Australian Cattle Dog Price, Pawsonality and More

The Australian Cattle Dog is a true blue Aussie classic. The breeds comes in two varieties – Blue Heeler and Red Heeler – and it has two sets of doggie DNA, which we’ll get into below along with so much more.

If you’re considering an Australian Cattle Dog puppy as the newest member of your family, you’ll want to find out more about this sporty breed. In this article, PD Insurance looks at price, temperament, grooming, training and more.

Is an Australian Cattle Dog a good family dog?

Whether your Australian Cattle Dog is a Red or Blue Heeler, they make incredibly loyal, loving family dogs, provided they’re properly trained and socialised from puppy stage. They love their family and get along with children and adults alike. That said, their super high energy levels and herding instinct means they aren’t always suitable around very young children.

Family ties vs stranger danger

There are a few ins and outs to ensuring your Australian Cattle Dog is well behaved. Not only towards its family (easiest) but also strangers (needs more application) and other pets. Like most breeds that are known for having a strong sense of loyalty such as the German Shepherd, the Australian Cattle Dog tends to be cautious around strangers.

Left unchecked, this breed’s caution around people they don’t know can lead to aggression as they mature.

Training and socialisation are key

This needs to be pre-empted by ensuring your Australian Cattle Dog has adequate training and socialisation. Once that’s achieved, they can enjoy the company of people, dogs and even cats (who like dogs).

Happily, this doggy has smarts and energy to match, making it highly engaged and trainable. Read our interview with Dogs New Zealand Director/Secretary, Steven Thompson on dog training and registration.

Here’s more on dog breed exercise requirements and high, mid and low energy dogs.

How to pick a Red or Blue Heeler puppy

If your heart is set on getting an Australian Cattle Dog, there are a couple of things worth being aware of. As with any pedigreed pooch, it’s important to find an ethical breeder.

Ethical dog breeders health screen both parents prior to breeding. This reduces the chance of passing on genetic/hereditary conditions common to the breed (more on that further on).

Things to consider when selecting your puppy include:

• Health. A healthy puppy should have clear eyes and ears and a shiny coat
• Temperament. Puppies shouldn’t be scared or aggressive (unless they’ve been badly treated)
• Breeder Reputation. Choose a Dogs New Zealand registered breeder who provides health clearances for the puppy’s parents

Here’s more from our vet expert, Dr Cath Watson, on what sort of health checks an ethical breeder might do:

Australian Cattle Dog puppy price

The price of a pedigreed Australian Cattle Dog can vary from one breeder to the next as well as the availability of puppies. Additionally, you can sometimes find Australian Cattle Dogs up for adoption, which can be a more affordable route. If you opt for the adopted dog route, consider a pet behaviourist to help settle them in.

The asking price for a Red or Blue Heeler puppy can start anywhere from the region of $1,500* and up. However, this isn’t the benchmark because the more health testing and care that goes into whelping a litter, the more you can expect to pay.

Although you or I may be ready to buy a Australian Cattle Dog puppy, that doesn’t always mean they will be available. Good dog breeders won’t breed more than a certain number of litters from a mum. Dogs can’t stay healthy if they have too many puppies or too many litters in quick succession.

That’s why dogs are best friends for life, rather than commodities!

Are Blue Heelers and Red Heelers the same breed?

Yes. Blue Heelers and Red Heelers are varieties of the same breed, namely the Australian Cattle Dog. But this dog breed has other names too… ACD is routinely used as an acronym for Australian Cattle Dog and this pooch can also simply be called a ‘Cattle Dog’, or Queensland Heeler.

So, to answer the big bold question above, the answer is yes! Blue Heelers and Red Heelers are the same breed. The difference is in their colouring: Blue Heelers have a blue-ticked coat, while Red Heelers have a red-ticked coat.

How much do Australian Cattle Dogs shed?

Good news! Australian Cattle Dogs have low grooming needs. Though you’ll still want to keep their routine pet care and flea treatment in check.

Although these pups only shed moderately, this can increase over the spring and autumn months. Ideally, you’ll want to give your Blue Heeler a good brushing once a week. This helps remove dead hairs and dander and keeps their coat healthy.

If you’re someone who has dog allergies, consider finding out more about Poodles and other dogs with hair instead of fur. These are considered moderately hypoallergenic dogs. If you’re getting a cat, read about hypoallergenic cats too!

What two breeds make an Australian Cattle Dog?

The Australian Cattle Dog has two main doggie ancestors, namely domestic dogs and wild dingoes. The Australian Cattle Dog’s forefathers include a breed called the Smithfield and, over time, the Dalmatian, Blue Merle Smooth Collie and Australian Kelpie.

These dogs were developed in Australia to create a dog that would be adept at herding cattle. Heelers are called Heelers because they snap at the heels of cattle to get them to move in the right direction.

How fast can an Australian Cattle Dog run?

The Australian Cattle Dog was bred to be active and tireless. This dog needs a lot of physical and mental activity, more than a simple walk on a leash can provide.

Australian Cattle Dogs are known for running 24 to 32 km per hour but some have reached up to 55 km per hour!

A good jog or long workout coupled with obedience lessons or other intellectual challenges is essential for everyday dog happiness. Red or Blue Heelers are happiest when they have a job to do (like herding!).

Is the Australian Cattle Dog healthy?

Like most breeds, these dogs can be prone to certain hereditary conditions. Sadly, the Australian Cattle Dog is predisposed to progressive blindness and deafness, this despite being a relatively healthy breed.

Although not very common, hip dysplasia in dogs can affect this breed. It’s another great reason to buy your puppy from an ethical breeder as most will test parents to help reduce the risk of this. The Blue Heeler is also known for getting cruciate ligament tears – read more about cruciate ligament disease.

High quality pet insurance for high quality pets

Regardless of whether you have an Australian Cattle Dog or another breed or whether you adopt or buy, consider having pet insurance. Pet insurance for dogs and cats helps to pay for a broad range of unforeseen vet costs. Depending on what level of cover you choose, this can include accidents, illnesses and even dental vet bills.

While we humans have government subsidised health care, vet bills aren’t subsidised so you foot the full cost. However, pet insurance helps fill this gap so you won’t need to do this alone. Plus, when you buy your PD Insurance policy, we’ll give you one or more months of pet insurance FREE!

Click below to get a quote today.

*At time of writing