Characteristics of Australian healer dogs with reviews and photos. Australian shepherd's dog: proper care

Australian herding dog was bred by English farmers around the 19th century. Its main purpose in those distant times was to manage grazing herds of cattle and their subsequent protection. Representatives of this breed are characterized by indefatigability, increased courage and extraordinary endurance. Until now, experts have not been able to breed a more successful herding animal, not only on the Australian continent, but even in the whole world.

The breed Australian Cattle Dog is quite loyal to its owner, is quick-witted and easily amenable to the basics of training. These pets have proven themselves to be responsible cattle keepers. In addition, they are very affectionate and loving, they can constantly delight their breeders and be excellent companions. According to available data, one of the representatives of this breed lived to be 29 years old. About 2,500 puppies are born in Australia every year.

Description of the breed

• The Australian Cattle Dog is medium in size. She has a muscular body with well-developed front and hind limbs. The neck is rather massive, the head is large, the ears are constantly in a standing position, the tail is mainly lowered downward.
• The description of the Australian Cattle Dog breed, which was officially recorded, claims that representatives of this breed have a height at the withers of up to 50 cm, and weighs approximately 20 kg. Wool in animals is of approximately medium length, is water-resistant, tough. In the area of ​​the hind thighs, the coat is quite fluffy.
• Puppies of the Australian Cattle Dog are born exclusively white with small black spots. Consistently, as it develops, the dog changes its color to blue or reddish, but also with dark spots.
• For those unfamiliar with this breed of people, the character and disposition of the Australian Shepherd quite often seems unbalanced. However, as practice shows, this is far from the case. In order to fully appreciate the features of her character, it is necessary to be aware not only of the essence of her work, but also to remember for what purpose the breed was bred.
• For this breed, the first place is the sense of the pack, but at the same time it has always been distinguished by increased independence. A dog can only trust one owner. Moreover, exclusively in front of a devoted leader, he will be able to reveal all the available positive qualities.
• Australian shepherds rarely bark. So, their barking is more similar to the cries of an owl. After the final recognition of the absolute leadership of the breeder, pets become very obedient, ready to absolutely always complete any task, even modest to some extent. In most any endeavors, they are able to become not only a faithful companion, but also a friend.

Australian Cattle Dog Care

These pets adapt relatively poorly to the urban environment, which is why it is recommended to keep them in villages or towns. It should be noted that herding dogs need constant physical activity, active games on fresh air... In short, this is not a couch dog that will snore peacefully next to its owner.

There are practically no special health difficulties in these pets. As noted above, this breed is classified as a long-liver. However, how long a pet will live depends solely on how to care for an Australian Cattle Dog.

What to feed

In general, like any other dog, representatives of this breed are carnivores. But even predators cannot constantly feed exclusively on meat. What to feed an Australian Cattle Dog?

1. First of all, the diet should be as balanced as possible, that is, it should contain proteins, fats and even carbohydrates, as well as to some extent minerals and vitamins.
2. On the other hand, food should be of high quality and fresh. That is why, if a breeder prefers natural food, you should not prepare a ration for a week. It is recommended to cook for your dog every day.
3. Particular attention should be paid to the amount of feed. So, an adult dog must be fed twice a day, and if the load was increased on that day, the portion can be slightly increased.
4. Experienced breeders recommend feeding your dog only natural food. For example, you can give cottage cheese with kefir for breakfast, and meat with raw vegetables for dinner. It should be noted that the main difficulty of this feeding option is the insufficient balance of the diet. In this kind of situation, dogs are prescribed real vitamin complexes, which completely compensate for the lack of certain substances or vitamins in the body.

What to feed Australian Cattle Dog puppies? In fact, from the very first months, there is nothing better for a small dog than mother's milk. From about two months old, you can begin to transfer the puppy to "adult" food. Initially, it can be low-fat curd, but always with kefir. Later, you can start giving meat and some vegetables in the form of thoroughly ground minced meat. Literally from six months, a shepherd can switch to normal feeding twice a day.

