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Dog Breeds - Australian Cattle Dog

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The Australian Cattle Dog is known by many different names including: Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler, and Australian Heeler. Bred in Australia, the Australian Cattle dog is a mix of the blue speckled collie and the wild Australian dingo with a couple of other breeds added in later. The result of this union is a superior herder with great physical endurance and a strong determination to work. They are often referred to as “Heeler’s”, because they nip at the heels of the livestock they are herding. This breed comes in two recognized AKC colors; blue and red, and is often speckled. It’s high intelligence level paired with it’s hardworking nature causes the Australian Cattle Dog to bore very easily. When bored they often resort to destructive behavior. To avoid behavioural problems, The Australian Shepherd requires a lot of attention and should not be left alone for long periods of time as they crave action and attention.

Australian Cattle Dog Breed Information

Breed Group

Herding Group

Coat

Double coat; outer is smooth, straight and lies flat, inner is dense and short

Colour(s)

Blue and Red

Size

17-20 inches in height

Weight

30-35 lbs

Exercise:

Requires a lot of exercise

Temperament

Hard working, intelligent, protective, brave, dominant

Trainability

Easily trained

Average Lifespan

12-15 years

Common Health Problems

Hip Dysplasia, Deafness, Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Most PetCare Clients Insure Australian Cattle Dogs with:

QuickCare Gold for Dogs

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Kinlay, our two year old Labradoodle, is usually very spirited. He is a boisterous and high-energy fellow, who needs lots of gentle reminders to refrain from surfing the kitchen countertop and stealing socks! One day, he didn’t seem himself. He was very quiet and wanted to go outside constantly. We could tell that this unusual behavior was a clue that something was wrong. We took Kinlay to our veterinarian and a test confirmed Kinlay had a urinary tract infection. We were given antibiotics and we dropped our claim in the mailbox that afternoon. PetCare returned our claim with a cheque within one week! When I called to thank PetCare the customer service representative was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in Kinlay’s recovery. It was such a pleasure dealing with PetCare’s courteous and professional staff! We never expected a young dog like Kinlay to fall ill, but when he did, we were glad PetCare was there!

Client: Lori Ward    Pet: Kinlay, Labradoodle, 2 years old   Condition: Urinary Tract Infection
Claim Submitted: $158.15    Claim Paid: $108.15