Is it an Australian Cattle Dog? Is it an Australian Shepherd? No! It’s an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog! Despite the similar sounding names that may leave you feeling stumped, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is its own unique breed – which you’re going to read all about! In today’s breed profile, you’ll discover everything you need to know about the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog.
One of the Oldest Australian Dog Breeds
Depending on who you ask (and which history books you read), you’ll soon discover that the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was either the very first domesticated dog breed developed in Australia or the second. The general understanding is that the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is the descendent of the iconic Halls Heeler (the result of crossbreeding dingoes and blue-speckled Highland Collies) and was first developed in the 1840s.
One version of the story states that the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, being the first domesticated dog breed in Australia, was bred a few more times with other dog breeds to achieve a longer tail, and the Australian Cattle Dog was created. The other version of the story states that the Australian Cattle Dog came first. Which version of the story do you believe?
Either way, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is one of (if not the) oldest dog breeds in Australia. It used to be a very popular dog breed. Yet, WW1 brought with it a decline in the breed’s popularity, and by the 1960s, it faced extinction with only a single registered breeder in Australia. Thanks to a redevelopment program launched by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1988, the breed has stabilized and is no longer facing extinction. Phew!
Physical Characteristics of an Australian Stumpy Tail Dog
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are medium-sized dogs that are stocky in build and rugged in appearance. Overall, this dog is described as “well-proportioned” and “muscular” in the official breed standard, and that description works well. These characteristics all mean that the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a great contender in dog shows, and they score particularly well in herding, tracking, showmanship, and flyball events.
Male Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs stand between 18 to 20 inches tall (that’s 46 to 51 centimeters), with females measuring in at a slightly shorter 17 to 19 inches tall (that’s 43 to 48 centimeters). Weight-wise, both sexes weigh less than 50 lbs (22 kilograms), with males weighing between 38 and 45 lbs (17 to 20 kilograms) and females tipping the scales at 32 to 35 lbs (14 to 15.8 kilograms.)
Regardless of the sex, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs have broad chests and deep, muscular loins. The ears are pricked and triangular-shaped, and the eyes are oval-shaped, medium-sized, and deep brown in color. And, of course, they have a bobtail.
Why Does This Breed Have a Stumpy Tail?
Now, at this point, the elephant in the room (or article, rather!) cannot be ignored any longer. What is up with the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog’s stumpy tail? Why is it like this, is it painful, and does it bring with it any disadvantages? Let’s find out.
Well, for starters, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is born with its tail like that. It’s completely natural, and the short tail is never docked. When a dog is born tail-less or bob-tailed, it is called an NBT (Natural Bob Tail.) Other NBT breeds include the Braque du Bourbonnais Pointer breed, the Boston Terrier, and the Swedish Valhund.
According to the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Society of the U.S., the reason why Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are born with stump tails is all down to genetics. Simply put, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is born with a genetic mutation called C189G. It is not painful, and it doesn’t have any known disadvantages.
These Dogs Are Active, Loyal, Protective, and Watchful
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs may look unassuming, but they’re surprisingly super tough and fiercely protective of their people and property. They make great guard dogs, so don’t let their medium-size put you off: they’ll defend what’s theirs without hesitation.
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not known for being overly affectionate, and though it is a good dog breed for families with children, it’s better off with older kids. The breed’s general temperament can be summed up as:
- Active
- Alert
- Courageous
- Friendly
- Loyal
- Obedient
- Playful
- Protective
- Watchful
- Very intelligent
It is worth noting that Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are working breeds, so if they aren’t actually put to work, they may display common behavorial problems as a result of boredom. These working dogs also require a lot of physical activity and exercise to be stimulated and healthy.
These Pals Come in Different Colors
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs have short double coats. The official breed standard of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog describes the dog’s outer coat as: “Moderately short, dense, and of medium harsh texture while the undercoat is short, dense, and soft.” This breed’s coat sheds a moderate amount but is overall very easy to maintain and only requires a weekly brush to keep it looking neat.
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog comes in one of two different coat colors, and a variation of either. The official breed standard lays the possible coat color options of an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog out as:
- Blue
- Blue mottled
- Red
- Red speckled
But on top of those colors, and away from the breed standard, it is possible (though VERY rare) for Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs to have coats that are blue-and-tan, chocolate, liver, and a very light shade of red called Apricot. It’s important to note that none of these colorations are accepted by the breed standard and are indicators of inferior genes.
Puppies Are Stark White at Birth
The coat colors mentioned above are only applicable to adult Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs. What about puppies? As it turns out, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are born completely white! This is a fact that Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs share with Dalmatians, English Setters, and their fellow Aussie dog, the Australian Cattle Dog.
They can be born with dark patches and other markings, but other than those instances, they’re pure white at birth. Once they’re one to two weeks old, their true color will start developing – leaving behind their all-white appearance.
By the time the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog reaches three weeks old, they will be settled into their coat colors, and you’ll have a miniature version of what they’re going to look like for the rest of their life. The exact scientific reasoning behind this puzzle of pigmentation is not yet known, but one thing is for certain – by the time the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog becomes a senior dog, they will have streaks of gray giving away their age!
This Australian Breed Lives for 12-15 Years
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog typically lives for 12 to 15 years, which is exactly right for a breed of this size. As a whole, the breed is quite healthy when properly taken care of. In saying that, the older Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is prone to developing a few different genetic disorders.
Like other dogs of this size, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is at risk of developing hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. On top of these very common health issues in medium-sized dogs, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are also more likely to experience deafness and will need to be BAER tested as puppies.
Finally, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are also at risk of experiencing eye issues. The breed is predisposed to Primary Lens Luxation (an inherited eye disorder where the eye’s lens moves from its usual position, causing pain, inflammation, and glaucoma), as well as Rod Cone Dystrophy (a retinal condition where photoreceptors degenerate) and Progress Retinal Atrophy (an inherited eye diseases that leads to blindness in dogs.
Differences Between the Two Aussie Cattle Dog Breeds
And, finally, let’s look at the differences between the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and the Australian Cattle Dog. The two are closely linked and, as a result, are often muddled up with many people erroneously believing that Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are merely Australian Cattle Dogs that have had their tails docked.
Of course, it’s unsurprising to hear that the tail IS the biggest difference between an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and an Australian Cattle Dog. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a short, stumpy tail, while its counterpart has a longer tail.
The second biggest difference between the two dog breeds from Down Under is their length-to-height ratio. While Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are stocky and square (meaning they are as tall as they are long), Australian Cattle Longs are longer than they are tall.