Training

Despite its character and natural instincts, this breed is very easy to educate and subsequent training. This is because a dog always wants to please only its owner. How can this be achieved? Definitely perform all the necessary stunts. Training Australian Cattle Dogs means correct organized lessons with a load. As a result, the breeder gets an obedient dog that obeys him unquestioningly.

Experts do not recommend taking a shepherd's dog as not only the first, but also a working one, since not all breeders, as a result, manage to direct its energy in the necessary direction. For example, the desire to periodically bite cows by the legs is so strongly fixed in the psyche of the animal that it is often transferred even to the owners.

It should be noted, no matter how badly the puppy behaves, in no case should one be assimilated to the principles of violence. The thing is that originally this breed was bred exclusively for independent work... If a puppy thinks it is unnecessary or inappropriate to do this, then it can never be forced. The basis of animal training is always based on the characteristics of the breed, the personal qualities of a particular pet and the obligatory reward for the performed tricks.

The Australian Cattle Dog breed originally originated in Australia. A herding dog who helped drive herds across the harsh lands. Medium in size and short-haired, they come in two colors - blue and red.

Abstracts

• Australian Cattle Dogs are extremely active, both physically and mentally. They need constant work, fatigue, to protect them from behavior problems.
• Bites and bites are part of their natural instinct. Proper parenting, socialization and supervision reduce these manifestations, but do not remove them at all.
• Very attached to the owner, they do not want to separate from him for a moment.
• They get along poorly with small children and pets. The only way to make them friends is to grow them together. But it doesn't always work.
• For maintenance you need a very large yard, no apartments. And they can escape from it in search of adventure.
• If you decide to buy an Australian healer puppy, then choose only proven kennels. Buying an Australian healer from unknown sellers risks your money, time and nerves. The price of a puppy is quite high and it is better to overpay for a healthy and well-bred dog.

History of the breed

The history of the Australian Kettle Dogs began in 1802, when George Hall and his family emigrated from England to Australia. The family settled in newly colonized New South Wales with the intention of raising livestock for sale in Sydney at the time. largest city Australia. The difficulty was that the climate was hot and dry, in no way comparable to the green and humid fields of the British Isles. In addition, livestock had to graze on vast and unprotected plains, where danger awaited them. Plus the problem of collecting and transporting livestock through hundreds of kilometers of harsh lands.

The brought shepherd dogs were poorly adapted to work in such conditions, and there were simply no local dogs. Livestock farming was located near large cities, where livestock grazed under the supervision of children in the daytime. Accordingly, all the service of the dogs was reduced to the guard and protection from wild dingoes.

Despite the difficulties, the family remains determined, courageous and demonstrates strength of character. The seventeen-year-old Thomas Simpson Hall (1808-1870) showed himself the most, he is exploring new lands and pastures, laying routes to the north of the country.

While moving north promises great benefits, there is one problem that needs to be addressed to get to millions of acres of land. At the time, there was no way to get livestock from there to Sydney. Railways there is no way the only way is to lead the herd hundreds of miles. However, these animals are different from those that grow in paddocks, they are semi-wild, scatter. Thomas realizes that in order to get livestock to market, he needs hardy and intelligent dogs that can work under the scorching sun and manage bulls. In addition, they are horned bulls, which creates problems for both the herders, the dogs and the bulls themselves. A large number of them die on the way.

To solve these problems, Thomas starts two breeding programs: the first line of dogs for working with horned animals, the second for hornless ones. Europe is famous for its herding dogs, and the Smithfield Collies come to Australia. Externally very similar to the bobtail, these collies are widely used in England for herding livestock. However, Thomas Hall finds them unsuitable for use, since in England they work at much shorter distances and hauls and they simply do not have enough endurance for hundreds of miles of travel. In addition, they do not tolerate heat well, because the climate in England is completely different. For these reasons, Thomas Hall decides to create a dog for his needs and begins the program.

