HISTORY

In the 19th century Australian famers realized a problem: the traditional herding dog breeds were not able to work under harsh conditions. The Australian farms covered vast areas of land and the herding of untamed, wild livestock to town was very a very difficult work which needed especially suited dogs. The only solution was to develop and breed dogs that could manage those tasks.

Around 1840’s Thomas Hall crossbred two short-haired blue merle collies with a dingo. These crossbreds proved to be successful in working wild cattle because of their durability and strength. These dogs could go on for thousands of miles in the barren and extreme conditions of Australia. They herded like the dingo; they would creep behind the cattle and nip their heels. These dogs were either blue or red coloured. Thomas Hall kept on developing the breed for the next 30 years. In addition there was some crossbreeding made with a Dalmatian Dog, which is said to have brought a sense of love towards horses to the breed. At the same time the tendency towards a more protective behaviour grew in these dogs. Also some other breeds have been said to have influenced the breed but their proportion to the modern breed of Australian Cattle Dogs is questionable, also in the breed’s home country.

TIMMINS'N BITER
The Timmin’s breeding line is one of the first Cattle Dog lines in Australia. The line was born when a herdsman called Timmins crossbred Smithfield-Dogs with Dingoes. The Smithfield-Dog was a stumpy-tailed, thick coated, drop eared, coloured black with a white marking which started form the head and spread downwards to the front part of the dog. It was a clumsy dog that barked too much and suffered from the heat. After crossbreeding them to Dingoes it became possible to produce more durable and agile dogs that worked quietly and were eager to nip the heels of the cattle.

HALL'S HEELER
In 1840’s Thomas Hall brought two short haired blue merle collies to Hunter Valley, New Shout Wales, Australia. The normal Collies as cattle dogs were satisfying but they barked too much and had the tendency to work in front of the herd. To enhance the herding abilities of the Collies to be more suitable to the unique Australian conditions he crossbred them with a tame Dingo and was able to produce dogs that could work the wild cattle much better because of their durability and strength. These dogs could go on for thousands of miles in the barren and extreme conditions of Australia. They herded like the dingo; they would creep behind the cattle and nip their heels. The dogs were either blue or red in colour. Hall’s Heelers were widely known amongst herders and breeders. In Sydney the breed was awarded the title “There will never be a better cattle dog”. These dogs were bred by Thomas Hall and also a well known family of herders, the Timmins. In Queensland Georg Elliott also tested with crossbreeds of Collies and Dingoes and managed to produce a few excellent cattle dogs. Hall continued the experimental breeding until his death in 1870’s. The dogs were known by the names of Blue Heeler and Queensland Heeler.

The Australian Cattle Dog has been developed from many cattle dogs used in Australia. At some time Dalmatians were also bred into the breed and that brought out the affection towards horses and also the protective traits the Australian Cattle Dog. Also the Bullterrier crossbreeding affected the breed, which is said to have given the breed greater braveness and enhanced pain tolerance.

The aim in breeding the Australian Cattle Dog was to get a brave, durable and a resilient dog that could cope with the harsh conditions of Australia and also a breed that could work the wild, huge herds of cattle. The dog had to be intelligent and controllable. It ought not to bark while herding but should rather creep up quietly behind the cattle and nip its heel. It should cope with the wild cattle without fear and be agile enough to avoid the kicks and horns of the cattle. Also it needed to protect its’ owners’ belongings and property.

Robert Kaleski wrote the first breed standard which was accepted by the Cattle and Sheepdog Club of Australia in 1903. Australian National Kennel Council accepted the breed standard officially in 1863. FCI accepted it 18.11.1985. The Finnish Kennel Club accepted the Finnish translation of the breed standard 8.3.1989.