History of the Australian Cattle Dog

In the early days of colonization in Australia, the first settlers, having limited availability of labor to control the large herds of cattle that grazed on unfenced properties and rugged bushland, set about to create a breed of dog to assist in mustering and moving wild cattle.

The principal requirement of this breed of dog was that it be strong, possess great stamina, and be able to bite. Initially, the cattlemen used a bob-tailed dog with a heavy coat, black in color, with white markings around the neck extending down the front, and big hanging ears. It had an awkward cumbersome gait, was unable to cope with the heat, and barked too much. This dog was commonly known as the Smithfield.

In 1830, a cattleman by the name of Timmins of the Bathurst area of New South Wales crossed the Smithfield with the native dog , the dingo The progeny were red bob-tailed dogs known as Timmins biters. They were silent workers though very severe heelers. These dogs were the early ancestors of the Stumpy-Tailed Cattle Dog ,which is an entirely separate breed and not just an Australian Cattle Dog with its tail cut off.

In 1840, a landowner by the name of Thomas Hall of Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales imported two smooth-haired blue merle Scotch Collies called at that time by the ignorant people Welsh Heelers. These were considerably better than the common collie, but still had some of the heading traits that were undesirable. Hall crossed the progeny of this pair with the Dingo; the resulting litters became known as Hall's Heelers.

As the Dingo trait is to creep silently from behind and bite, the pups followed this style of heeling and were welcomed by grazier and drover alike for their ability to handle wild cattle, their stamina to travel great distances over all types of terrain, and their endurance in extremes of temperature. The progeny were generally of Dingo type, colour being either red or blue merle. Hall continued his experimental breeding until his death in 1870.

Around this time there were landowners who experimented with the crossing of the Dingo and Collie. George Elliot of Queensland produced some excellent workers, entering into his diary on the 12th of February 1873 that his two month old quarter Dingo worked so silently on cattle, he called her "Munya", which is aboriginal for silent.

In the early 1870's a butcher named Alex Davis proudly displayed the ability of a pair of Hall's Heelers at the cattle saleyards in Sydney. Two brothers, Jack and Harry Bagust of Canterbury in Sydney, were among several cattlemen to purchase pups from Davis. They then set about to improve them. Firstly, they crossed a bitch with a fine imported Dalmatian dog. This cross changed the merle colour to red or blue speckle. As with Dalmatians, the pups are born white, developing their colour gradually from approximately three weeks of age. The main purpose of this cross was to instill in the dogs a love of horses and protectiveness toward master and property. Unfortunately, some of the working ability was lost with this cross, so, after admiring this ability in the Black and Tan Kelpie, the Bagust brothers crossed the Kelpie with their speckled dogs. This produced highly intelligent, controllable workers, built like thick set Dingoes and with peculiar markings known to no other dog. Through selective breeding, these dogs became the forebears of the present day Australian Cattle Dog.

In 1893, Mr. Robert Kaleski took particular interest in this breed, developing and stabilising it, and drawing up a standard of the breed. This standard was endorsed initially by the Cattle and Sheepdog Club of Australia, then the Kennel Club of New South Wales in 1903. Kaleski's standard has been expanded over the years, but the essence of it is still very much a part of the official standard approved and adopted by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1963. Coincidental with the writing of Kaleski's standard, the breed's name became official as the Australian Cattle Dog, commonly known and the Blue Heeler, the Australian Heeler, or the Queensland Blue. From these unique beginnings the Australian Cattle Dog has developed into one of the most popular breeds of dog in Australia today.

The Australian Cattle Dog is a courageous, tough, intelligent working dog with strength and endurance unlike any other dog of its size. They are very athletic, portraying the ability to work more than their fair share when required. Capable of quick and sudden movement, excelling both in the wide open spaces and in close quarters of yards. Renowned for their protectiveness and loyalty to master and property, they are very selective as to who are friend or foe. Curious but suspicious of strangers, and although gentle creatures by nature, they will show aggression if their master, family belongings or property is threatened.

Their devotion is unquestioned, and they will lay down their lives to protect what is theirs. Australian Cattle Dogs are one of the most versatile breeds of dog in existence today. Not only are they one of the greatest working dog breeds, but they also make excellent family pets. They are loving, playful, and willing to please. Even so, it is most important to stress the Australian cattle Dog must be treated with respect; in turn they will give you the same courtesy. In disciplining them they must be treated firmly but gently.