The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not the same breed as the Australian Cattle Dog, although he may look very similar. The stumpy tail (which is natural and not docked) is the easiest way to tell him apart from his cousin, however the breeds also differ in other ways both physically as well as temperamentally. The two breeds developed separately from the same ancestors, although the Stumpy is thought to have been developed first. This is a highly trainable, yet free-spirited herding breed that knows how to make his owner laugh.
The Stumpy is alert, attentive and extremely active, needing frequent, regular exercise as well as a job to do which can keep him busy. Not a great fit for an apartment, this breed requires a fenced area to run daily, in addition to activities and training routines with his owner. Hiking with a backpack, working with cattle, and/or very long jogs are the types of activities which work best for this high-stamina breed. In fact, some say that this breed is even more energetic than a Border Collie… which means very few people are able to actually give the breed the amount of exercise and work that it needs.
The Australian Stumpy tends to be easy to train for experienced owners (he’s more of a challenge for novices as he gets bored easily). He is a natural problem solver by nature, and without training, can get into all sorts of trouble. When given training – an owner can harness that power and use it for good rather than bad! The breed can do very well in all manner of dog competitions including obedience, flyball, frisbee, agility, conformation, tracking and herding. Some do Search and Rescue work. They love to work and enjoy challenges. This said, they can tend to be dominant and must be owned by those who will make and enforce rules. Otherwise, they will run the household themselves, leading to all number of problems including extreme destructiveness and nonstop barking.
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs do make good watchdogs since they will alert their owners to strangers at the door. Once they are introduced to a new person, they are standoff-ish which may or may not change as they get to know the person. If someone was to break in, many members of the breed make very capable guard dogs and will not hesitate to defend their household. It is vital to socialize Stumpy puppies extensively while young because, without this important step, they may grow into extremely wary or even aggressive adults.
Stumpies are good with kids (as long as they have been raised with them) and can make good pets in the right homes… however the right home can be hard to come across because of their vast requirement for exercise. This breed can be very obedient, trustworthy and loyal. Keep in mind that this herding breed may try to nip at the heels of humans, so use discretion with very young children (or people who would rather not have their heels nipped at!).
There are a few health concerns in the Australian Stumpy including deafness, so puppy buyers should make sure to research a breeder carefully. All breeds and mix breeds can have health issues, but responsible breeders will health test their dogs in order to minimize the chances. Most members of the breed are very healthy and hardy, however, even having a high-than-average tolerance for heat than most other breeds of dog. The average lifespan of these dogs is 14-15 years, with some living as long as 18 years! In general, the Stumpy is an easy breed to take care of and doesn’t require very much grooming. Furthermore, their medium size makes them easier to transport while still having enough size to satisfy those who like a bigger dog.
As Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs were created almost exclusively as a working breed, they haven’t been bred to be a “typical pet” and may have a few traits to get used to. For example, they don’t always get along with other dogs (although may be ok if raised with them from puppy-hood). Some are also not safe around cats or other small pets. Furthermore, these are independent-minded dogs who won’t fawn over their humans in the same way that a Lab might. They enjoy being in the same room as their families but aren’t overly affectionate. As mentioned above, the single biggest difference between a Stumpy and “the average dog” is the fact that they require an almost inexhaustible amount of exercise and mental stimulation. This alone makes them very difficult to own for the average person.
Photo By Wendy Hodges