It is worth noting that he is not the first to try to create such a breed. James "Jack" Timmins (1757-1837), before him crosses dogs with wild dingos. The resulting mestizos were called "Red Bobtails" , and inherited the dingo's stamina and heat tolerance, but remained semi-savage, afraid of humans.

Thomas Hall shows more patience and endurance, and in 1800 he has many puppies. It is not known for certain what kind of breed was the basis, but it is almost certainly some kind of. At that time, collies were not yet standardized as they are today, but rather a mix of native breeds valued for their working qualities. He also starts by crossing them with each other and with Smithfield's new collies. But, no success, dogs still cannot stand the heat. He then solves the problem by crossing a collie with a domesticated dingo. Wild dogs, the dingo, are incredibly adaptable to its climate, but most farmers hate them because dingos hunt livestock. However, Thomas finds that mestizos show remarkable intelligence, endurance, and good working qualities.

Hall's experiment succeeds, his dogs can control the herd, and become known as Hall's Heelers, since he only uses them for his own needs. He understands that these dogs are incredible competitive advantage and despite demand, refuses to sell puppies to everyone except family members and close friends. It will remain so until 1870, when Hall dies, the business of the farm will not fall into disrepair and it will be sold. Dogs become available and other breeds are mixed with their blood, the number of which is still debated.

In the early 1870s, Sydney butcher Fred Davis crossed them with to add tenacity. But, as a result, stamina decreases and the dogs begin to hold the bulls instead of guiding them. Although the Davis lineage would eventually be supplanted from the blood of Australian healers, some dogs will still inherit its traits. At the same time, two brothers, Jack and Harry Bagust, are crossing their Australian shepherds with those imported from England. The goal is to increase their compatibility with horses and soften the character a little. But again, working qualities suffer. By the late 1880s, the term Hall healers was largely abandoned, with dogs being called blue healers and red healers, depending on their color.

In 1890, a group of breeders and hobbyists form the Cattle Dog Club. They focus on breeding these dogs, calling the breed the Australian Healer or Australian Shepherd Dog. Blue healers are valued much higher than red ones, since it is believed that red ones still have a lot of dingoes. In 1902 the breed was already sufficiently strengthened and the first breed standard was being written.

During World War II, many units of the troops keep these dogs as talismans, sometimes in violation of the regulations. But, they get real popularity after they get to America. The US military travels to Australia and brings puppies home, as there are many farmers and ranchers among them. And the working ability of the Australian Shepherd Dog amazes them.
In the late 1960s, the Queensland Heeler Club of America is formed, which would later become the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America (ACDCA). The club promotes healers in the United States and in 1979 the American Kennel Club recognizes the breed. In 1985 the United Kennel Club (UKC) joins it.

Since its introduction in the United States, the Australian Cattle Dog has become quite popular and is ranked 64th out of 167 breeds according to AKC statistics. At the same time, this statistic displays the dogs that have been registered with the AKC, and not all. As with other fashionable breeds, the Australian Kettle Dog is becoming pets, especially in the countryside. However, they retained their working abilities, and in their homeland they became legendary dogs.

Description

Australian Cattle Dogs resemble, but differ from, collies. This is a medium-sized dog, a male at the withers reaches 46-51 cm, a bitch 43-48 cm. Most of them weigh from 15 to 22 kg. They are rather short in length and noticeably taller.

Attention! This is primarily a working dog and everything in its appearance should speak of endurance and athleticism.

They look very natural and balanced and don't get overweight if they get enough activity. The tail of the healers is short, but rather thick, for some they are docked, but they rarely do this, since when running they use the tail like a rudder.

The head and muzzle resemble a dingo. The stop is soft, the muzzle flows smoothly out of the skull. It is of medium length but wide. Lip and nose color should always be black, regardless of coat color. The eyes are oval in shape, medium in size, brown or dark brown. The expression of the eyes is unique - it is a combination of intelligence, mischief and savagery. Ears are straight, erect, set wide on the head. In the show ring, small to medium sized ears are preferred, but in practice they can be very large.

The wool is designed to protect them from harsh conditions. Double, with a short, dense undercoat and an all-weather top. On the head and forepaws, it is slightly shorter. Australian healers come in two colors: blue and red speckled. In blue, black and white hairs are arranged so that the dog looks blue. They may be tan, but not required.


Red speckled, as the name implies, are covered with specks all over the body. Ginger markings are usually found on the head, especially on the ears and around the eyes. Australian healers are born white or cream in color and darken over time, a trait inherited from the dingo.
When studying 11 dogs, the average life expectancy was 11.7 years, the maximum is 16 years. Owners report that when properly maintained, a shepherd's healer has a lifespan of 11 to 13 years.

Character

As one of the most resilient and hardy of all dog breeds, healers have a matching personality. They are very loyal and will follow their master wherever they go. Dogs are very family-friendly and do not tolerate extended periods of loneliness extremely well. At the same time, they are not obtrusive and will rather lie at their feet than try to climb onto their knees.

Usually they are more attached to one person than to the whole family, but with another they are friendly and accommodating. But with those whom they love, they form such a strong friendship that the owners adore them. That does not prevent them from being dominant and poorly suited for inexperienced dog breeders.

Attention! They are usually unfriendly to strangers. They are naturally suspicious of strangers and can be quite aggressive.

With proper socialization, they will become polite, but almost never friendly. They accept new family members well, but need some time to get to know each other. Dogs that have not been socialized can be too reserved and aggressive towards strangers.
They are excellent guard dogs, sensitive and attentive. However, they are ready to bite anyone and do not understand well where strength is needed and where not.

They usually find better mutual language with older children (from 8 years old). They have a very strong hierarchical instinct, forcing to pinch everything that moves (including people) by the legs, and small children can provoke this instinct with their actions. At the same time, they are also suspicious of other people's children, especially when they scream, rush and do not respect the healer's space.

Australian healers always want to dominate and this often leads to problems with other dogs. They are incredibly dominant, territorial and have developed feeling owner. While they are not looking for a fight, they will not avoid it either. Usually they are kept alone, or with one individual of the opposite sex. It is very important for the owner to take a leading, dominant position in the house.
Although they are designed to work with other animals, Australian healers must be trained to avoid problems. They have a strong hunting instinct and chase small animals such as cats, hamsters, weasels and squirrels. They can tolerate being at home if they grew up together, but not all of them.

But they are very smart, and often fall into the ten smartest dog breeds. Except for tasks requiring special strength or sense of smell, there is nothing that a herding dog could not learn. However, training may not be so easy. They do not live to serve a person, they only serve the one they respect. Many healers are stubborn and harmful in training, and listen only to the owner who controls them as more dominant. The biggest challenge is keeping the dog interested in learning. They get bored quickly, especially with repetitive tasks, and just stop obeying.

healer puppy

They need a lot of work or walking. For most, the absolute minimum is 2-3 hours a day, and running, not walking. And that's the minimum. For Australian herding dogs, a very large yard is needed, in which they can run all day and its size should be at least 20-30 acres. At the same time, they also love to run away. Being very territorial, they like to dig and have a lot of curiosity. Almost everyone loves to study the world and just give a chance in the form of an open gate or a wicket. The yard must be very reliable, since they are not only able to undermine the fence, but also climb over it. And yes, they can also open the door.

Attention! Owners who are unable to provide them with activity or work should not have such a dog.

Otherwise, she will develop severe behavioral and psychological problems... Destructive behavior, aggression, barking, hyperactivity and other pleasant things.

Care

No professional grooming. Sometimes combing, but in principle they are able to do without it. What do you want? Dingo…

Sep 17, 2015 admin

We are glad to present you a new breed of dogs on our website. In our country and in general in the CIS, this breed is not yet popular and, therefore, unknown. If you see this breed on the street, then you will decide that this is an ordinary "mongrel", and not a purebred dog with an age of more than 120 years.

We have a video about the breed here Australian Cattle Dog:

This dog breed has many names:
australian herding dog, australian healer, blue healer, red healer, queensland healer, queensland blue and queensland red healer, australian kettle dog, australian bouvier and finally just kettle dog(English Australian Cattle Dog).
Healer this breed was not nicknamed by chance. “Heel” is translated from English as “heel” - and so, when driving livestock, he came to cunning - he bit the lower part of the hind legs of disobedient cows or stubborn rams without harming them.
The first breed standard was adopted by the Australian Herding Dog Club and the NSW Kennel Club in 1903. STANDARD FCI No. 287.

Origin of the Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is a breed of dog from Australia that was bred to drive livestock over long distances. In the second half of the 19th century, Australian farmers desperately needed hardy, intelligent dogs that could help them manage and move herds of cows and sheep, as well as that would be sufficiently resistant to the harsh environment. Information about the breeds of dogs that were used by breeders to breed the Australian shepherd dog is contradictory, but most are inclined to the version that they crossed the following dog breeds: Smooth-haired marble collie (it is believed that this is the result of crossing a regular Collie and a Blue Italian Greyhound), Dalmatian, Bull Terrier, and finally,. As a result, a reliable, efficient, patient and faithful herding dog was born.

Farmers loved these tireless and quick-witted dogs.
They first came to America after World War II. Australian herding dogs were brought with them by American soldiers serving in Australia.
The Australian healer was brought to England only in 1980, after which they began to gradually spread throughout Europe.
In Russia, Australian healers appeared in 2004. Around this time, Australian Cattle Dogs began to appear in Ukraine.

Appearance of an Australian Cattle Dog

A compact and strong dog with good working qualities. Strong enough, harmoniously built. Well-developed agility and stamina make the Australian healer one of a kind.
The height of males is 46-51 cm, bitches are 43-48 cm.
Body weight from 16 to 23 kg.
Very strong, sturdy dogs with well-developed muscles, a massive head, a powerful neck, small pointed erect ears and a fluffy tail drooping down with a curving tip.
The distinctive feature of the Australian Shepherd Dog is a kind of mask that covers one or both eyes.

The coat is of medium length, thick and stiff to the touch, the undercoat is short, the guard hair is thick, straight, close to the body, so the drops simply run down the coat.
Australian healer colors:
Blue: blue, blue speck or blue speck with or without other markings. Black, blue or fawn markings on the head are acceptable, preferably evenly spaced. The forelegs are tanned down to the chest and throat, and the jaws are tanned; tan marks on the inside of the thighs to the front of the knee and outside from the metatarsus to the toes. Black markings on the body are not desirable.
Red speck: even mottling along the entire length of the body, including the undercoat (not white, not cream), with or without darker red markings on the head. Uniform markings on the head are desirable; red markings on the body are acceptable but not desirable.

Life expectancy of the Australian Cattle Dog is average and is 10 - 15 years. However, there was one out of the ordinary case.
On June 7, 1910, a puppy of an Australian Shepherd Dog named Bluey was born. The dog worked as a shepherd for 20 years in a row, grazing herds of cattle and sheep! This dog died on November 14, 1939, at the age of 29 years and 160 days. This case confirms once again that active life always benefits!
Previously, Bluey was considered the oldest dog, whose longevity record was not beaten by anyone, but there are several other dogs that have lived for about the same. You can read about them here.

Features of the content, character and health of the Australian Shepherd Dog

Healers are very hardy and can absolutely safely endure long hikes, even in the hottest weather these dogs remain cheerful and efficient. The health of this breed is strong, but there is a tendency to blindness and deafness. Less often, arthritis appears in age.
They lend themselves well to training. The only drawback of healers is their unbalanced nature (the consequences of crossing with). Rumor has it that some Australian farmers, so that the healer does not run wild and has a softer and more flexible character, transfuse border collie blood into him.

Nowadays, Australian Cattle Dogs are mainly used as guard dogs, in addition, they are loyal and reliable companions, devoted to their owner and his family. These dogs need constant physical activity and sufficient space, both at home and on walks. Therefore, it is advisable to walk them from 3 hours a day. Healers need an attentive owner with a strong character who can put in place a flushed dog. It is not easy to raise and raise a mixed doggie.

Healers are also known as excellent athletes and successful participants in competitions such as agility.

Today the Australian healer is 114 years old and 8 months old

Photo of Australian healers

International name:Australian cattle dog

Country: Australia

Year: 1903

Height: 46.00 cm - 51.00 cm

The weight: 16.00 kg. - 23.00 kg.

Life expectancy (in years):14.00 - 16.00

Short description

The Australian Healer is a tireless herding dog, an excellent guard and fearless protector. If you decide to get a dog, you will not find a better protector and companion. The dog loves children very much, and will always protect them. Representatives of this breed are very attached to the owner, they yearn if he suddenly leaves somewhere alone. This is a real punishment for the healer, so take it with you whenever possible. These dogs are the standards of loyalty and loyalty, they show complete dedication, and thanks to their natural fearlessness, they become a reliable shield against dangers for all family members. These dogs are different high level intelligence - they clearly understand human language and in every possible way confirm this. Unfortunately, many of them die under the wheels of cars - their shepherd instinct is triggered, so it will be safer and more comfortable for the healer in the countryside. This dog needs space and fresh air, it is perfect for country life... They are mobile and playful; during a walk, the healer will always be busy looking for adventure, so you will not be bored with him. The Australian healer is a very hardy dog. If you are into extreme sports and prefer active rest, this dog will become your reliable companion in such an exciting business.

History of the breed

Fast, brave, smart, hardy Australian healers are very similar to their ancestors - independent, freedom-loving and fearless dingos. It was thanks to these wild dogs that farmers in Australia had the idea to create an ideal dog in all respects, which would drive and graze herds despite the local harsh climate, long distances and other possible difficulties. Dingo dogs caused a lot of trouble for local farmers, they quietly and silently attacked livestock and instead of getting rid of them, the workers decided to create a similar dog to counterbalance the dingo. Farmers crossed dingoes with smooth-haired collies. Puppies were born who did not find common language with horses. And then such a mestizo was crossed with a Dalmatian and an Australian kelpie. As you know, Dalmatians have been friends with horses for a long time, and kelpies are excellent shepherds. The standard for the resulting breed was developed by herding dog connoisseur Robert Kaleski. The NSW Kennel Club adopted this standard in 1903. The official standard was adopted in 1963 by the Australian National Kennel Council. The new standard was written based on the Kaleski standard. At the same time, the current name of the breed was officially approved.

Appearance of Australian healers

The Australian Healer is a small dog, compact in build, strong and muscular. His head is strong with a wide skull, harmoniously combined with the body. The muzzle is wide and powerful. The nose is black. The jaws are strong, the lower one is especially well developed. The ears are medium in size, set wide apart, dense and wide at the base. The eyes are medium in size, oval in shape. The neck is of medium length, powerful and muscular. The back is strong and straight. The ribcage is deep and wide. The limbs are straight, parallel to each other, well muscled. The tail is set quite low, of medium length, drooping down, slightly curved, due to the long hair it resembles a brush. The coat is coarse, short and straight with a dense, close-fitting undercoat. On the back of the limbs, the hair forms feathers, on the thighs "trousers". The hair around the neck is also longer. The color can be red, blue, blue, speckled with black, blue and brown markings.

