Dog Breeds - Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Breed Attributes & Qualities

CARING WITH FAMILY + Independent Lovey-Dovey
The level of warmth and affection a breed exhibits towards its family members and close acquaintances can vary significantly. Certain breeds may appear distant with everyone except their owners whereas other breeds embrace everyone they come to know as their closest companion.
LOVE WITH CHILDREN + Unwise Good With Children
The degree of tolerance and patience a breed possesses towards children's behavior, as well as their overall family-friendly nature, can vary greatly. It is crucial to supervise dogs around young children or children who have limited exposure to dogs of any age.
BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS + Unwise Good With Other Dogs
The general friendliness of a breed towards other dogs can vary. While it is important to always supervise interactions and introductions between dogs, some breeds have a natural inclination to get along with other dogs both in home and public settings.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT No Shedding Hair Everywhere +
The amount of fur and hair that a breed typically sheds can vary. Breeds that shed heavily will require more frequent brushing to manage their shedding may potentially trigger certain types of allergies, and may necessitate more regular vacuuming and lint-rolling to keep the environment clean.
COAT GROOMING STANDARDS Monthly Daily +
The frequency of bathing, brushing, trimming and other coat maintenance tasks can differ for each breed. It is important to consider your time, level of patience and budget for grooming when choosing a breed. All breeds require regular nail trimming for proper care and maintenance
DROOLING INTENSITY Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel +
The tendency of a breed to drool can vary. If you value cleanliness and neatness, breeds that tend to produce excessive drool leaving ropes of slobber on your arm or creating large wet spots on your clothes may not be the most suitable choice for you.
COAT TYPE +
Double
COAT LENGTH +
Short

FRIENDLINESS Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend +
The level of welcoming behavior a breed exhibits towards strangers can vary. Certain breeds may be reserved or cautious around all strangers regardless of the location, while other breeds might be more eager to meet and interact with new humans whenever they are around.
LIVELINESS Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop +
The level of enthusiasm for play in a breed can vary. Some breeds will continue to enjoy and actively participate in games like tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years. They will maintain a playful nature throughout their lives. On the other hand, there are breeds that may prefer to relax on the couch most of the time and may not exhibit the same level of enthusiasm for play, even past the age of puppyhood.
VIGILANCE INTENSITY What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant +
Some breeds have a higher tendency to alert their owners when strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to potential threats such as the presence of a mailman or a squirrel outside the window. However, they can still warm up to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
ADAPTATION CAPACITY Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable +
The adaptability of a breed to handle changes in various aspects of life can differ. Some breeds are more resilient and easily adjust to changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life. They tend to be more flexible and can adapt well to different situations. However, there are breeds that may be more sensitive or have a harder time adjusting to changes, requiring more time and patience during transitions.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL Self-Willed Eager to Please +
The ease of training and willingness to learn new things can vary among different breeds. Some breeds are known for their trainability and eagerness to please their owners. They tend to be more responsive and cooperative during training sessions making it easier to teach them new commands and behaviors. On the other hand there are breeds that may be more independent and have a strong will of their own. They might require more patience, consistency, and creative training approaches to keep them engaged and motivated.
STAMINA LEVEL Couch Potato High Energy +
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation needed for a breed can vary. High-energy breeds tend to be ready for action and eagerly seek their next adventure. They require ample opportunities for running ,jumping, playing, and engaging in physical activities throughout the day to help channel their energy. On the other hand, low-energy breeds are generally more relaxed and content with leisurely activities. They are often happy to lounge around, snooze, and have a calmer disposition. It is important to consider the exercise and mental stimulation needs of a breed when choosing a dog that aligns with your lifestyle and ability to provide the necessary activities.
VOCALIZATION Only To Alert Very Vocal +
The frequency of vocalization including barks or howls can vary among breeds. Some breeds are more prone to barking and may vocalize frequently, even at minor stimuli such as passers-by or birds outside the window. On the other hand, there are breeds that only bark in specific situations or when necessary. It's also important to note that even bark-less breeds can still be vocal in other ways, using different sounds to express themselves such as whining growling or making other unique vocalizations.
LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL Loaf Needs an Activity +
The amount of mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy can vary depending on the individual dog and its specific needs. Purpose-bred dogs such as working or sporting breeds often require a higher level of mental engagement and stimulation compared to some other breeds. These dogs have been selectively bred for traits that involve decision-making, problem-solving, concentration and other cognitive abilities.

