👉 Coming up with a pet name can be fun but tricky. Search no further! According to PetScreening’s 2024 database, the majority of our users name their male Australian Cattle Dogs Blue; Bandit is the 2nd most popular male name. Meanwhile, most of our users with female Australian Cattle Dogs love Luna, then Bella.
The Australian Cattle Dog, known familiarly as the “ACD”, is a breed of dog known for its intelligence, loyalty, and strong work ethic. They have an even temperament that is friendly yet alert, making them well-suited as family pets. Despite their herding instincts, ACDs are highly trainable and very obedient with consistent training and handling.
ACDs are playful and energetic, but their exercise needs must be met in order to prevent behavioral issues from developing. They are generally good with children as long as they are supervised and taught the proper boundaries when playing with them. With other pets or animals, the Australian cattle dog can usually adjust when properly introduced.
When it comes to strangers or visitors in their home, these dogs will likely show some wariness until they get a chance to sniff out who they are dealing with. While they do not become aggressive easily, they may bark as a warning if they sense a threat or something unfamiliar in their environment. With patience, respect and understanding of their protective nature, this breed makes a great companion.
The Australian Cattle Dog (also called the Blue or Red Heeler) is a medium-sized breed of dog with a broad skull and strong, muscular limbs. They have dense double coats in various colors, including red, blue, tan, black, blue-gray, and fawn. The Red Heeler is reddish-brown on the forehead and top of the head with an even blend of black hair over the body. The Blue Heeler is a slate grey color along with small white markings.
Heelers are a hardy breed prone to few health major health issues. But there are several common congenital conditions to be on the lookout for, including:
In addition to the three conditions above, ACDs can also suffer from a variety of non-breed-specific disorders such as a blood vessel irregularity called von Willebrand disease (Trusted Source) and cataracts. Regular veterinarian visits can monitor for the symptoms and help keep your pup healthier longer.
If you’re concerned about the cost of any potential illnesses, health insurance may be a way to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. You’ll reap greater rewards the sooner you sign up. You could also look into cost-saving alternatives such as pet savings accounts.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a unique and versatile breed of dog that was initially developed in Australia. The origins of this breed trace back to the early 1800s when Anglo-Australians made their way from coastal settlements inland to the grasslands that would become cattle farms. A descendant of the British Smithfield, the Scottish Highland Collie, and the native dingo, early heelers were bred in trial-and-error fashion by Australian settlers until they were able to adapt to the harsh terrain and climate of the Outback.
The first recognizable ACD was a product of dingoes and Collies, bred by George Elliot of Queensland. But the heeler we know today came about when the Bagust brothers bred Dalmatians with Elliot’s Australian cattle dogs. It was this mix that produced the traits that made them uniquely suited for herding cattle and sheep on large farms and ranches.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a hardy breed, with a strong working instinct and incredible stamina. They have an uncanny ability to anticipate their owner’s commands, as well as an ability to be very dutiful when it comes to protecting livestock. The ACD coat is usually black or blue speckled (hence the name “blue heeler”) with white or tan markings. They have a muscular body with large pointed ears and intelligent eyes that seem almost human-like at times.
One of the strengths of this breed is their intelligence. ACDs often can sense danger from far away and react quickly if needed. This trait makes them a great choice for search and rescue operations, as well as for guard duty on farms or ranches. Australian cattle dogs are also known for being loyal companions who form very close bonds with their owners, making them ideal family pets as well as fantastic workers in rural areas.
The American Kennel Club officially recognized the Australian Cattle Dog in 1980. After a brief time as part of the Miscellaneous class, ACDs are now shown in the Herding Group.
When it comes to caring for a new puppy – no matter the breed – early vet care is key. You’ll want to make your first trip to the vet and schedule your dog’s vaccinations within the first week of bringing your ACD home.
It’s also a good idea to explore information on puppy-proofing your home, teething, and pet safety items such as IDs and tags from a company like FidoAlert. Here are some other basics specific to ACDs.
This breed requires plenty of exercise—both physical activity like running or working on a farm and mental stimulation like playing fetch or obstacle courses—to stay healthy and happy. Australian Cattle Dogs also excel in agility competitions due to their balance and coordination, making them ideal partners for many outdoor activities.
You’ll find that Australian Cattle Dogs do best living in a home with a yard and lots of room to run and play. If you don’t have access to a large outdoor area, you may want to look into obedience or agility activities you can get into with your heeler.
Bred as working dogs, ACDs have a smooth, double-layer, weather-resistant coat. In general, you won’t notice an odor or oily residue with the ACD coat. With the exception of shedding season where more thorough brushing is necessary to remove the dead hair, heelers only need brushed once a week. An occasional bath can also help reduce shedding.
ACDs’ pointed ears can trap dirt, so their ears should be cleaned regularly. Daily exercise should keep their nails to a manageable length, but check to make sure you don’t need to trim them.
While ACDs don’t have any specific nutritional requirements, they are an extremely active breed so proper nutrition is important to keep them at their best. Most commercially available foods that are age appropriate and high quality will satisfy your heeler. It’s tempting to share food with your pup, but some human food is not safe for dogs to consume.
Consult your vet for proper food portioning, but in general, ACDs eat around three cups of food per day. Working heelers may require slightly more food, or food with a higher-protein value.
Heelers are an intelligent and very trainable breed, which makes them a great choice for those looking for an obedient companion. These dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods, as they tend to be highly motivated by food or attention. They are also incredibly intuitive, so consistency is key when teaching them new behaviors — if the same rules apply each time, your pup will pick up on them quickly.
When it comes to specific tactics or strategies that work particularly well with this breed, there are several approaches you can take.
Not quite sure that an Australian cattle dog is right for you? Even if you are, it’s worth taking the time to research and consider other similar breeds. Here are a few to get you started:
Australian Cattle Dogs are well suited for working life. Their strong herding instinct makes them natural livestock keepers. But their intelligence can get them into trouble if they’re left idle. Train them to work alongside you, on the farm or around the house. The point is to keep them engaged in activities so they don’t become bored.
Heelers don’t startle easily, so barking is kept to a minimum. Most only bark when they need to alert their owner to something going on that is out of the ordinary.
An ACD’s double-layer coat sheds minimally. Brush them weekly and give them an occasional bath to loosen shed hairs from the coat. Don’t over bathe them though: their coat’s natural oils are what keep them protected against the elements. During shedding season, you may need to brush more frequently.
Australian cattle dogs’ herding tendencies can be troublesome around smaller children (and animals), but like with many breeds in the herding, working, or terrier groups, socialization from an early age may quell this behavior.
With Collie, Dalmatian, and dingo heritage, this is an extremely energetic breed. Since the 19th century, ACDs have been bred to work and they are very talented herding dogs. Be prepared – at the least – to take your pup for brisk daily walks. Heelers are happiest, however, when they have regular work to do.
