Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is the result of crosses between the Dingo and dogs imported mainly from England, probably Collies, Welsh Corgi Pembrokes and the Kelpie. The Australian Cattle Dog has always been selected for herding cattle. In France in 2016, the Australian Cattle Dog is the 20th most popular breed in terms of registration in the French Studbook (LOF) for dogs in group 1 "Sheepdogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss cattle dogs)".

The International Cynological Federation standard describes the Australian Cattle Dog as a loyal dog with protective instinct. Wary of strangers, it nevertheless remains docile. The Australian Cattle Dog, still according to the FCI standard, is intelligent, vigilant, courageous and trustworthy. According to the Central Canine Society, it is a determined, sensitive, confident and trusting dog, playful and very active. Education must be firm without seeking a power struggle.

Its standard size ranges from 43 to 51 cm with a weight of about twenty kilos. Australian Cattle Dogs are herding dogs specialized in cattle. The Australian Cattle Dog is a herding dog of rather small size for a cattle dog, of powerful and muscular appearance but not heavy. The body fits in a rectangle. The front limbs, well straight and parallel, have strong and round bone structure down to the feet. The hind limbs are straight and parallel. The movement is frank, free, supple and easy demonstrating possibility of quick and sudden action. Attached moderately low, the tail hangs forming a very slight curve at rest and is raised horizontally in action. The tail is equipped with a brush of well-abundant hair. It reaches the hock. The head is strong with a skull slightly convex between the ears. The stop is slight and well-defined. The wide muzzle tapers to form a muzzle parallel to the skull line and of medium length. The nose is black. Oval in shape and medium in size, the eye is dark brown in color. Medium to small in size, the erect ears are held slightly to the side. Moderately pointed, they are well spaced at the base. The coat is smooth, double, with short dense undercoat. Varying in length from 2.5 cm to 4 cm, the guard hair is close-lying, well laid on the body, hard, straight and weatherproof. The coat is longer under the body and at the neck, forming a slight breeching at the level of the thighs. The head, front part of the limbs and feet are covered with shorter hair. The coat admits two colors: blue speckled and red ticked. For blue speckled, the coat is blue, marbled blue or blue speckled with or without other black, blue or red markings on the head only. The front limbs, inside of thighs, chest, part of the muzzle and throat are red. For red ticked, the coat is red ticked evenly distributed over the entire body, even the undercoat is ticked. Red markings on the body are admitted but not preferred.