognized the Australian Cattle Dog in 1980. Today, the Heeler is a
member of the Herding Group.
Like all herding dogs, the cattledog has a
high energy level and an active mind. They require plenty of exercise and a job
to do. You will find the Queensland Heeler plentiful in farm and ranch country,
but in recent years many are finding their way into homes as the family pet.
Their job here must be activities like walking or jogging their humans, and
participating in dog sports like catching a flying disk, or agility courses. It
is important for the
 cattledog to have a pack
leader and an established family hierarchy. It cannot be emphasized enough:
the Australian Cattle Dog requires discipline, training, and plenty of
exercise.
Cattle Dogs who do not receive the
appropriate exercise and entertainment will invent their own, often
destructive, activities. However, given the master who will give them love,
leadership, and an exhaustive daily workout, the ACD will be the most
loyal, protective, fearless, and loving partner in work or play. Once you
befriend this breed, their will be no other for the rest of your life.
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More History:
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![I [heart] My Heeler](images/acdFeature8.bmp)
