Australian Cattle Dog Temperament
The Australian Cattle Dog temperament is similar to that of most working and herding dogs, especially with the Border Collie, in that they are enthusiastic, have high energy levels and very active minds. Not only very healthy and robust, this breed of dog is known for its intelligence and is ranked among the top 10 breeds for obedience command trainability.
Cattle dogs in general need companionship, plenty of exercise and a job to perform. Like most other working breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog has been bred to cover vast distances in all types of weather and terrain conditions. Hence, they constantly need physical exercise – daily and routinely. As opposed to the majority of the herding breeds that have slowly and gradually been bred into companion dogs, the Blue Heeler is considered more of a traditional working dog.
Therefore, non-working Australian Cattle Dogs require participation in other forms of activity. This isn’t a breed that you can ignore or take for a casual stroll around the block every other day. You will need to add activities such as learning tricks or dog sports to keep their mind and body engaged. So, discovering something to do every day is very important. It doesn’t need to be herding, but it should be something that provides the dog with a mental challenge. Though it is not without its fair share of health problems, they appear to be remain very healthy and fit when provided with these two forms adequate exercise and stimulation.
A large number of Australian Cattle Dogs make exceptional tournament level obedience dogs based on their exceptional ability to learn and respond accordingly to training. Additionally, they excel at agility type events like Flydog and Frisbee contests. The biggest concern here with these types of social gatherings is with individual dominance and aggression issues that the other breeds bring to the competition. They can become a huge problem with these types of events where canines of all varieties and temperaments are assembled collectively. Routine socialization and high levels of obedience training combined with the other events can create a very well adjusted, all-round Australian Cattle Dog.
If you are wanting a Blue Heeler as a non-working pet, it is recommended that you consider a show line or lineage that isn’t as inclined to the natural, independent Australian Cattle Dog temperament found in the traditional working stock dogs.
Don’t assume that all Blue Heelers will be good in every type of home environment. This is one breed that you really should not consider in the event you reside in an apartment or small living quarters. In addition to their high levels of energy, the lack of a suitable exercise area in these kinds of conditions will be terrible for this breed and may eventually translate into destructive conduct, aggression or even some forms of separation anxiety. If you are located in a more suburban location, the necessity of a moderate sized yard and secure fence will be required should you leave your Blue Heeler alone outside when everyone is away. They are incredibly athletic animals and can eventually dig, climb or jump their way out of many types of inadequate enclosures and fencing.
The main concern with the Australian Cattle Dog temperament is their direct association to the ancestry of Australia’s wild Dingo as well as the natural intelligence they possess. They are much more independent than most other herding breeds, in regards to the German Shepherd, Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd. These 3 breeds are practically a true working and companion combination breed, whereas the Blue Heeler leans much more towards the sole working dog disposition. They are not demanding dogs when it comes to needing extra or special attention from their owners. This may appear as an unfriendly characteristic, but it is really just a matter of focus and genuine self-confidence.
When on their home territory, Australian Cattle Dogs are playful, loving and happy pets. On the other hand, they can be quite reserved when it comes to unknown people and are naturally cautious in new environments and situations. Their disposition toward strangers makes them excellent watch dogs when trained for this type of job. However, Blue Heelers that become household pets can be socialized from a young age to become accustomed to a variety of people and surroundings.
This early socialization is vital because Australian Cattle Dogs do become more aggressive and protective as they grow older. The people within the household will need to consistently and firmly work with the dog allowing it to learn to be controlled by all members of the family. If this does not materialize the Blue Heeler may strongly bond with only one individual in the household and merely disregard all the others. They can be terrific with children, provided that they are introduced to them at an early age. If children are present in the family, it is important that they are equally engaged in the training. If not, he will quickly discover who he can manipulate and not pay attention to. Parents working with the new puppy and children should quickly encourage the children to establish that they are also alpha leaders in a firm and positive way. After this has been established, the Australian Cattle Dog will become a fantastic dog for an older child – very intelligent and highly responsive.
As a rule, they are usually better with more mature and considerate children since Blue Heelers are known to herd and nip at the heels of smaller kids who run and yell. This is a natural herding instinct that is bred into them but should not be viewed as an absolute negative when considering an Australian Cattle Dog for a household pet.
Upon weaning, they should have learned that the company of humans is enjoyable and rewarding when responding favorably to cues and commands. The relationship that this breed of dog develops with its master can be quite strong. These close bonds typically result in the dogs becoming extremely loyal and very protective of their owners and are rarely seen not far from their side. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as “Velcro dogs”.
Australian Cattle Dogs interact well with familiar dogs, although when establishing a multi-dog pecking order in the home, some scuffles are likely to occur between the dogs during this positioning process. If additional dogs or other pets are present in the home, extra care and attention may be needed to help manage its dominant and territorial tendencies. Any aggression in Australian Cattle Dogs will almost certainly be directed towards other individuals rather than their owners or other dogs. But, if a Blue Heeler is put in to a situation where it feels confronted, challenged or endangered, it most often will react with some form of aggression towards the other dog. This is true for both species, however neutered and spayed Blue Heelers seem to exhibit much less dog aggression.
In general, an Australian Cattle Dog will get along and adapt well if raised with other animals, provided any other dogs don’t challenge its alpha position. Some level of aggression is likely in order to protect its position in the pack. The most common displays of aggression are growling and the showing of teeth.
Despite the fact that Australian Cattle Dogs generally will work in silent, they will certainly bark to attract attention or to warn of danger. Their intensive, high-pitched bark can sometimes be extremely uncomfortable to listen to. Their barking could also be an indication of frustration or signs of boredom. In addition, research implies that Blue Heelers raised in noisy environments will increase their vocalization to adapt to the higher noise levels. The most proactive way to reduce barking and prevent a problem from developing is to keep him busy – both physically and mentally.
Australian Cattle Dogs can be encouraged to channel their desire to herd and nip by providing them with toys or objects that they can chew on or carry in their mouths. The object should be very sturdy and robust since they are considered to be “mouthy” dogs. They typically use their mouth to occupy themselves and attract attention. It is equally important to try to keep any puppy chewing to a minimal in order to protect any valuables from becoming innocently destroyed by mistake.
This is another major issue of concern with the breed. Their natural nipping and heeling traits are something that eventually may surface, even for such lines not essentially bred as a working dog. Usually this is the one reason why the majority of Blue Heelers are sent to shelters or animal rescues after they’ve bitten an adult or child. Most times the dogs were just merely doing what they thought was right or just got carried away or excited when playing. By carrying a stick or toy when they are greeting someone is the best way to teach the Australian Cattle Dog not to heel or nip people and prevent this natural tendency from becoming a problem.
The Australian Cattle Dog is an impressive and remarkable breed. They have greatly influenced the working dog category – primarily the herding group. Even though they are a terrific dog, because of their inherent traits and temperament, they may not be ideal for everyone.
If you are new to the herding breeds or perhaps looking for your first dog, be sure to invest some time learning about the breed and try to spend a little time with someone that has a Blue Heeler. This will greatly help you in the decision of whether the Australian Cattle Dog temperament will be compatible for you and your family.
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