Breed Priorities – Australian Cattle Dog

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266 – The Annual, 2024-25

By Nikki Riggsbee

Australian Cattle Dogs were developed in the 1800s in Australia to work large herds of cattle over large unfenced areas. It began with Dingos crossed with blue merle Collies. A Dalmatian was added which produced the different colors. Next included was the Black and Tan Kelpie. The Cattle Dog’s colors of blue and red speckle are not found on other breeds. The blue dogs were called Blue Heelers. The breed was later called the Australian Heeler and still later the current name Australian Cattle Dog. The original standard was based on the Dingo.

Eight AKC breeder-judges for this breed were found. Adding ten parent club breed mentors produced a list of eighteen experts to invite to complete a survey on their breed’s priorities. Five of the breeder-judges and two breed mentors responded, resulting in seven surveys.

Such a small number can produce skewed results if the participants disagree. However, these seven experts were quite consistent, especially on the lists of virtues and faults. The breed mentors didn’t respond noticeably differently than the breeder-judges.

The participants have been in the breed nearly thirty years on average. Those who judge have been doing so for an average of fifteen years. The majority of judges have judged their national specialty and almost all have judged breed specialties.

Australian Cattle Dog Virtues

Click here to read the complete article
266 – The Annual, 2024-25

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Posted by AnthonyA on Jan 5 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.