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Health, disease

The gene pool in these dogs is extremely strong. Perhaps thanks to the genes of the wild dingo dog, these shepherd dogs some of the most hardy and resistant to different diseases... In addition, dogs of this breed are among the long-livers. An Australian healer named Blue is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "oldest dog" in the world. This dog lived for 29 years, 5 months and 7 days (06/07/1910 - 11/14/1939), of which 20 years she devoted to her work - herding herds. Of course, for your dog to be healthy, you need to take care of it. The healer needs to spend a lot of time outdoors. These dogs are made to graze and move herds. Therefore, they need intense exercise every day for their physical and emotional health. Before you buy a puppy of this breed, be sure to study its heredity. In rare cases, dogs may be born with deafness, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and eye diseases.

The lifestyle of these dogs must be very active. Of course, they will not be able to live in an apartment, especially if the owner disappears at work all day and takes his pet out for a maximum of half an hour twice a day. These dogs are ready to move 24 hours a day. Therefore, they will be much better off on a farm or in a large private house with a large plot. Of course, you can keep the healer in the apartment, but if you yourself cannot live a day without sports and travel. In this case, this Australian dog will become an irreplaceable companion for you, even if you live with him in an apartment. Taking care of Australian healers is a snap. Their coat is self-cleaning. It is recommended to wash them no more than twice a year, otherwise the wool will lose its peculiarity. Breeders advise, instead of washing, to wipe them with a wet towel dipped in water and a little vinegar. When washing, use only natural shampoos without chemical components. During the moulting period, the healer's coat should be combed out with a slicker about four times a week. The healer moves a lot, watch his paws carefully: trim the claws, grease with olive or other vegetable oil the pads of his paws to heal the cracks. Of course, do not forget about the eyes, which need to be regularly washed with a decoction of chamomile, and also make sure that no debris gets into them, otherwise infectious diseases may occur.

Character and temperament

Australian healers are loyal and loyal dogs that will follow their master everywhere. They do not trust strangers, even at puppyhood they are always on the alert if there are strangers on their territory. These dogs have developed a protective instinct from birth, they are desperately ready to protect their loved ones. They are so self-confident that they can easily enter into an uneven fight. Healers become attached to their master once and for all.

Nutrition

Locals in Australia believe that healer Blue lived for 29 years thanks to the fact that he ate kangaroo and Emu ostrich meat. Of course, no one can reliably say this. However, one thing is clear that dogs of this breed are very fond of meat, especially considering that their ancestors were wild. However, in order for the diet to be complete, the pet needs to be given vegetables, fruits, fish, dairy products. Moreover, the healer will eat all this with pleasure. These dogs are not at all picky about food, sometimes, it seems that they are ready to eat even inedible items. Be sure to keep track of the portions of your pet. Healers tend to gain weight quickly, even if they are hyperactive. Make sure that the dog rests after eating, otherwise there may be a bloated stomach. Do not feed your dog with sweets, chocolate, pickled and smoked products, in general, everything that is sold in any supermarket and that you are happy to eat yourself.

Training, training

An Australian healer must be trained with early age... These dogs quickly memorize commands, almost immediately understand what is required of them, however, it is quite difficult for them to follow certain rules. The blood of wild dogs flows in their veins, this should never be forgotten. As a child, a puppy must understand who the leader is, then he will obey. If you are too soft and affectionate with them, healers will always make their own decisions and do what they see fit. If you manage to establish contact with the healer and take a dominant position, then the dog will follow all your instructions. Never use physical force during training, this is unacceptable. Dogs need to explain everything consistently and patiently. It happens that healer puppies begin to bite people by the legs. You must explain to the puppy that this is not allowed. This is not a very good habit of many herding dogs; they graze cattle in this way. To be successful in raising your Australian healer, make sure your training is fun, carefree and varied. Representatives of this breed will be happy to learn if they are interested. These dogs are versatile: they can be rescuers, hunters, guards, athletes, winners of all kinds of dog competitions. You can teach a healer almost anything. Especially if you encourage him with delicacy and affection. Healers are very fond of delicious food and receive praise from their master.

