The history of the breed's origin, the standard of the Australian Kettle Dog's exterior, character, health description, care tips, interesting facts. Puppy cost. The Cattle Dog is a truly unique herding dog in Australia, a skillful, fast and hardy herder of a wide variety of livestock. The dog, which is the real pride of its creators, who managed to successfully combine the best qualities of the wild Australian dingo with the talents of a whole group of European breeds.
History of the origin of the Australian kettle dog
Probably, before starting a conversation about the history of the emergence of this breed, it is worth understanding its name. And the Australian shepherd dog has a lot of names. The breed is officially called the Australian Cattle Dog. It was under this name that she was entered in the Studbook of Dogs of Australia in 1903. But in practice, this beautiful strong dog has at least a dozen other names. Let us name at least a few of them. These are: "Australian cattle dog", "Australian bouvier", "Australian herding dog", "Australian blue healer", "red healer", "Queensland healer" or (more briefly) "ketley". By the way, this dog is called the "healer" because of its unique way of managing the animals under guardianship - the cattle gathers them into a herd, diligently biting on the legs in the area of the shanks and hooves ("heels" - in English means "heels").
Well, also, do not confuse the Australian Kettle Dog with the Australian Shepherd, these are completely different breeds, radically different not only in their exterior, but also in their origin and working purpose. The main formation of the Australian Kettle Dog breed took place at the beginning of the 19th century, during the years of the most active colonization of the Australian continent by Great Britain. The settlements of seekers of a better life, immigrants from England, Ireland and Scotland, rapidly expanded, turning into cities and towns. Together with the colonists, all kinds of livestock and poultry, rabbits (eventually becoming a scourge for the flora of Australia), European dogs and cats were imported to the Australian mainland. Having received large allotments of land at their disposal (and by English island standards, the allotments were even huge), the settlers gradually got on their feet, adapting to the climate, settling in their lands, becoming farmers or pastoralists. And the choice of agricultural specialization was often directly related to the conditions of the area in which the colonists had to survive and build their economy.
So it was in the state of New South Wales, located in the southeast of Australia and considered the birthplace of the Australian kettle dogs. Initially, and until the beginning of the 19th century, this state was an exclusively convict colony. But with the beginning of organized colonization, it turned into a real center for raising cattle (even now 2/3 of the state's territory is occupied by animal husbandry) and supplying it to the meat markets of the rapidly expanding port city of Sydney.
The main problem of the pastoralists of those years was the long-term transport of the livestock raised by them from pastures to the places of sale. Often the route passed through arid areas with a difficult landscape devoid of vegetation and water. Traveling hundreds of kilometers from the farm to Sydney was difficult not only for thousands of cows and cattle rangers. It was not easy for the herding dogs brought from Europe. European animals were poorly adapted to an arid climate, an almost complete lack of water and an endless journey across the vast expanses of Australia. The dogs were required to be simply incredible endurance in order to cope with their cattle-driving duties under such conditions.
And although the farmers suffered the loss of livestock and dogs, and were in dire need of herding dogs, there was simply no real alternative to the Old English, Scottish and Smithfield Sheepdogs brought from Europe. Shepherd dogs, able to perfectly cope with livestock in paddocks, pastures and short hauls, were quickly exhausted and died during long journeys.
Yes, and animal husbandry itself in Australia had its own specifics. The animals grazed freely in the bush (Australian landscape covered with bushes and stunted trees) over vast areas, which also required special endurance from the dogs and the ability to make a huge herd move in the right direction. Cattle breeders urgently needed dogs that could not only independently (there were also not enough people) to cope with herds of many thousands (without harming animals), but also well-oriented in the terrain, hardy, stubborn, but unquestioningly obedient to man.
Attempts to breed European Shepherd Dogs with local wild dingo dogs, although successful, did not produce the desired type of animal. The half-breeds were silent, they felt great in the bush, they were well-versed in it, but they were disobedient, poorly trained and were very aggressive, both towards cows and towards humans.
