I recall the time I spent on a large property in Tasmania, Australia. One day, I was watching an AuCaDo working with some cattle, when a cantankerous bull kicked him in the side and sent the dog flying many feet away. When he hit the ground, the dog rolled over, stood up, shook his head and came back with a vengeance to bite the hock of the bull. As his teeth made contact with the bovine’s hind leg, the nolonger-stubborn bull turned and jogged away just as the dog had originally indicated for him to do. Suddenly that 1500-pound bull became a docile critter at the mercy of a determined dog!
Once you witness an Australian Cattle Dog at work, you gain a surprising respect for the breed. It’s amazing to witness such an intelligent animal, doing what he’s bred to do and doing it so well. It’s then that you realize that this dog would be absolutely miserable in any other type of lifestyle. He needs to do what he loves most to do—work.
The Australian Cattle Dog loves children and the feeling is mutual; but, at the same time, the breed is strong-willed and may attempt to herd toddlers.
HEART HEALTHY
The Australian Medical Journal in 1992 found that having pets is hearthealthy. Pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower levels of triglycerides than those who didn’t have pets. It has also been found that senior citizens who own pets are more active and less likely to experience depression than those without pets.
Owner Mary Ann Mullen, who lives in Virginia, loves to tell people about her Australian Cattle Dog, Cassie. The dog’s registered American Kennel Club name is R-Bar’s Roshara Mama Cass, UDX, NA, HIC. She has earned the coveted Utility Dog Excellent title in obedience competition, plus a Novice Agility title, and she’s Herding Instinct Certified. At six years of age, Cassie keeps busy despite the fact that Ms. Mullen does not live on a large property. Cassie does not herd livestock, but her many other activities replace the usual farm work and provide that necessary feeling of fulfillment.
“Cattle Dogs have extremely strong chase instincts and movement of any kind serves as a trigger,” says Ms. Mullen. “As much as they love children and will guard them as their own, I don’t recommend getting an Australian Cattle Dog for a family with little children. The dogs frequently nip at the flying feet of the children in an attempt to herd the kids and keep them all together. Older children do well with the dogs and strong bonds of affection, minus the nipping, develop easily.”
Ms. Mullen contributes another important recommendation: “Australian Cattle Dogs are not for the first-time dog owner. They must be trained in basic manners and control and an experienced dog owner is better equipped to accomplish this. The dogs can be stubborn and need firm guidance from an owner who realizes they are not little people in fur coats.”
Cattle Dogs are not for everyone. They’re stoic and need to be understood and respected by owners who have some knowledge of basic dog behavior. Once you understand them, you’ll admire their serious nature and devotion to home and family. In the correct environment, Australian Cattle Dogs make superb companions for life.
PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OF CONCERN
As with most breeds of dogs, there are some hereditary and congenital problems that have been seen in AuCaDos. For example, deafness is occasionally identified in the breed. This condition is probably caused by the Dalmatian genes and is often identified when the dogs are puppies.
Even the most stoic Australian Cattle Dog appreciates a cuddle with the owner he loves.
Some dogs are deaf in both ears, some in only one. Puppy ear canals do not open until the puppies are around two weeks of age, so evaluating them should not be done until the puppies are five to eight weeks of age. BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) testing is an electrodiagnostic test that can be performed on puppies younger than this age, but limited availability of testing sites make this prohibitive in many cases.
In the case of total deafness, there is a poor probability that the dog will enjoy a full and rewarding life. Most breeders will euthanize puppies that are totally deaf. Partial deafness, however, does not tend to be as devastating to the dog once he reaches maturity since the dog learns to compensate for his disability.
Hip dysplasia (HD) is another area of concern. In this condition, the hip joint is misaligned so that the ball of the thigh bone does not sit correctly into the socket of the hip. Each time the joint is moved, bone rubs on bone, creating a painful and debilitating condition. In some severe cases, surgery can alleviate the dog’s discomfort, but it cannot create a new joint.
Frequently seen in many dog breeds, HD must be identified via radiographic diagnosis by a veterinary expert. Sending the resulting film to an evaluating organization will result in getting the dog’s hips graded and his grades registered with that organization. The OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, certifies various levels of HD and allots a grade of involvement to each case. There are other certifying organizations for HD in other countries. Since HD is hereditary, dogs with HD should not be bred, as the puppies will probably carry the problem as well. In short, only dogs who obtain hip scores that certify them as free of HD should be bred.
Luxating patella is another name for dislocated knee joints. As with HD, the problem can be severe and is hereditary. Passing on this painful condition to the dog’s puppies is cruel. Therefore, dogs affected with patellar luxation problems should never be bred.
Finally, we need to mention the degenerative eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Sometimes referred to as night blindness, PRA causes the retinal cells to deteriorate so that the back of the eye no longer is capable of sending electrical signals to the brain. The nerves atrophy and the dog becomes blind.
The onset of this condition is often observed when the dog stumbles into things at night and seems unable to get his bearings. During bright daylight, however, the dog seems to be fine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for PRA and the condition usually reaches its peak when the dog is between the age of four and eight years.
A veterinary ophthalmologist is the only person qualified to test for PRA and can detect it in very young puppies. Both parents must carry the gene for PRA, but when only one parent carries the gene, it is considered autosomal. In that case, some of the puppies will show signs of PRA, some will merely carry the gene and a few will be clear of PRA. Therefore, buying a puppy from certified clear parents is the only way to assure yourself of having a dog with no potential for PRA.
Despite these physical problems seen in Australian Cattle Dogs, they are a far cry from some breeds in which the reported health problems are counted in the dozens. The way to avoid these conditions to the best of your ability is to purchase your AuCaDo puppy from a reputable breeder who tests the parents and puppies for known health and hereditary problems.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?
X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.
X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.
Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes