Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog 

Character 

This intelligent and attentive four-legged friend reliably carries out the tasks its human assigns. It strongly focuses on its handler and needs close contact with them. This people-oriented and active Stumpy is entirely unsuitable for kennel living – just as much as it is for life as a pure house pet. The ASTCD is only content when with its person all day and assigned meaningful tasks.

Ideally, this born herder has an entire herd to manage, giving it the chance to express its strong herding instinct in a species-appropriate way. If this isn’t possible, this active and eager breed must have a suitable and sufficient replacement job, such as in dog sports. 

Wary of Strangers 

While deeply loyal to its person, it tends to be wary and even shy around strangers. It differs significantly from the Australian Cattle Dog, who meets unknown people and situations openly and boldly. The shy and sometimes very timid Stumpy prefers to withdraw. Large crowds and loud noises can deeply frighten this peace-loving and often noise-sensitive dog.

To cope with our sometimes quite hectic everyday life, the Australian Stumpy Tail needs early socialisation. Only with this can it learn to get used to the many people, animals, cars and sounds that it will encounter in its life and confidently face new situations. 

Suitable Only for Experienced Owners 

To ensure successful socialisation and make the Stumpy an open and obedient companion, its owner needs a lot of patience, time and expertise. It goes without saying that this breed isn’t for beginners. Experienced dog owners who understand their dog’s needs and know how to keep their versatile working dog physically and mentally stimulated will find great delight in this robust little canine. Properly socialised and trained, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog becomes an obedient and affectionate partner whose tireless work ethic is infectious. 

Appearance 

It’s clear to anyone that this dog is far from being a “softie.” Its square-built body with short, harsh fur has enough substance and muscle mass to perform demanding tasks reliably and effortlessly, even under difficult conditions. Matching its natural herding instinct, the ASTCD is incredibly athletic and enduring – even if its pacing gait might suggest otherwise.

Medium-Sized Dog with Good Proportions 

With a shoulder height of 46 to 51cm for males and 43 to 48cm for females, the Stumpy Tail belongs to the medium-sized breeds. Its muscular body is always well-proportioned and visible beneath the straight, short fur. Beneath the rough top coat, it has a dense, soft undercoat. The ASTCD comes in the following two colour variations: 

• Blue: solid or blue speckled dogs. Black spots on the body are permitted. 
• Red speckled: evenly red-flecked fur, sometimes with red spots on the body. 

Differences from the Australian Cattle Dog 

The Stumpy doesn’t have the tan markings typical of the Australian Cattle Dog. But that’s not the only difference. The Stumpy’s square and relatively lighter physique, longer, straighter legs and flat croup set it apart. Unlike the ACD, the ASTCD also has a natural stumpy tail that, without docking, reaches a max. length of 10cm, giving it its breed name “Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog” (stumpy tail meaning stumpy tail in English). 

History 

Unlike in Europe, where this breed is still largely unknown, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a fairly long history in its homeland Australia. As early as the 19th century, breeders on the continent aimed to develop a breed that could withstand the harsh demands of the Australian outback and herd the vast, semi-wild cattle herds. The Stumpy is thus the first breed specifically developed for Australian needs. 

“Hall’s Heeler” or “Timmins Biter”? 

However, there remains some disagreement about the exact origins of the ASTCD. Some believe its ancestors stem from the so-called “Hall’s Heeler” – a herding type that traces back to Australian Thomas Simpson Hall’s 1830s efforts to cross northern English herding dogs (Smithfields) with Dingoes. Others see the breed starting with the “Timmins Biters,” descended from cattle driver Timmins, who also crossed a Smithfield bitch with a Dingo in 1830. 

It’s certain that the ASTCD only became the excellent, versatile working dog it is today through the inclusion of a smooth-coated blue-merle Collie, which helped it manage cattle strictly but not too harshly. 