This changed with the appearance in Australia in 1840 of the now called Blue Merle, a cross between the Scottish Collie and the Italian Greyhound (also known as the Northumberland Blue Merle Drovers Dog). These animals were brought to Australia by hereditary cattle breeder Thomas Simpson Hall from the county of Northumberland, located on the border of England and Scotland. Thomas Hall, like all herders, was in dire need of working dogs, and therefore, without delay, he crossed the brought dogs with a dingo. The offspring turned out to be extremely successful. The older puppies combined the quietness and endurance of a dingo with the speed of a greyhound, and with the intelligence and obedience of a collie.
For several decades, Thomas Hall (now a real cattle-breeding tycoon) has independently bred the Hall Healers, keeping the secret of their origin and not particularly eager to share his unique dogs with other cattle owners. In 1870, with the death of Thomas Hall, his cattle-breeding empire disintegrated, and a pair of his healer dogs were brought to Sydney, where the professional dog breeders, the Bagust brothers, were already engaged in further selection, having finalized the exterior and working qualities of the breed by 1893. It is suspected that in order to improve the breed, the Bagast brothers added the blood of Dolmatins and Kelpies to the healer dogs.
The final version of the new shepherd dog turned out to be just great. The animal was very intelligent, hardy, obedient, perfectly adapted to temperature extremes and changes in the weather, and with excellent cattle-driving talents. It also had a completely unique exterior and a blue or roan speckled color that makes it easily recognizable. The resulting breed was named "Australian Cattle Dog" and began to popularize it among cattle owners.
The Australian self-taught writer Robert Lucian Stanislaus Kaleski played a special role in the acquisition of the popularity of the new breed, advertising the dogs in the press in every possible way. He also wrote the first breed standard "Australian Cattle Dog" in 1897, approved by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in 1903.
In 1979, the Kettle Dogs were recognized in the United States by entering them into the American Kennel Club Studbook. In 1989, the breed was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
Purpose and use of the dog
The Australian Kettle Dog is primarily intended to help a farmer graze livestock. Moreover, the livestock can be very diverse. This unique dog easily copes with any pets, and even (with a certain training) with geese. But its best applications, still used in Australia today, are in the protection and management of free-range cows and moving cattle from pastures to distribution sites.
Nowadays, kettle dogs are also bred to guard homes, as pets, as well as sports dogs for obedience and agility competitions.
Description of the external standard of the Australian Kettle Dog
The representative of the breed is an excellent working shepherd dog of compact size, with a strong harmonious body and original color, dexterous, hardy and unusually efficient. The dog-kettle has excellent physical characteristics. His height reaches 51 centimeters, and his body weight is up to 23 kg.
- Head the Kettle Dog is strong, in proportion to the body, with a wide skull. The skull is rather wide in the frontal region and has a well-defined medial groove and a well-developed occipital protuberance. The stop (forehead-muzzle transition) is clear, but rather shallow. The muzzle is broad, well-filled, tapered, medium in length. The lips are dense, dry, without the formation of flews. The bridge of the nose is of medium length, straight. The nose is large, with well-defined nostrils, black. The jaws are strong (the lower jaw is especially well developed). The teeth are white, even, with a scissor bite. Special attention has been paid to the quality of the dog's teeth at all times. After all, her teeth are a working tool for managing the herd.
- Eyes oval, medium-sized, somewhat obliquely set. Eye color is usually dark brown. The gaze is always attentive, intelligent and somewhat wary and suspicious (especially when strangers appear). The eyelids are dry and firm.
- Ears medium size (closer to small), wide and low set, rather thick, in shape resembling an isosceles triangle with a wide base. Ears are erect, sensitive.
- Neck very strong and muscular, of medium length, without dewlap.
- Torso strong, fairly dense, with good proportions and a good balance of muscles and ligaments, with a strong bone. The chest is moderately broad and well developed. The back is of medium length, straight and well muscled. The line of the back is slightly sloping towards the croup (due to the high long withers). The withers are well defined, long and high. The croup is long, sloping. The belly is not too tucked up.
