Cattle Shepherd

A relatively new breed, the Australian Cattle dog was said to have originated in Australia. First known as Hall's Heelers, they were called such because of the efforts of Thomas Hall who put great effort into breeding Dingoes that had been tamed with Northumberland Drover Dogs (most likely Collies). An owner of large properties in New South Wales, Hall and his family used the Australian Cattle Dog as a herder of their cattle. This breed was specifically designed to withstand the hot temperatures of Australia and to handle skittish cattle by nipping at the cattle's hooves.Once Hall died in 1870, his estate was divided and the Hall's Heeler with it, allowing for further development of the breed into the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. The Australian Cattle Dog joined the roster of the American Kennel Club in 1980. The German Shepherd, on the other hand, was developed in Germany in the 1800s by a man named Max Von Stephanitz. The German Shepherd was originally a cross between long or short haired herding dogs with a primary purpose of herding and protecting sheep. Later years saw him as a proficient, courageous and hard working military dog. Athletic and brave, he did lose popularity during the World Wars due to his German association but gained popularity again in the 1950's as a trusted companion, guard dog and even an actor. Rin Tin Tin of silver screen fame was a German Shepherd. This dog was added to the American Kennel Club list of purebred dogs in 1908 and is a much favored dog today.