How Good is an Australian Cattle Dog for You?

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The Australian Cattle Dog goes by many names – Queensland Heeler, Red Heeler, and Blue Heeler. If you are keen on adding this canine to your family, you need to if it is a good fit for your lifestyle. Every breed comes with a unique set of characteristics, which plays a crucial role in how they behave in your household and outdoors.

Health

Due to the hardy nature of Australian Cattle Dogs, they have a long lifespan, when compared to other breeds. Expect them to be with you for around 13 – 17 years, with great care and high-quality food.

Maintenance

They have a dense, weather-resistant, and short coat on their bodies. Due to this reason, you don’t need to groom the Australian Cattle Dog every day. Brushing its coat once or twice every week will be sufficient. If you get a female, keep in mind that they shed their fur in seasonal cycles. On the other hand, males will only shed their coats, once or twice a year. During this period, frequent brushing will help deal with the excess amounts of fur.

Traits of Australian Cattle Dogs

As the name suggests, people used these canines to handle cattle in the wild. They were also responsible for protecting livestock from other animals. As a result, they are known to be intelligent and energetic by nature. Combined with the fact that they used to spend most of their lives outdoors, they need large volumes of exercise regularly.

At the same time, they are extremely agile and obedient, making them easy to train with a couple of sessions. They are great companions and love being around their owners. However, due to this characteristic, you need to give them ample amounts of attention. If you are not attentive to their needs, they will experience boredom. When coupled with the lack of exercise, they tend to become destructive.

If you live in an apartment, you need to make sure these breeds of dogs have plenty of space to run and expand their immense amounts of energy. As people trained them to take care of cattle, they are extremely alert. They remain protective of you and your possessions.

Again, as they needed to herd cattle, they are known to be nippy, especially when people run past them quickly. Fortunately, you can ensure this never happens with sufficient amounts of training.

Should you get the Australian Cattle Dog?

If you know for sure that you have the time and space to take care of this breed, then go for it. You can take them along for long hikes, as they love spending time outdoors. Also, you need to establish the fact that you are a strong leader, to prevent behavioral issues from cropping up.

If you think you are ready to get an Australian Cattle Dog, get in touch with an adoption center today!