- Tail Moderately low set and drooping down, reaches the level of the hock, the tip of the tail is slightly curved and ends with a tassel. Kettle usually keeps the tail down, only when excited, raising it to the level of the back. The tail is beautifully covered with hair.
- Limbs Australian kettle dog parallel, straight, medium in length (proportionate to body proportions), muscular, strong. Paws are round in shape, "in a ball", with short toes, firm firm pads and strong short nails.
- Wool smooth, tough, close-fitting to the body, waterproof, with a short, dense and dense undercoat. On the thighs of the animal there are feathers, and on the neck there is the thickest and longest hair, reaching 4 centimeters.
- Color has two options. The most beloved by many connoisseurs is blue (blue with small spots; blue with specks; with or without black, fawn or blue spots-markings on the head). There are also animals of red color (a red speck evenly distributed over the body with or without red spots on the head). The presence of characteristic large spots on the head (black, fawn, red or blue) is always preferable. Possibly tan. The presence of black spots on the body and a light undercoat with a red color is undesirable.
Kettle Dog character from Australia
The animal is an excellent example of an ideal shepherd dog, strong, resilient, fearless and extremely diligent. The animal is extremely independent, hardworking, active and capable of independent actions and decisions in extraordinary situations. No wonder the Australian cattle breeders entrust the kettles with almost complete management of the herd.
The dog is easy to train, it is smart, quick-witted and disciplined. It also copes with watchdog functions easily, although rarely barks.
Nowadays, the Cattle Dog can be found not only as a cattle dog, but also as a promising sports dog, with its endurance overshadowing many other energetic breeds in agility competitions.
As a companion dog, the ketly are also very attractive. With a friendly disposition and a calm and energetic temperament, they are quite suitable for the role of a companion for energetic people leading an active or sporty lifestyle. The breed is poorly suited for lazy people, busy and elderly people as it needs long active walking.
From a young age, Kettle Dog is inclined to choose his master, to whom he remains devoted all his life. He is affectionate to the owner, attentive and inclined to absolute obedience. He is not very friendly with other people and is always suspicious. It does not tolerate loneliness, and without human society, the dog is able to quickly run wild. Dislikes a chain, leash, aviary and any other restrictions on freedom.
Australian Kettle Dog health
Although "ketli" and have very good health and high resistance to disease, the recessive gene, which carries a special mottling pigmentation of the coat, rewarded the dog with a number of negative predispositions.
First of all, the kettle dog has a tendency to congenital deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, spondylosis and arthritis.
The average lifespan of an Australian Bouvier is about 12 years.
Australian Kettle Dog Care Tips
The Australian Kettle Dog is surprisingly unpretentious in care and maintenance, a dog that tolerates extreme heat and severe cold equally well. The hard, dense coat of the animal is perfectly adapted to the vicissitudes of the weather, does not get wet, does not get damaged by thorns and does not need constant combing.
In food, the dog is able to get by with a minimum (which, of course, is unacceptable with a normal content). Can go without water for a long time.
In dire need of spacious (or better - free) content. Poorly tolerates loneliness and the inability to use their work talents.
Interesting facts about the breed
In Australia, there is another dog, which is close in exterior to the hero of our article, and therefore often confuses the definition of the breed by non-specialists. This breed is called "Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog" or in English: "Stumply Tail Cattle Dog". The confusion is also added by the fact that the manner of working with cattle of a tailless dog is very similar to a kettle dog, he also silently bites animals, urging or directing them to the herd. And this is not surprising. Even during the breeding of the breed by the Bagast brothers in the 19th century, puppies with almost completely missing tails were often born in litters. Naturally, these puppies also found their supporters, who began to breed tailless healer dogs, forming their own branch of herding dogs. In 1988, the tailless breed, which is essentially the same cattle dog (only without a tail), was officially registered with the Australian National Kennel Club.
Price when buying a puppy of an Australian shepherd dog
In Russia, "ketli" appeared quite recently (in 2007) and so far exist in limited quantities. Therefore, it is still quite difficult and expensive to purchase an Australian Kettle Dog. The cost of a Bouvier puppy in Australia is around $ 700.
What an Australian Kettle Dog looks like, see this video:
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