Australian Cattle Dog. Charlotte Schwartz

owned by Sherry Toft.

      Forequarters: The shoulders are strong, sloping, muscular and well angulated to the upper arm and should not be too closely set at the point of the withers. The forelegs have strong, round bone, extending to the feet and should be straight and parallel when viewed from the front, but the pasterns should show flexibility with a slight angle to the forearm when viewed from the side. Although the shoulders are muscular and the bone is strong, loaded shoulders and heavy fronts will hamper correct movement and limit working ability.

      Body: The length of the body from the point of the breast bone, in a straight line to the buttocks, is greater than the height at the withers, as 10 is to 9. The topline is level, back strong with ribs well sprung and carried well back, not barrel ribbed. The chest is deep, muscular and moderately broad with the loins broad, strong and muscular and the flanks deep. The dog is strongly coupled.

      Hindquarters: The hindquarters are broad, strong and muscular. The croup is rather long and sloping, thighs long, broad and well developed, the stifles well turned and the hocks strong and well let down. When viewed from behind, the hind legs, from the hocks to the feet, are straight and placed parallel, neither close nor too wide apart.

       Aust. Ch. Kombinalong Daretobsuper, bred by Kombinalong Kennels.

      Feet: The feet should be round and the toes short, strong, well arched and held close together. The pads are hard and deep, and the nails must be short and strong.

      Tail: The set on of tail is moderately low, following the contours of the sloping croup and of length to reach approximately to the hock. At rest it should hang in a very slight curve. During movement or excitement the tail may be raised, but under no circumstances should any part of the tail be carried past a vertical line drawn through the root. The tail should carry a good brush.

       A proper Cattle Dog scissors bite.

       FAULTS IN PROFILE

      Generally lacking substance, long back, upright shoulders, ewe neck, weak pasterns, flat feet.

      Lacking athletic flexibility, coarse, thick and loaded shoulders, high in the rear, long back.

      Gait/Movement: The action is true, free, supple and tireless and the movement of the shoulders and forelegs is in unison with the powerful thrust of the hindquarters. The capability of quick and sudden movement is essential. Soundness is of paramount importance and stiltiness, loaded or slack shoulders, straight shoulder placement, weakness at elbows, pasterns or feet, straight stifles, cow or bow hocks, must be regarded as serious faults. When trotting the feet tend to come closer together at ground level as speed increases, but when the dog comes to rest he should stand four square.

       FAULTS IN PROFILE

      Short neck, upright shoulders, narrow front,

      toes out, low tail set, gay tail, too high on leg,

      weak underdeveloped rear.

      Bullish front, thick upright shoulders, too wide

      in front, dip behind shoulders, lacking angulation

      behind, tail carriage indicating questionable

      temperament.

       The breed’s athleticism and stamina should be evident in the proper gait, which is among the points evaluated at conformation shows.

      Coat: The coat is smooth, a double coat with a short dense undercoat. The outer coat is close, each hair straight, hard, and lying flat, so that it is rain-resisting. Under the body, to behind the legs, the coat is longer and forms near the thigh a mild form of breeching. On the head (including the inside of the ears), to the front of the legs and feet, the hair is short. Along the neck it is longer and thicker. A coat either too long or too short is a fault. As an average, the hairs on the body should be from 2.5 to 4 cms (approx. 1–1.5 ins) in length.

      Color (Blue): The color should be blue, blue-mottled or blue speckled with or without other markings. The permissible markings are black, blue or tan markings on the head, evenly distributed for preference. The forelegs tan midway up the legs and extending up the front to breast and throat, with tan on jaws; the hindquarters tan on inside of hindlegs, and inside of thighs, showing down the front of the stifles and broadening out to the outside of the hindlegs from hock to toes. Tan undercoat is permissible on the body providing it does not show through the blue outer coat. Black markings on the body are not desirable.

       A close-up of the Cattle Dog’s smooth double coat. The short, dense outer coat is made up of straight, hard, flat-lying hairs.

      Color (Red Speckle): The color should be of good even red speckle all over, including the undercoat (neither white nor cream), with or without darker red markings on the head. Even head markings are desirable. Red markings on the body are permissible but not desirable.

      Size: Height: Dogs 46–51 cms (approx. 18–20 ins) at withers. Bitches 43–48 cms (approx. 17–19 ins) at withers.

      Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

      Approved: January 11, 1999

      Effective: February 24, 1999

       Ch. Gravans Snow Spryte, owned by Carol Anne Kriesel and bred by Sissi Vance, is a daughter of Aust., Am., Mex., Guat., Belize, Int. Ch. Kombinalong Super Impact.

       YOUR PUPPY

       AUSTRALIAN DOG

SELECTING AND PREPARING FOR YOUR PUPPY

      Here comes an important event in your life! You’re about to find the Australian Cattle Dog that’s perfect for you and your lifestyle. Keep in mind that your selection should be based on the homework you’ve done prior to this time. In other words, you’ve researched the breed by reading as much as you can on the subject, talking to AuCaDo breeders and getting their advice regarding whether or not the AuCaDo is the right breed of dog for you and, finally, talking to other Australian Cattle Dog owners and heeding their comments on the breed. The parent club for the breed, the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America (www.acdca.org) is a good source of information and can point you to regional clubs and member breeders in your part of the country. Additionally, it would be wise to talk to your local veterinarian and get his opinion on the general health of the breed, as well as inquire about his experience with the breed and any problems he might have seen.

       Your carefully considered choice of the Australian Cattle Dog can result in many years of canine companionship