The Australian continent boasts one of the most intelligent and quick-witted dog breeds - the Australian Shepherd Dog. This breed is also known by the names: Blue Healer, Red Healer, Queensland Healer, Kettle Dog.

History of the breed

The ancestor of the Australian healer is the wild dog Dingo. The very concept of "healer" is translated from English as "heel" - because of the peculiarity of these dogs to bite the back of the legs of cattle during his corral.

This breed was specially bred in Australia to help graze and drive animals over long distances. One of the Australian farmers Thomas Hall began crossing the Dingo dog with the short-haired collie. Long time such dogs were only on the farm of Hall, and only after his death the resulting dog breed began to actively spread in Australia.

However, to improve the new breed, dog breeders continued to breed dogs with Dalmatians, Bull Terriers and Kelly, resulting in two new dog breeds: the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog.

Until the middle of the 20th century, kettle dogs were not exported from Australia, and only after the war did this breed come to the United States. In Europe, these dogs appeared even later, in the late 70s. 20th century, and in the CIS countries the first dog came only at the beginning of the 21st century.

Exterior

The appearance of the Australian healer is very similar to a collie dog. This is not very big dogs, the height of males is 45-52 cm, the weight - 20-23 kg, bitches are tall 42-49 cm, the weight- 20-23 kg... Healers appear to be short in length and rather tall. The skull of these dogs is quite wide, but fully corresponds to the proportions of the dog. The ears are small, set wide apart, slightly pointed at the edges. The eyes are not large, dark brown with an intelligent look.

The Australian healer has a very strong and broad back, the dog's chest is deep and muscular. The tail of these dogs is not docked; at the end of the tail there is a small "tassel" of wool. The coat is water-repellent, very thick and perfectly warms the dog, the undercoat is very dense and short. Color can be of several types:

1. Light blue with blue or white, or without them. Let's say a fawn undercoat.
2. Red with uniform red dots all over the body, the spots on the head are darker. Spots on the body are considered unacceptable, dogs with them are very often deaf.

Character

Australian healer, despite being bred as herding dog, nowadays is an excellent watchman and companion. These dogs are smart, they are loyal and devoted friends for their owner, such devotion sometimes even goes off scale, it is very difficult for a dog to part with the owner, even for a short time. Healer is a very affectionate and gentle dog, she worships her master, and with pleasure unobtrusively lies at his feet.

Boundless love manifests itself only for one owner, with the rest of the family she is just friendly and accommodating. The Cattle Dog is a very brave dog, she clearly knows owl territory and is ready to guard it at any time of the day.

These dogs tend to dominate all other animals, so their relationship with pets does not work out. The tendency to dominate can also manifest itself in a relationship with the owner, so a beginner is unlikely to cope with its upbringing. Such a dog is not for families with small children, as the healer gets along very badly with babies.

Care and education

Kettle Dog will not be able to live in an apartment, she can simply run away from it in search of adventure, she needs Vacation home with a huge yard, she will not live in an aviary either. The dog needs long walks, at least three hours a day. Walking should be very active - a lot of jogging and exercise. Because of his great curiosity, the dog can run away as soon as the opportunity arises.

Healers even know how to open doors, and undermine the soil under the fence. Dogs in training are very stubborn and listen to the owner only because he is "in charge", but if the commands are not interesting to the dog and are often repeated, then it will stop obeying.

The Australian healer's coat should be brushed weekly with a stiff bristled brush. During seasonal moulting, the coat should be combed at least once every two days. It is only necessary to bathe the dog in the case of very heavy contamination with a gentle shampoo. The dog does not need to trim the claws, they grind off during exercise and running. The dog's eyes must be rinsed clean boiled water several times a week, it is also recommended to brush your dog's teeth with special pastes.