Struggle for Recognition as a Distinct Breed 

For a long time, Australian Cattle Dogs and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs were shown in the same class. It was only in 1927 that they were recognised as two different breeds based on their long or short tails. However, this breeding separation was often ignored in rural areas, and Cattle Dogs with long tails (ACDs) continued to be crossed with Stumpy Tails. The offspring were simply registered according to their tail length. In 1950, recognition of the Stumpy as a distinct breed was revoked. By the early 1980s, there were almost no purebred ASTCDs left, and the breed was placed on the “rare breed list.” 

In 1988, enthusiasts started an ambitious project under the “Australian National Kennel Control” (A.N.K.C.) to save the Stumpy. They used dogs from the Gleniris Kennel in Queensland, the only kennel allowed to continue breeding after de-registration, to rebuild the breed. In 2002, these dogs were officially named “Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog.” Finally, in 2005, the FCI granted the breed the long-awaited recognition, and it has since been listed under Group 1, number 351. 

Breeding in Australia and Canada 

Due to this complex breed history, with recognition in 1927, de-recognition in 1950 and final recognition in 2005, official breeders exist only in Australia and Canada. The Silverpark Kennel in Canada has established breeding with excellently tested Australian dogs. In Europe, however, there are no FCI-registered breeders yet. To obtain a purebred and healthy puppy with FCI papers, enthusiasts must make a long journey. 

Is the Stumpy the Right Dog for You? 

If you are one of the few considering buying a genuine Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog despite these obstacles, you should ask yourself whether you can provide this demanding dog from the Australian outback with a suitable and fulfilling life. City life, with its noise and lack of proper tasks for a dog, is certainly not ideal for this easily startled, noise-sensitive and sometimes shy working dog. The ASTCD belongs in the hands of a cattle driver or an experienced dog owner who has the commitment, knowledge and creativity to socialise, train and appropriately engage it.

Health 

As an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog owner, you don’t need extensive knowledge about illnesses, as this robust working dog, still relatively uncommon, is not prone to many hereditary diseases. However, congenital sensorineural deafness and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) have been documented in this breed. Also known is the risk of open spine at birth, which is common in dogs with a natural stumpy tail. 

Nutrition 

As an indefatigable herding and driving dog accustomed to working hard and long, the Stumpy needs an energy-rich diet that provides all essential nutrients in the right balance. The exact nutrients and their ratios depend on various factors, including age, weight, activity level and health. For example, puppies still growing need different food than adult dogs, and more sedate older dogs need different ingredients than an adult dog working several hours a day. The best food is the one tailored to the dog’s individual needs. 

What Should Go in the Bowl? 

Given the above reasons, the exact right food can’t be determined universally. You have the best control over the ingredients and quality if you prepare the meal yourself, either raw or cooked. However, you can also get good quality and a balanced diet from commercial dog food at the supermarket, pet store or online.

The ingredient list on the package not only indicates the quality but also whether it suits your dog and provides the necessary nutrients. Poor quality food is identifiable by high grain content, sweeteners, artificial flavour enhancers or chemical preservatives. Quality food, simply put, includes a high proportion of high-quality meat (min. 70 percent) supplemented with essential fats and around 20 to 30 percent vegetables or fruits. 

Care

This demanding four-legged friend in its training and upbringing has no special requirements for its care. Its short and harsh coat is very easy to care for and needs just a brief brushing every one to two weeks. Only during the molting season, when the fur changes between summer and winter coats, should the brush be frequently used to remove dead hair. 

Keeping and Training 

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, still relatively unknown in Europe, is a dog that struggles to adapt to modern life. While it excels at herding cattle and reliably withstanding the harsh conditions of outback life, this breed is unsuitable for life as a pure companion and family dog. However, given its people-focused nature, quick learning abilities and will to obey, it is possible to adapt the Stumpy to our everyday life.

With patience, love and a lot of consistency, experienced dog owners can comprehensively socialise the Stumpy-puppy and prepare it for our society’s demands. Still, one should consider carefully whether this freedom-loving, hardworking herding dog can truly be happy this way. This working dog finds true happiness mainly in herding and driving livestock.