Let's talk Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is one unique dog. Maybe it’s the lengthy and slightly humorous name that describes the breed’s natural stump of a tail (their nickname is “Stumpy”) or their almost blue-colored dappled coat, or even their go-all-day energy. The quintessential herding dog has an innate need to run every day. With bright eyes and pert ears, the breed is a true pleasure to behold. Don’t confuse him with the Australian Cattle Dog though - they are two separate breeds entirely.
Official name: Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Other names: Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Stumpy Tail, Heeler
Origins: Australia
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Warm weather |  |
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Cold weather | |
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Suited to apartment living? |  |
| Barking tendencies | |
Can stay alone?* | |
| Energy Level (high, low, medium)* | High | Family Pet?* | |
| Compatibility with other pets |  |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
All domestic pets are sociable and prefer company. However, they can be taught to cope with solitude from an early age. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or trainer to help you do this.
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 to 12 months |
| Adult age | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age | From 10 years |
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Origins of the breed
For many enthusiasts, the Labrador Retriever remains one of the most popular all-round dogs worldwide. It’s thought that Labrador Retrievers originated from the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, where fishermen used dogs of this appearance to retrieve fish. The breed as we know it today, however, was established by the British in the early 1800’s.
The Labrador Retriever Club was founded in 1916 and the first standard followed soon after, predominantly tailored to working Labrador Retrievers who found early fame, having been originally introduced to the U.K. in the late 1800’s by Col Peter Hawker and the Earl of Malmesbury.
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2 facts about Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs
1. A first from the Land Down Under
Two cattle ranchers in the mid-1800s “invented” the breed by combining the working dogs similar to the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog in their area with imported drover dogs. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was born.
2. They can be born with a tail
An Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog can be born with a slightly longer tail but it’s an anomaly. Breeders of the dog brought about the stumpy tail but occasionally Mother Nature takes her course with a lengthier version. The stumpy tail usually measures no more than 10cm in length.
History of the breed
The remarkable Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog that we know today is thought to have come from two local breeds, the Halls Heelers and Timmons Biters, both bred by cattle ranchers in the mid-1800s in Australia.
The breeders took working dogs similar to the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog in their area, mixed in the Dingo - a wild dog found on the continent - along with imported drovers, meaning those that drive cattle across long distances like Northern English herding dogs. When they found the result too aggressive, breeders brought the Blue Merle Collie or German Collie into the mix, breeds similar to the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. A lot of steps perhaps, but it all adds up to the even temperament and loyal demeanour the breed is known for.
Both the long and stumpy-tail versions of the breed were being shown in dog shows by the latter part of the 19th Century. At the start of World War I, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breeds made up 50% of the cattle dog participants in shows; by the end of wartime, a rapid decline of the breed had started and by the 1960s there was only one breeder registered in all of Australia. By the 1980s, the dog was almost extinct as a registered breed. It was the Australian National Kennel Council who finally stepped in to preserve the breed toward the latter part of the decade.
In the United States, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breed became popular at the beginning of the 21st Century.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Labrador Retrievers
1. Head
Broad, bear-like head forming a blunt triangle
2. Eyes
Dark brown eyes are relatively small with tight black rims
3. Ears
Triangular ears are wide at base and angled forward
4. Body
Well-muscled body, more long than high, with well-sprung ribs
5. Tail
Large, high-set tail is well-furnished and carried over back or flank
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Australian Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog
This is one breed without a weight problem
Running is the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog’s middle name. The breed is always in motion so will burn calories at a very high rate. It’s OK to free-feed them so they can eat when needed; otherwise, feeding your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog a high-energy food twice a day works, and a highly nutritious, whole-grain formula is best. There’s no need to use a specific diet with the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog too. Unlike many dogs, they need not transition from puppy food to adult food.
Deafness has been known to occur
Deafness has been known to occuraGood health for the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a given. As breeds go, their physical problems are not at all monumental but they do carry a gene for deafness. The trait is a possibility - not a given - but there is also a simple way to check for it. As a puppy, owners can give the BAER hearing test - or the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response - to rule out any chance of deafness being on the horizon. The test can be administered from the dog’s earliest age, and any early indications should result. Proper screening from your veterinarian can rule out potential problems before they start.
Training will be a thing
The incredibly smart Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a wonder to watch but a dog that definitely needs a firm hand when it comes to their training.
This is a breed who is most satisfied when pleasing their owner, and willing to carry out any task they’re assigned. A reward-based, repetitive program works best to teach the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog when they are young; doing so means many rewarding adult years to come.
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Caring for your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Unfortunately the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog does shed - a good deal. Their short double coat is easily kept in shape with the daily swipe of a good grooming brush, and twice a week is even better. The breed isn’t suitable if you suffer from allergies. Those toenails need a weekly trimming too since they grow at a fairly rapid rate. Bathing for the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog can be minimal, depending on how much they are a true working dog.
It’s mandatory for the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog to get exercise and have room to run; since they were highly bred for use in droving - or moving large flocks across vast distances - they have a natural inclination for work and activity. If in a suburban setting, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog’s high energy level means daily walks or runs are a must. Long hikes or backpacking trips? All the better.
All about Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a long lifespan and can live from 12 to 15 years. This is a very active, healthy breed that is known to live a lengthy and fruitful life.
A stumpy tail is not no tail, and it’s not due to docking in this case - meaning cutting off the tail to shorten it. It is a tail, just a very short one! Caused by the mutation of a gene, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was born with a stumpy type of tail, a natural occurrence from years of breeding and domestication.
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/