The Australian Cattle Dog and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog were extremely important in the
initial settlement of Australia as a colony. Stemming from a cross between the Australian Dingo and an assortment of British herding dogs, these two breeds were originally developed to muster and drive mobs of cattle from remote unfenced outback areas to the sale yards of Sydney. Whether called the 'Blue Heeler', the 'Queensland Heeler', 'the Australian Heeler' or simply 'Bluey', the Australian Cattle Dog and the Stumpy Tail Cattle dog are an iconic part of Australia's history. Prior to British colonisation of Australia in 1788, there were no domesticated farm animals such as
the sheep and cattle. The original inhabitants, the Aboriginal people, were hunter-gathers that lived off flora and fauna such as kangaroos and other animals indigenous to Australia. Then free settlers were either granted land provided they farmed it for a minimum
of five years, or illegally occupied it as squatters. The only sheep or cattle dogs were brought from Britain. These were probably the early Welsh Grey Herding dogs, the Cur-dog or Smooth Coated bob-tail Collie illustrated. These were no doubt crossed with the Dingo. By 1821 the production of acceptable numbers of cattle provided the type of meat the British were accustomed
to, so more settlers remained in Australia rather than returning to Britain, or were attracted to emigrate here. During the 1820's, huge areas of land were opened up in all directions from Sydney. But without fencing, the cattle were free to roam.
Mobs of cattle had to mustered, sorted and those not retained for breeding had to be driven from isolated homesteads along designated stock routes to the Sydney sale yards. As described in the story of the Dog's Grave in Victoria, this journey may take several weeks. As the herding dogs of Britain proved unsuitable, it became necessary to produce an Australian purpose-bred cattle dog with the ability to cope with not only
hundreds of acres of unfenced wilderness, but also the strange dry terrain, vegetation and most importantly the heat. That is why some Dingo blood proved so useful. The first herding type of British sheepdog to be used for cattle in Australia was the Black Bob-tail or 'Smithfield'. Somewhat like the early Old English Sheepdogs, these dogs like the one pictured still exists in various parts of Australia today, particularly Tasmania. Robert Kaleski described these as 'a black bob-tailed,
big rough-coated, square bodied dog, with a head like a wedge a white frill around the neck and saddle flap ears. He got over the ground like a native bear... but he couldn't stand the heat and long trips'[1].
The development our Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog began with crossing the Smithfield with our native dog, the Australian Dingo. The first crosses were done by a drover named Timmins and were called 'Timmins Heelers' or 'Timmins Red Bobtails'. But these were not very successful[3].
Then on his property north of Sydney, Thomas Hall experimented with crossing English Sheepdogs or Welsh Grey Herding dogs with the tame dingoes the aborigines kept. Not only had the dingoes developed by natural selection over thousands of years to withstand Australia's severe climate, the dingo's instinct to creep up silently behind its prey before biting, proved useful when mustering mobs of cattle. The Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog become Pure Breeds
By 1835 'Halls Heelers' had been developed[2]. Late in the 1800's, Kaleski wrote a breed description which was published in 1903 as the first Breed Standard but with no description of the tail. Some people believe further crosses with British breeds like the Bull Terrier and the Dalmatian occurred and certainly there could have also been an infusion of Kelpie blood. After all, the main aim was to produce a dog suitable to work cattle in Australia's harsh conditions. Their success is reflected in today's Australian Cattle Dog.
History of the Stumpy Tail Cattle DogMeanwhile, in the northern region of New South Wales and in Queensland, stock men seemed to prefer the red and the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs and by 1920 Queensland had its own Breed Standard and 4 dogs and 3 bitches were listed in the Queensland Board of Control's Stud Book in 1926. Around 1935 it was written:
Another Breed Standard was written in 1938, stating that even red speckled markings were accepted on the head as were medium sized red spots on the body[7a]. In 1958 when the Australian National Kennel Council was formed, they decided to amend the Breed Standards for all the Australian breeds. Until 1963 there had been a separate Breed Standard for the Australian Cattle Dog and the Stumpy-tail Cattle Dog. At that time the two breeds could occur in the same litter, the breeder registering each pup separately as either a Cattle Dog or a Stumpy Tail.
