One of the best things about the Australian stumpy tail cattle dog is that it simply never gets old. Even when it is 8, 9 or 10 years old, it will display a huge amount of energy and willingness to play with its master. When most dogs are “complaining” about arthritis and vision problems, this cute free spirited companion seems to live the best years of its life. This is also an extremely obedient dog, and if you can invest quality time into training, physical exercise and playing, the dog will lead a very happy and healthy life.
The Australian stumpy tail cattle dog is well known for being very loyal to its family. Sometimes, it can get a little suspicious of strangers, but if it is allowed to socialize enough with other people than family, it will not bark at strangers all the time. Since this is a cattle dog, it is used to working a lot, and, if it has nothing to occupy its body and mind with, it will easily get bored. There have been noted quite a few cases where people trying to transform the stumpy tail dog into an apartment pet noticed the dog started developing behavioral problems.
The dog always needs to be taught who the pack leader is; otherwise it will try to dominate everyone in the family. The Australian Stumpy tail cattle dog can reach even 51 cm in height, and can weigh between 15 and 24 kg. As long as they have got a job to do, these pets will be extremely satisfied with their life.
The Australian Stumpy tail cattle dog has a short and dense weather-resistant coat which needs little care. It can be easily groomed using a special grooming bristle brush that you can find in any pet store. Depending on the region, this dog will generally shed maximum two times per year. It is called a “stumpy tail” dog, mainly because, quite frequently, this dog lacks its tail. Even if it has a tail, it is extremely short. This cattle dog generally displays a beautiful body posture with very firm legs.
The coat of the cattle dog can be either speckled blue or speckled red. It should not be mistaken with the regular Australian Cattle dog, which has a tanned color; the two breeds are related, but they each have different treats.
The dogs from this breed are especially good at dog agility trials and herding or tracking events. Don't forget that they need a lot of exercise in order to lead an active life. They make the perfect companions for people living on ranches, for families with older children, or for extremely active singles who would need a loyal companion. They do not require a lot of affection, as they are mostly the independent type of dog, which always knows what it wants.
If you want a hard working and extremely agile companion by your side, the Australian Stumpy tail cattle dog might be the perfect choice!