COLORS

PATTERNS

CARING WITH FAMILY

Independent

Lovey-Dovey

The level of warmth and affection a breed exhibits towards its family members and close acquaintances can vary significantly. Certain breeds may appear distant with everyone except their owners whereas other breeds embrace everyone they come to know as their closest companion.

LOVE WITH CHILDREN

Unwise

Good With Children

The degree of tolerance and patience a breed possesses towards children's behavior, as well as their overall family-friendly nature, can vary greatly. It is crucial to supervise dogs around young children or children who have limited exposure to dogs of any age.

BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS

Unwise

Good With Other Dogs

The general friendliness of a breed towards other dogs can vary. While it is important to always supervise interactions and introductions between dogs, some breeds have a natural inclination to get along with other dogs both in home and public settings.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT

No Shedding

Hair Everywhere

The amount of fur and hair that a breed typically sheds can vary. Breeds that shed heavily will require more frequent brushing to manage their shedding may potentially trigger certain types of allergies, and may necessitate more regular vacuuming and lint-rolling to keep the environment clean.

COAT GROOMING STANDARDS

Monthly

Daily

The frequency of bathing, brushing, trimming and other coat maintenance tasks can differ for each breed. It is important to consider your time, level of patience and budget for grooming when choosing a breed. All breeds require regular nail trimming for proper care and maintenance

DROOLING INTENSITY

Less Likely to Drool

Always Have a Towel

The tendency of a breed to drool can vary. If you value cleanliness and neatness, breeds that tend to produce excessive drool leaving ropes of slobber on your arm or creating large wet spots on your clothes may not be the most suitable choice for you.

COAT STYLES GUIDE

Double

COAT SPECTRUM

Short

FRIENDLINESS

Reserved

Everyone Is My Best Friend

The level of welcoming behavior a breed exhibits towards strangers can vary. Certain breeds may be reserved or cautious around all strangers regardless of the location, while other breeds might be more eager to meet and interact with new humans whenever they are around.

LIVELINESS

Only When You Want To Play

Non-Stop

The level of enthusiasm for play in a breed can vary. Some breeds will continue to enjoy and actively participate in games like tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years. They will maintain a playful nature throughout their lives. On the other hand, there are breeds that may prefer to relax on the couch most of the time and may not exhibit the same level of enthusiasm for play, even past the age of puppyhood.

VIGILANCE INTENSITY

What's Mine Is Yours

Vigilant

Some breeds have a higher tendency to alert their owners when strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to potential threats such as the presence of a mailman or a squirrel outside the window. However, they can still warm up to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

ADAPTATION CAPACITY

Lives For Routine

Highly Adaptable

The adaptability of a breed to handle changes in various aspects of life can differ. Some breeds are more resilient and easily adjust to changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life. They tend to be more flexible and can adapt well to different situations. However, there are breeds that may be more sensitive or have a harder time adjusting to changes, requiring more time and patience during transitions.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL

Self-Willed

Eager to Please

The ease of training and willingness to learn new things can vary among different breeds. Some breeds are known for their trainability and eagerness to please their owners. They tend to be more responsive and cooperative during training sessions making it easier to teach them new commands and behaviors. On the other hand there are breeds that may be more independent and have a strong will of their own. They might require more patience, consistency, and creative training approaches to keep them engaged and motivated.

STAMINA LEVEL

Couch Potato

High Energy

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation needed for a breed can vary. High-energy breeds tend to be ready for action and eagerly seek their next adventure. They require ample opportunities for running ,jumping, playing, and engaging in physical activities throughout the day to help channel their energy. On the other hand, low-energy breeds are generally more relaxed and content with leisurely activities. They are often happy to lounge around, snooze, and have a calmer disposition. It is important to consider the exercise and mental stimulation needs of a breed when choosing a dog that aligns with your lifestyle and ability to provide the necessary activities.

VOCALIZATION

Only To Alert

Very Vocal

Infrequent

LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL

Happy to Lounge

Needs a Job or Activity

The amount of mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy can vary depending on the individual dog and its specific needs. Purpose-bred dogs such as working or sporting breeds often require a higher level of mental engagement and stimulation compared to some other breeds. These dogs have been selectively bred for traits that involve decision-making, problem-solving, concentration and other cognitive abilities.