But in the late 1960's the Queensland Control Council (Kennel Club) put a stop to this and de-registered all Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breeders. One rebel breeder remained, Mrs Iris Heale who could not keep the breed alive single handed. Resurrection of the Stumpy Tail Cattle DogBy 1988, the breed was facing extinction. So, in 1989 the ANKC resurrected the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog with a complicated 'Development Breeding Programme'[2a]. Because there were so few registered male stumpy Tails and possibly no registered bitches, a system was devised to identify various degrees of pure breeding that could be used for future breed development. Each State had a panel of inspectors to grade dogs so they could be placed on the ANKC Development Register. There were 4 grades as follows:
Today, we have registered Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs which, if not working cattle are such versatile dogs, they can compete admirably in modern day disciplines like Obedience and Agility Trials. Colour Change in Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Pups
Both Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are born white with just a small amount of colour on their ears as demonstrated in the picture of the litter of new born Cattle Dog pups, the colour beginning to show through by three weeks.
By three months, the adult colouring is clearly visible. Apart from the length of their tails, these two breeds at first glance may look remarkably similar. After all, they are both around the same size. But when considering their overall build as well as the minor discrepancies in their coat and colour, it is important to realise how the breed type can alter once the gene pool has been split. Hence the comparison below. Comparison between the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
References and Further Reading[1] Robert Kaleski, 'Australian Barkers and Biters' Published by 'The Endeavour Press' 252 George St Sydney NSW Australia 1914 'The Australian Cattle Dog' Page 78 - 81 [2] Noreen L Clarke 'A Dog Called Blue' Published by Writelight Pty Ltd for Noreen L Clarke PO Box 48 Wallacia NSW 2745 Australia Chapter 2 'The Hall's Heeler' page 11 [2a] Ibid., B M Merchant Chapter 11 'The Redevelopment of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog' Page 123 [3] H.D.Caldwell, 'The Courier Mail Dog Book' Published by Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (circa 1935) Page 17 [4] Cheryl Ann Edwards 'Australian Cattle Dogs Old Timers' self published IBSN 0 646 208136 The Australian Cattle Dog by Robert Kaleski Page 10 [5] Michael Pearson & Jane Lennon, 'Pastoral Australia' Fortunes, Failures and Hard Yakka' A Historical Overview Published by CSIRO Publishing 2010 Chapter 1 Genesis 1788 - 1830 Page 4 [6] Eric Rolls 'A Million Wild Acres, 200 years of Man and the Australian Forest' Published by Thomas Nelson (Australia) 1981, Chapter 3 'The Squatters - the Rules Ignored' Page 66 [7] Frances Sefton, 'Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs - They are on the Way Back' Editor 'National Dog Magazine' Page 5 [7a] Ibid.,(continued from Page 3) Page 70 Is the Australian Cattle Dog and stumpy tail cattle dog the same breed?The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not an Australian Cattle Dog with a docked tail. They are naturally bob-tailed breed and stands square with plenty of leg length under the body. There are major structural differences in breed type between the two breeds of Cattle Dogs.
What is the difference between Australian Cattle Dog and cattle dog?Well, there is no difference, except possibly color. Australian Cattle Dogs and Blue Heelers are exactly the same dog. The term Blue Heeler refers to Australian Cattle Dogs that are blue in color. Australian Cattle Dogs that are red in color are called Red Heelers.
Are Heelers and Australian cattle dogs the same?The Australian Cattle Dog was first known as the Australian Heeler, although it is still called the Blue or Queensland Heeler today. Despite what some people may believe, there is no difference in temperament between blue and red Australian Cattle Dogs.
Do Australian cattle dogs have a tail?Tail. The breed standards of the Australian, American and Canadian kennel clubs specify that the Australian Cattle Dog should have a natural, long, un-docked tail. There will often be a solid colour spot at the base of the tail and a white tip.
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