It is known by many names –Australian Heeler, Hall’s Heelers, and Queensland Heeler– and there is some dispute about which breeds were ultimately responsible for its development. The only thing where there’s no room for debate is about where it originated: Australia.
Origins
The Australian Cattle Dog is a newer breed of dog. They are the result of early Australian settlers needing dogs to help them tend their livestock. The dogs they brought with them from the British Isles, Smithfields, weren’t suited to Australia’s terrain, nor were their dispositions entirely suited to herding (they bit too hard and made too much noise).
Using a Smithfield and a Dingo, a man named Timmins made the first attempt to breed a suitable cattle dog. The result was a dog that came to be known as the “Timmins Biter,” one whose bite was so fierce it threatened the lives of calves.
Dingo’s were used in the next try, this time crossed with purebred rough collies. But barking, not a mean bite, proved the problem.
Dingo’s were used once again, this time with Blue Smooth Highland Collies imported by Thomas Hall in 1840. As the saying goes, third time’s a charm.
Getting It Right
Hall’s Heelers weren’t the final incarnation for the breed, though. Brothers Jack and Harry Bagust continued crossing the dogs with other breeds, namely Dalmatians and Black and Tan Kelpies. Their crossings eventually set the standard for the Australian Cattle Dog.
Coming to America
The Australian Cattle Dog’s reputation as a good herder spread quickly and many found themselves imported to ranches and farms in America. In 1968, two Australian Cattle Dog owners, Esther Ekman and Christina Smith-Risk, decided to form a club for the breed, which became the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America. To be eligible for purebred status, the American Kennel Club required all dogs in the club have lineage traceable back to Australian origins. This wasn’t possible in many cases, so many dogs could not be entered into the initial registry.
In 1979, the AKC took charge of the breed registry and in 1980 officially recognized Australian Cattle Dogs as a breed. However, other registries besides the AKC’s also existed, many of which did not institute the AKC’s guideline for requiring traceability to “pure roots.”
Regardless of whether they’re purebred or not, these dogs remain an agile, loyal, hard-working, and flexible breed valued for their intelligence, health, pleasant dispositions, and low-maintenance coats.
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