COLORS

Description	Registration Code
Blue	037
Red	140
Blue Mottled	438
Blue Speckled	439
Red Speckled	440
Red Mottled	455

PATTERNS

Description	Registration Code
Black Markings	002
Red Markings	023

About The Breed

It's important to differentiate between the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and the Australian Cattle Dog, given the distinctive feature of the former having a naturally bobbed tail. Furthermore, this breed stands upright, exhibiting well-proportioned leg length beneath its body, setting it apart from the latter. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog differentiates itself from the Australian Cattle Dog through its inherent bob-tailed trait. Moreover, this breed's well-balanced build with ample leg length underneath establishes a notable contrast with the latter counterpart.

Anticipating the Needs of Your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog: Insights and Tips.

Taking a dog under your wing is no small favor; it's a true commitment. These devoted pets count on us for life's necessities such as food and a safe abode, however, they are entitled to a greater level of care.

Health

	While Stumpy dogs are generally in good health, it is strongly advised to have them undergo screening for various conditions, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Rod Cone Atrophy and deafness which can be detected through BAER testing. Additionally, it is crucial to test all puppies for Primary Lens Luxation. Ensuring the breed's well-being in the long run can be achieved by simply performing a genetic test using a cheek swab to identify potential eye diseases. These swabs can be sent to an approved laboratory for accurate and reliable results.

Grooming

	Grooming requirements for Stumpy dogs are relatively low-maintenance. To keep their coat in good condition it is recommended to brush them weekly using a slicker brush and a small tooth comb. Bathing should only be necessary when the dog becomes dirty. There is no need to remove the facial whiskers. However, it is important to keep their toenails trimmed and blunted as they have a tendency to grow quickly and become sharp. Regular nail trimming is essential for their comfort and safety.

Exercise

	The Stumpy breed requires daily exercise and a secure area to run freely. Engaging them in mind-stimulating activities is also crucial. The breed's exceptional stamina enables them to work with livestock throughout the day even in challenging conditions which aligns with their original purpose. Activities such as hiking, backpacking, and obedience training are essential for promoting a healthy body and stimulating the mind of the dog. Providing these outlets for exercise and mental engagement throughout their lifetime is necessary for their overall well-being.

Training

	The Stumpy breed is highly trainable and responds well to reward-based training methods. They have a natural inclination for problem-solving and often display comical behaviors. Their temperament varies from being friendly towards people to sometimes exhibiting wariness towards strangers. However, they are known to be great with individuals they are familiar with. Stumpies can also serve as effective watch dogs, alerting their owners to the presence of strangers approaching their property. Their cooperative nature makes them amenable to judges' examinations in show rings, displaying good behavior and responsiveness during such evaluations.

Nutrition

	It is recommended to provide high-quality dog food formulated for all life stages for Stumpy dogs. The amount of food required will depend on their daily activity levels. Providing two equally spaced meals throughout the day is generally sufficient. Free feeding can be an option as long as the dog doesn't become overweight. Opting for a high-energy feed that contains non-GMO grains has proven to be effective for these dogs. Transitioning from puppy food to adult food is not necessarily required and can often be avoided. However, it's important to consult with a veterinarian to ensure the dietary needs of the individual dog are met.

Historiography

The development of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog originated in two separate states in Australia during the 1840s. Local working dogs were crossed with imported drover's dogs that potentially carried the natural tailless trait. It is believed that the Stumpy was the first breed to be developed in Australia. Over time, additional breeds were incorporated into the development process eventually leading to the Australian Cattle Dog.

Both the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog share common ancestors, derived from early Halls Heelers and Timmons Biters. The breeding focus was primarily on working ability and stamina. By the 1890s, the Cattle Dog was being exhibited, featuring both long-tailed and stumpy-tailed varieties in early show classes. In some shows, the stumpy-tailed Cattle Dogs accounted for half of the breed's entries by 1917.

Following WWI the Stumpy faced a decline as a benched breed, and by the 1960s, only one registered breeder remained. By the 1980s, the Stumpy as a registered breed was on the verge of extinction. However, a redevelopment program initiated by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1988 successfully preserved the breed in Australia. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was introduced to North America alongside the Australian Cattle Dog after World War II. However, it wasn't until the year 2000 that documented dogs registered with the ANKC were officially introduced to North America.