Australian Cattle Dog
Puppy
Fully Grown
Australian Cattle Dogs are also known as Blue or Red Heelers, depending on their colour. If you're after an intelligent, hard-wired working dog that's compact, speedy and very versatile, the Australian Cattle Dog could be perfect for you.
Their temperament is hard to categorise, as they can be anything from soft and cuddly to very dominant and protective. But some characteristics you can be certain of, like their wariness of strangers, their need for lots of action, and their faithfulness to their owners. They may also seem like they never need to sleep!
Bred for jobs like herding, or moving cattle, this breed needs a job to be happy. And they usually need more exercise than just walking - agility, obedience and any other dog sports are recommended.
Training a Cattle Dog isn't hard, but you need to be confidant and set boundaries from the start. It is therefore not an ideal breed for first-time dog owners.
| Weight: | 18-22 kg |
| Health risk: | Medium |
| Life expectancy: | 12-15 years |
| Coat: | Medium |
| Grooming intensity: | Low |
| Monthly cost (food): | Average |
| Trainability: | Very high |
| Activity level: | Very high |
There are many sources to get your Australian Cattle Dog from. Considering the number of homeless dogs without a future, we strongly encourage you to consider rescuing a dog. Your local shelter or rescue organisation can be a helpful place to start, or try contacting your local or national breed club or a reputable breeder and asking if they have pets available for rehoming. Many rescue organisations have active Facebook pages, which can also be a good place to enquire.
Here are some links that could be useful for finding an Australian Cattle Dog to adopt:
To help your rescued Australian Cattle Dog to settle into your home, our Rescue Dog Guide gives you tips and advice on bringing your rescue dog home.
If you decide you’d prefer to get your Australian Cattle Dog from a breeder, the following guides will help you to find a responsible breeder:
The following organisations will be able to help you find breeders in your state in Australia. They will also be able to connect you with your local breed clubs, which are always a great source of information in regards to finding good breeders and rescue organisations.
