Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Size & Energy: 18-20 inches, 38-42 lbs. male; and 17-19 inches 32-35 lbs. females. The level of energy is that of any lean-muscled canine; it is very high. Lean muscle does not heat up as quickly as heavy muscle, thus they tend to have more stamina than that of the heavier-made Australian Cattle Dog.

Characteristics: Faithful, Tenacious, and Reliable: Faithful to its owners, the Stumpy desires to be with its people. A tenacious working dog for all stock and conditions makes him a reliable companion for the stockman. A natural bob-tailed breed, it should stand square, with plenty of leg length under the body; ratio being 55% leg to 45% body depth.

Did You Know?

The Stumpy was Australia’s FIRST home-bred “invention.”
The Stumpy is an ancestor of the Australian Cattle Dog.
The Stumpy CAN be born with a long tail.
Although the Stumpy is the same height as the ACD, the Stumpy is longer in leg length than the Australian Cattle Dog.
The Stumpy is born white, as is the ACD.
Although he was erroneously listed as an “Australian Cattle Dog” among AKC’s first canines, “Paw of Courage” was a blue male STUMPY known as “Betcha.” (Fact, per Grace Harper, Breeder: This Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was sent to a Vermont Sheriff’s Dept. as “SilverParks Betcha Ima Getcha.”)
Breed History: There are two schools of thought regarding the development of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. During the 1840s, two stockmen in separate states of Australia began crossing local working dogs with imported Drover’s dogs that may have carried the natural tailless-ness. It is believed that the ASTCD was the first breed developed in Australia, and with a few more additions (of other breeds) in the development process, the Australian Cattle Dog came to be.

The Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog developed from the same ancestors of early Hall’s Heelers and Timmons Biters. Emphasis was on breeding for working ability and stamina. By the 1890s, the Cattle Dog was exhibited and it’s evident that early Cattle Dog classes included both long-tailed and stumpy-tailed varieties. By 1917, in some shows, Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs comprised fifty percent of the Cattle
Dog entrants.

The period after WWI saw a decline of the Stumpy as a benched breed. By the 1960s, only one registered breeder remained for the Stumpy. In the 1980s, the Stumpy as a registered breed was nearing extinction. A redevelopment program by the ANKC began and has been successful in preserving the breed in Australia. The Stumpy was introduced, along with the ACD, to North America after WWII. However, documented (registered with the ANKC) Stumpy’s were not introduced until the year 2000.

Temperament & Training: Easily trained using reward-based methods. Problem-solving and comical in nature. Temperament ranges from people-friendly to a bit wary of strangers. Great with known persons. Can be a bit of a watch dog and will alert owners to strangers nearing their property. Amenable to judges’ exams in the show rings.

National Breed Club – Pending: Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Society of America.

Care: Good quality food is essential for health. Daily exercise is required to keep this breed healthy and lean. Bathing and brushing will keep the coat clean and free of loose hair. Regular training, such as trick dog training, will keep this breed in good spirits.

Nutrition & Feeding: Good quality foods that are formulated to ALL LIFE STAGES is recommended. Feeding amounts will vary, depending upon the activity levels the dog gets daily. Two meals, equally spaced during the day, will suffice. Free-feeding can be done as long as the dog does not get overweight.

A high-energy feed that has non-GMO grains seems to work well with these dogs. Transitioning from puppy food to adult foods is really not necessary.

Grooming – Coat Length/Grooming Requirements: Requirements for grooming are minimal. Weekly, gentle brushing removes excess shed hair and dirt. Bathing should be done as needed. Facial whiskers should not be removed. No trimming of tail hairs, as this is a “natural” breed. Toe nails need weekly attention as they tend to grow quickly and sharp. Coat length is 1 to 1-1/2 inches. Slight feathering on outer thighs. Coat should lay flat and close to the body.

Energy and Exercise: The “Stumpy” has a very high energy level and, therefore, needs daily exercise, a secure place to run, and mind-stimulating work. With a high level of stamina, this breed can work stock all day in the adverse condition for which it was developed. Hiking, backpacking, and obedience training are essential for healthy body and mind for the lifetime of the dog.

Health: The Stumpy is a relatively healthy breed and can live 12 to 15 years. All pups should be BEAR hearing tested, as this breed carries the gene for deafness. Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Primary Lens luxation are inherited eye problems, and all breeding pairs should be DNA screened to make good
breeding decisions.

Color:

Blue – The color should be a good, even Blue Mottle or Blue Speckle, with or without black marking on the head and body. Blues should not have a red undercoat or any appearance of red throughout the coat or head.

Red – The color should be a good even Red Mottle or Red Speckle, with or without red markings on head and body. Reds should not have a blue undercoat or any appearance of blue throughout the coat or head.

Tan – Irrespective of the color of the dog, Tan Markings are not permissible in either the Blue or Red dogs, under any circumstances.

Cream or White Undercoat

Any Color Other Than Black on Nose and Toenails

Serious Faults:

Tan Markings
Tan/Red Overlay on Head and/or Body in Blue Dogs
Blue Muzzle and/or Blue Overlay on Head and/or Body in Red Dogs
Contacts:

Facebook Page – Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Society of the United States

Website – www.stumpytailcattledogs.org – ASTCDS of America