AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Copyright 1991, United Kennel Club, Inc.

History - The breed came into being in Australia. It took many crosses of various breeds to produce this tough, versatile herding dog. Crosses were made with the wild native Dingo, Bull Terrier, Dalmatian, blue merle Collies and the Kelpie. The breed is born white, which is an oddity inherited from the Dalmatian. The breed has been pure since 1893. It is a silent heeler and is able to withstand the heat better than any herding breed. The breed has also been known as the Australian Queensland Heeler and Blue Heeler.

The Australian Cattle Dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1985.

General Appearance - A medium-sized dog weighing from 35 to 45 pounds. Blue speckled, harsh, medium length, dense coat. Erect ears, fox-like face and long tail.

Characteristics - A tough, silent, working, herding dog. They require a firm, but not harsh, hand in training.

Head and Skull - A blunt, wedge-shaped head, in balance with other proportions of the dog and in keeping with its general conformation. Skull is broad and only slightly curved between the ears, flattening a slight but definite stop. Muscular cheeks but not prominent. The foreface is broad and well filled in under the eyes, tapering gradually to a medium-length, deep, powerful muzzle.

Teeth - A full complement of strong, white, regularly spaced teeth, gripping with a scissor-like action. Disqualifications: Undershot or overshot bite.

Eyes - Oval shaped and of medium size, neither prominent nor sunken. Must express alertness and intelligence. Eye color is brown, with a very dark pupil.

Disqualification -  Yellow eyes.

NOSE - Black, regardless of the coat color.

Ears - Should be of moderate size. Preferably smaller than large, broad at the base, muscular, pricked and moderately pointed. Ears set wide apart on the skull, inclined outwards, sensitive in their use and firmly erect. The inside of the ear should be fairly well furnished with hair.

Neck - The neck is of exceptional strength, muscular and of medium length, about one-third the length of the body, broadening to blend into the body, and free from throatiness.

Forelegs - The upper forearm is well angulated to the shoulders. The lower arm should have strong, round bone extending to the feet. They should be perfectly straight when viewed from the front. The pasterns should show no weakness.

Body - The length of the body, from the point of the breastbone to the buttocks, is greater than the height at the withers as 10 to 9. The topline is level, back strong, with ribs well sprung, not barrel chested. The chest is deep, muscular and moderately broad. The loins are broad, deep and muscular with deep flanks; showing strength joining the fore and hindquarters. The croup is slightly sloping, broad, strong and muscular with very little tuck-up.

Hindquarters - The buttocks are rather long and sloping.

Hind Legs - The upper thigh is long, broad and well developed. The lower thigh is long and well muscled. The hocks are strong and well let down. When viewed from the rear, are parallel, neither too close nor too far apart.

Feet - The feet should be round, with short, strong, well-arched toes that are held close together. The pads are hard, deep and strong. Dewclaws are found only on the front legs and may be removed.

Tail - Low set, following the slope of the croup. At rest, it should hang in a slight curve and reach the hock. A gay tail is severely penalized. The tail is never docked. The hair on the tail is furnished sufficiently to form a good brush.

Coat - The weather-resistant outer coat is moderately short, straight and of medium texture, with a short dense undercoat. Behind the withers the coat is longer, forming a mild feathering. The breed should be shown in its natural state. Its coat is never clipped or trimmed.

Color - There are two recognized colors: blue or blue mottled, with or without other markings, and red. With the blue, the permissible markings are black, blue or tan on the head, evenly distributed for preference, the forelegs tan midway up the leg. The hindquarters are tan on the inside of the hind legs and inside the thighs, showing down the front of the stifles and broadening out to outside of the hind legs from the hock to the toes. In the red, the color should be of good, even red speckle all over, including the undercoat, with or without darker red markings on the head. Even head markings are desirable. Solid red or solid black markings on the body are not desirable.

Disqualification - Albinism.

Height and Weight - Males - from 18 to 20 inches. Females - from 17 to 19 inches. Weight from 33 to 50 pounds.

Disqualifications: Males over 20½ inches or under 17½ inches; females over 19½ inches or under 16½ inches are to be disqualified.

Height and Weight - The action is true, free, supple and tireless. The movement, front and rear, should be in unison. Soundness is of paramount importance. Capability of quick, sudden movement is essential.

Disqualifications - Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Overshot or undershot bites. Yellow eyes. Albinism. Males under 17½ or over 20½ inches. Females under 16½ or over 19½ inches.