Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is the result of crosses between the Dingo and dogs imported mainly from England, probably Collies, Welsh Corgis Pembroke and with the Kelpie. The Australian Cattle Dog has always been selected for driving cattle herds. In the 1980s, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, which tended to be assimilated to the Australian Cattle Dog, was recognized as a distinct breed by the Australian Kennel Control Council. A specific breeding program allowed identification and confirmation of purebred dogs without pedigree. The breed has been provisionally recognized by the International Cynological Federation (FCI) since 2005.

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is described by the FCI standard as gifted for cattle herding, faithful, courageous and devoted to its master. It is an alert and obedient dog, but wary with strangers. According to the Australian Kennel Control Council, it is a stubborn dog, sensitive, dominant and confident, playful and very active. Training must be firm without seeking power struggles.

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a medium-sized dog, rather small for a cattle dog, with a powerful and muscular appearance. The stumpy tail is more square and has a lighter structure than the Australian Cattle Dog. The tail, measuring ten centimeters in length, is naturally short. The hindquarters are wide, powerful and muscular. The skull is wide and flat between the ears, narrowing slightly toward the eyes. The stop is slight and distinct. The muzzle is medium in length with a truncated and strong muzzle. The nose is black. The eyes, oval in shape and medium in size, are dark brown in color. Attached high and well-spaced, the ears are moderately small, erect and almost pointed. The coat of coverage is short, straight, dense and medium-rough texture with a short, dense and soft undercoat. Around the neck, the coat forms a slight ruff. It is short on the head, limbs and feet. Two coat colors are admitted: blue and red speckled. The blue coat is unicolor, blue or blue mottled with or without black markings on the body and head. The red speckled displays red speckling uniformly distributed throughout the body, including the undercoat, with or without darker red markings on the head and body.