Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog puppies

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. They stand 43 to 51 centimetres, square in build, blue or red speckled, with a short weather resistant double coat. This is a hard, self reliant working dog with a great deal of stamina, watchful with strangers and very attached to their own people.

Expect a dog of very high energy that needs daily exercise, a secure place to run and work for their 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. They rate 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 them 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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

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.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20.4 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Previous: Australian Shepherd · Next: Australian Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes 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.

Photo: Wendy Hodges, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.