The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not an Australian Cattle Dog with a docked tail. He is a naturally bob-tailed breed and stands square with plenty of leg length under the body.
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.
Requirements for grooming are minimal. Weekly gentle brushing to remove 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.
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 adverse condition for which it was developed. Hiking, backpacking, and obedience training is essential for healthy body and mind for the lifetime of the dog.
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.
PRA-RCD 4, Baer Hearing Testing, Hips & Elbows, Hyperuricosuria DNA
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 Stumpy was the first breed developed in Australia. After a few more breeds were included into 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 Halls Heelers and Timmons Biters. Breeding emphasized working ability and stamina. By the 1890s, the Cattle Dog was exhibited and early classes included both long-tailed and stumpy-tailed varieties. By 1917, the stumpy-tailed Cattle Dogs comprised of 50% of the Cattle Dog entrants in some shows.
Immediately after WWI there was a decline of the Stumpy as a benched breed and by the 1960s only one registered breeder remained. By the ’80s, the Stumpy as a registered breed was nearing extinction. A redevelopment program by the Australian National Kennel Council began in 1988 and has been successful in preserving the breed in Australia.
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was introduced to North America after WWII along with the Australian Cattle Dog. However, documented dogs that were registered with the ANKC were not introduced until the year 2000.