Breeds / Medium
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog puppies
Hardy, alert and self reliant, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a naturally bobtailed Australian drover with enormous stamina. It is loyal to its own household, wary of strangers, and needs daily work rather than a walk.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Australia
- Adult weight 14.5 to 20.4 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 32 to 45 lb
- Adult height 43 to 51 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short double
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Not recommended
Where these come from:
About the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a separate and older breed from the Australian Cattle Dog, developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances and born with a naturally short tail. It stands 43 to 51 centimetres, square in build, blue or red speckled, with a short weather resistant double coat. It is a hard, self reliant working dog with a great deal of stamina, watchful with strangers and very attached to its own people.
Expect a dog of very high energy that needs daily exercise, a secure place to run and work for its head, with hiking, backpacking and obedience among the options. Grooming is a weekly slicker brush and comb, with nails kept short because they grow fast and sharp. It rates one out of five with other pets, so early socialisation and careful management matter, and three out of five with children under supervision. New owners underestimate the herding drive and the nipping that comes with it.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
- Genetic deafness, detectable by BAER testing, which every puppy should have
- Progressive retinal atrophy and rod cone degeneration, detectable by DNA test from a cheek swab
- Primary lens luxation, detectable by DNA test and by a veterinary eye exam
From Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/australian-stumpy-tail-cattle-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 14.5 to 20.4 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.