Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle

35-51 lbs
17-19"
Australia
Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Stumpy, Stumpy Tail, Heeler

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a distinctive dog because of his lack of tail. His tail is naturally short and is never docked. He has an amazing natural ability to herd cattle, keeping careful control of the herd as he moves them from place to place. He is a very loyal, courageous, rugged dog that is suspicious of strangers coming near his home or his herd. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is closely related to the Australian Cattle Dog but the Stumpy has a lighter build and longer legs. Early socialization and training will ensure you have a competent, hard working companion to work your cattle. 

purpose Purpose
Herding
history Date of Origin
1900s
ancestry Ancestry
Dingo, Smithfield, Collie

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Health

Average Size
Male Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats
Height: 18-20 inches Weight: 35-51 lbs
Female Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats
Height: 17-19 inches Weight: 35-51 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Deafness
Minor Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Dental Problems
Occasional Diagnoses
  • None Known
Occasional Tests
  • OFA
  • BAER Testing
  • Yearly Eye Exam
  • Yearly Physical Examination

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Breed History

The Dingo is thought to have arrived in Australia via Chinese ships. These dogs are thought to have been domesticated wolves and were more than willing to follow their masters to sea. The aboriginals of Australia saw great value in these wolf-like dogs and used them for hunting. Eventually, the breed was given the name Dingo. The British arrived in Australia in 1788 to establish a penal colony near Botany Bay that would eventually be named Sydney. Sheep and cattle were also brought into Australia and various herding dogs were also brought. One breed that was brought into the country was the Smithfield, an English herding dog that was large, well-muscled and bobtailed. The Smithfield was eventually bred to the Dingo to create a dog that was able to handle the vast, rough terrain of Australia’s outback. These cross-bred dogs were then bred to blue merle Collies. This mix became the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Most sheep herders in Australia were not totally enamored with the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and he was never a very popular breed. His disposition was more suited to working larger livestock. The breed sharply dwindled in the mid-1980s. There were a few very dedicated lovers of the breed who worked together to create a new breeding program. The number of Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs in Australia has rebounded somewhat but he is still not a very popular breed. Outside of Australia, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is virtually unknown. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was officially recognized by the Australian National Kennel Club in 1988. The United Kennel Club, despite his rarity, recognized him in 1996.

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Breed Appearance

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a slightly rangy appearance with longer legs than his cousin, the Australian Cattle Dog. He has a light build making it easier for him to turn quickly and keep his herd tightly bunched when needed. His chest is well muscled and he has a strong neck. He has oval shaped eyes that are medium in size and are dark brown. He should have an intelligent and alert expression. His ears are set wide on his head and are medium size, being broader at their base and tapering to a point at the end. A self-colored nose is acceptable, but a black nose is preferred. He has a naturally short tail, or a bobtail. His tail should never be docked. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a straight coat that is dense and harsh. His topcoat is medium-short and dense while is undercoat is shorter, dense and soft. He can be found in two coat colors: red or blue. The red coat does not have any hint of blue in their coat. He can be red speckle or red mottle all over his body and there can be red markings on his head. The blue coat cannot have any hint of red in their coat. Blue speckle or blue mottled can be over the entire body and black markings can be present on the body or head. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
blue Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle nose
Blue
black Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
red Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle coat
Red
blue Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle coat
Blue
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Breed Maintenance

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a weather resistant coat that requires little maintenance to keep it well conditioned. Grooming him weekly with a metal comb and bristle brush or a slicker brush will remove any dead or loose hairs. He is a seasonal shedder and when he is shedding heavily, plan to groom him more often, probably once a day until all the undercoat has come out. He will shed heavily twice a year depending on climate. When shedding, his hair should fall out in clumps similar to that of a Collie. Your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog will probably only need to be bathed twice a year when he is shedding. This helps loosen the undercoat and hasten the shedding process. Over-bathing can cause skin irritation or changes to his coat texture. Clean his ears weekly and check for any irritation or redness that might mean a slight infection is brewing. His nails should need clipped every few weeks to keep them neat and short. 

Brushes for Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Temperament

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is an extremely energetic and alert herding dog. When he is properly trained, he is an obedient dog and an excellent herder. He loves to work and when he does not have a job to occupy his time, he will become destructive and difficult to live with and behavioral problems will occur. He does need an owner with a natural leadership ability to make training easier. Consistent training will ensure he understands his role within the family unit. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog should never be kept in an apartment or condo. He is too active of a dog to be shut into a small space. He is naturally suspicious of strangers and does need to be socialized from an early age. Be prepared to spend time each day taking your Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog for walks or playing games in the backyard. Participating in dog sports may also be a great way to bond and keep give him plenty of exercise. 

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Activity Requirements

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a very active dog and does require a lot of room to run. He is not ideal for an apartment setting or a small yard. He needs a lot of room to run and play. He also needs a fenced yard if he is not in charge of a herd of livestock or he will be running at large through the neighborhood. Since he has such a strong herding instinct, if he is not being used to work cattle or other livestock, he may become extremely unhappy and destructive. He would excel in herding trials as a way to give him plenty of exercise and bond with his owner.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
12 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at six months
Height: 15.0 inches Weight: 21.0 lbs
Female Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at six months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 21.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at 12 months
Height: 18.0 inches Weight: 35.0 lbs
Female Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at 12 months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 35.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at 18 months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 43.0 lbs
Female Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle size stats at 18 months
Height: 18.0 inches Weight: 43.0 lbs

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Owner Experiences

ASHA
7 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Brought at 10 weeks old and she has made my life far better,the walks have made me much healthier,and the joy she brings just makes me smile
5 years, 1 month ago
Roscoe
6 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks, ball at the beach, tug of war
Great dog. Is very interested in large, light colored vehicles. Garbage trucks, buses. He's very much a homebody and we could leave our gate and door open all day and he would be there when we got home. If I raise my voice he backs off and gets a little scared, but he's not afraid of me, just wary when I show anger or displeasure. Very, very loyal. I wonder if he would protect me or my wife if we were threatened by someone on a walk.
5 years ago
Sokka
3 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Run
Swim
Tug-of-war
Chase
Fetch
Tricks
He is very affectionate and loyal. He is my constant shadow. He is fine with either playing for hours or sleeping all day since he was little. He loves the snow and will stay out until his paws hurt, jumping in the snow. He is the alpha dog in our house. He is never aggressive. He loves all animals and tries to play with them. He doesn’t harm anything. He has herding instincts, but he doesn’t bite or nip.
4 years, 8 months ago
Carol
5 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I rescued her from the humane society when she was 4 months old. She’s a very intense clown. She loves to be goofy yet, when it’s time to be serious it’s on! She loves going on long hikes in the mountains, but prefers the off leash type hikes. Snow is her favorite thing after her frisbee. Frisbee and snow = perfect day
4 years, 7 months ago
DJANGO
4 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is the perfect family dog. He sleeps all day so his demand for activity is not as much as you might think. He's perfect.
4 years, 6 months ago
Buckshot
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Smartest dog Ive ever known! I swear he reads my mind. He has been my best friend since I got him at 8weeks old. He is a perfect being. Yes, perfect!
4 years, 4 months ago
Fenrir
9 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Tracking
Tug-of-war
He is extremely loyal to myself and my partner and is great with other animals off leash. He is incredibly intelligent but can be arrogant i compare it to Like living with a teenager, he knows his place within the family unit and know what he can and can’t get away with like being on the bed he knows he can if I’m in the bed but doesn’t even try if it’s just my partner. He is absolutely my best bud
4 years, 2 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd