Australian Cattle Dog

Farmers in nineteenth century Australia needed a tough but obedient dog to help round up their cattle over hundreds of miles of fenceless land, where the climate was often harsh. The Australian Cattle Dog came into being as the result of crossing a Dingo, the wild Australian dog, with a Scottish Highland Collie. Dalmatians were also added to increase the dogs' faithful protectiveness and working ability with horses, which the farmers rode on the roundups.

Australian Cattle Dogs are hard workers today on farms throughout the world. They need to run, to chase, to herd, and to play with their owners. They are sometimes suspicious of people and dogs they don't know. They are obedient, but training takes patience because they're also independent.

The Australian Cattle Dog's coat is one of the breed's unique features. It reflects his ancestors' different coats. The breed is born white like a Dalmatian, then develops into either "blue" or "red speckle." Blues are mostly gray with black; reds are red-brown with white hairs sprinkled throughout.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Sturdy, powerful, mus-cular, with great agility and endurance. Ever alert, intelligent, courageous, and trustworthy, with a devotion to duty.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height--males, 18 to 20 inches at withers; females, 17 to 19 inches.

Fun Facts

In Australia there's a type of wild dog that's been there since the Stone Age, the Dingo. The Australian Cattle Dog still resembles his Dingo ancestors. The Dingo became friends with the Aborigine tribes people. Dingos helped the people hunt game, such as kangaroos. They slept curled up with the people at night to keep them warm. A chilly Australian night is called a Three Dog Night, because people needed three dogs to keep them warm on those nights.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.