The Australian Cattle dog is an adorable cattle herding medium to large dog breed that has its origins in Australia just as the name states, and it was bred for herding cattle.
The breed is extremely intelligent, active, and very loyal to his owners, that’s why over time the breed became recognized as one of the best family companions.
It’s not suitable for apartment living, therefore if you are a city slicker, you better move on and find one of the best dog breeds for apartment living.
If you are reading this article now then it must mean you are considering buying or adopting this breed and you seek to know all the information there is to know about the dog, well, the good news is you’re exactly where you need to be right now and you will indeed learn all the info there is to know about this breed. This is a complete Australian cattle pet guide, you will learn:
- The history of the Australian Cattle Dog
- The physical appearance of the breed
- Temperaments/ Characteristics of the Cattle dog
- Food Requirements
- Grooming requirements
- Health Concerns
- Lifespan
- And the Fast Facts about this breed
The History of the Australian Cattle Dog
This very intelligent and active dog was bred in the 19th century by the Australian settlers who needed the breed to be herding cattle in their farms.
Later on, the breed was introduced to the United States of America and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1980.
Today, a lot of dog lovers are very fond of this breed because of all his amazing temperaments, one of them bring bold and very loyal.
Many families also prefer the Australian Cattle Dog because he is very gentle and good with little kids.
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The physical appearance of the Australian Cattle Dog
The make Australian cattle dog stands 18 to 20 inches tall while the female stands 17 to 19 inches, the weight for both ranges from 30 to 50 pounds.
The breed has a smooth double coat with a short dense undercoat and a harsh outer coat that is water-resistant.
The coat comes in two colors which are red and blue The body of this breed is strong and muscular, giving the impression of agility and strength.
The dog’s eyes are oval-shaped and medium in size, the ears are of moderate size, usually Small.
Temperaments / Characteristics of the Australian Cattle Dog
The following characteristics of this breed will help you decide if the dog is good for you and your family or if you need to look at other options:
The Australian cattle dog has high energy levels
All working dogs are very active, including the Australian Cattle Dog too, hence this breed will need constant mental and physical activities.
When left alone for long periods, the dog becomes lonely and can be destructive. He will chew your shoes and make a mess all over your house.
So in order to avoid such incidents, the dog must be given proper exercises on daily basis, when tired he is less active and will eventually just rest for hours.
The Australian Cattle Dog is very protective
This dog breed is known for being very protective and will do whatever he can to protect his family. He is very sensitive and not friendly with strangers.
The Australian Cattle Dog is very Affectionate
This dog has the ability to form very strong bonds with his family members, he is very affectionate and will follow you around and always want to be where you are, this is his way of showing affection and care.
The Australian Cattle dog is very good with little kids
He is very good with Children because of his gentle and kind nature, he will play with the kids, and protect them whenever danger approaches. But still the children must be taught how to handle the dog properly and not offend him.
The dog is very smart and can be stubborn at times
The Australian cattle dog is very smart and has is independent minded, he doesn’t like to be controlled all the time and this may be translated as stubbornness.
But Early socialization and training will help this breed to be at it’s best manners. all the Temperaments we have mentioned above are affected by poor training, heredity and the dog not receiving proper training and socialization at the right time.
Food Requirements of the Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian cattle dog must be fed at least two to three times a day, the recommended amount is 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high quality, rich in nutrients dog food.
This breed required a balanced nutritious diet that will balance with his high energy levels. Below we have listed the top 5 recommended dog food for the Australian Terrier:
Taste of the wild Grain-free Dry dog food
This dog breed is made from real buffalo and bison and are the two main sources of protein. The food also contains sweet potatoes and peas to offer the Australian Cattle dog energy that is easily digestive.
This food contains no artificial colors or flavors,no fillers and is gluten and grain-free.
Wellness complete health adult deboned chicken and oatmeal recipe dry dog food
This dog food is a mixture of deboned Chicken for protein and oatmeal for carbohydrates. It also contains sweet potatoes, blueberries and apples responsible for giving the Australian Cattle Dog all the energy he requires.
NomNomNow fresh dog food
This food contains turkey is the main ingredient and is also the main source of proteins.
It also contains carrots for the dog’s eye health, blueberries for antioxidants support and chia seeds that provide extra health benefits.
The food does not contain any artificial additives or fillers, making it one of the best dog food available in the markets today.
American Journey Salmon and sweet potatoes recipe Grain-free dry dog food
This food contains salmon as the main ingredient and primary source of protein. The food helps support the growth of lean muscle mass to keep the Australian cattle dog active and happy.
This good also contains flaxseed responsible for delivering omega fatty acids that promote the dog’s healthy skin and coat.
It is grain-free, gluten-free and contains to fillers or addictives.
Famina Natural and delicious chicken recipe dry dog food
This dog freed is specially formulated developing puppies; it is very rich in proteins and contains no fillers such as soy, wheat or corn. This food will help your dog to grow healthy and strong and also with healthy skin and coat.
Grooming requirements of the Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog doesn’t have too much grooming requirements, brush him at least four times a month in order to keep him looking clean, healthy, and happy.
When it’s the shedding season, make sure you brush him frequently to remove dirt and dead hairs, 2 to 3 times a week would be enough.
It would help if you bathed the Australian Cattle Dog only when he is filthy and smelling bad. Otherwise, frequent bathing is not necessary, once a month, it’s enough.
Always check the dog’s ears if they are clean; if you see redness and smell a bad odor, then it’s a sign that your fig may have an ear infection. It’s advised to always wipe the dog’s ears 2 to 3 times a week with a cotton ball dampened with gentle PH balanced ear cleanser, and it helps to prevent ear infections.
Health Concerns of the Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a very healthy dog breed, but just like any other dog breeds, he is also prone to specific health problems.
Below we have listed the health issues the Australian Cattle dog is likely to suffer from:
Deafness: This health problem inherited, it can be tested when the dog is still a puppy and if the dog is diagnosed with this condition it Shou not crossbreed.
Hip dysplasia: This is also an inherited health problem; it is very painful to the dog and can lead to lameness on one or both rear legs. There is no known cure for this condition.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Thus is a health problem concerning the dog’s eyed, it has to do with the gradual deterioration of the retins. In it’s early stages, the dog will turn night blind and over time the dog will start losing sight during the day too.
The lifespan of the Australian Cattle Dog
When well taken care of and in good health, the Australian Cattle dog will live for 13 to 15 years.
Quick Facts about the Australian Cattle Dog
- The Australian dog breed is a heavy chewer, who loves to chew inappropriately, but it’s his nature. So if you choose to buy this breed, make sure to purchase tough toys and large bones for him to chew or else get ready to have your favorite shoes chewed.
- Naturally, the Australian cattle dog breed is an intelligent dog who loves learning new things and is an incredibly unique type of dog breed.
- The Australian cattle dog is also very energetic, so he will require an experienced owner who can be able to handle and train him well.
