Base your selection of first,
second, third, and fourth place in this class of six Australian Cattle Dogs on
type and the structural ability to control cattle in both wide open and confined
areas. When you make your selection take into consideration angulation front and
rear, firm toplines, sufficient substance (but not clumsy), balanced proportions,
and power.
ABILITY
Breeders describe the Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) as the greatest
worker of cattle known because it possesses the agility and stamina to continue
work over a period of many hours. He is required to have a strong, snapping bite
capable of shifting the most stubborn beast, and the courage to head off a troublesome
one and send it in the desired direction. The ACD must be able to either turn
quickly out of the way of danger or flatten below a powerful kick from a steer.
Versatile, the ACD can gently herd cows to the milking
barn or work stubborn pigs in a piggery; he can even work sheep if trained not
to bite. In addition to conformation shows, more and more ACDs are found in obedience
and tracking competitions.
TYPICAL With cattle dog function in
mind, the typical ACD's skull is broad and only slightly curved between the ears,
flattening to a slight but definite stop. His cheeks are muscular but neither
coarse nor prominent. The underjaw is strong and deep, the bite is scissors.
His
foreface is broad, well filled under the eye, and tapers gradually to a black
nose. Lips are tight. His length of muzzle is equal to or slightly shorter than
length of skull, the two planes parallel. His dark brown eyes are oval shaped,
medium in size, set well apart and express alertness and intelligence; a warning
or suspicious glint is characteristic. His small, pricked ears are broad at base,
moderately pointed, set well apart and incline outwards.
An exceptionally
strong neck is required of this worker of cattle. His neck broadens to blend into
his body, free from throatiness. His neck is of medium length and has a slight
arch. His broad, muscular shoulders are well laid back, the upper arm appearing
to be of equal length and well angled. The elbow is level with the deepest part
of the brisket, half the height of the dog. Strong, round bone extends to the
feet; the strong front pasterns slope slightly. The compact feet are round, the
toes well arched, and the pads thick
He stands 19 inches (48.3 cm) at withers.
Dogs are 18-20 inches (45.7 - 50.8 cm), bitches 17-19 inches 43.2 - 48.3 cm).
His length of body from breastbone to buttocks is greater than height at withers
as is 10 to 9; a ratio that promotes ability to turn quickly away from danger.
His level topline has a slight, strong arch over a broad loin. His tail is
set on moderately low following the contours of the sloping croup, and reaches
to the low hocks. His hindquarters are broad, strong and muscular, the stifles
well turned.
DECIDE You have studied each drawing and read the description
of typical. Do not let the black body markings on Dog B or the uneven head markings
on Dog C unduly influence your four placements.
1st
2nd 3rd
4th
(You can type
in your choices here before looking at Robert Cole's descriptions)
DOG
A
Any tendency to grossness such as the direction this dog has taken, is a
serious fault. This example conveys great substance and power but not in combination
with agility and endurance. Robert Kileski in his book Australian Barkers and
Biters likens ACD appearance to that of a small, thick-set Dingo, and faults any
departure likely to diminish speed and endurance. This sound example's heavy head,
body, and bone, lessens working ability to a degree, the exact proportion of degree
is yours to decide.
DOG
B
This full-profile, mouth-closed, representation of typical exhibits undesirable
markings, one on his left hip and one at the base of his tail. This is a blue
dog and the markings are black. Black is permitted on head but is undesirable
on body. In the case of a red speckle dog, darker red markings are permissible
on body, but not desirable. In both, if dark head markings are present it is desirable
that the markings be even.
Tom Dixon, speaker at an ACD seminar in Australia,
advised that "although black body patches are undesirable, an otherwise excellent
blue mottled or blue speckle specimen should not be put down under a dog without
undesirable body markings which is inferior in general conformation."
DOG
C
I have drawn his correct head in three-quarter view to illustrate required
broad skull, broad foreface, ears set wide and inclined outwards, fill under the
eyes, and muscular cheeks. I have given his head dark markings on the right side
but not the left to emphasize that although even head markings are desirable,
even is not so desirable that a lesser head would be given preference.
His
quick turning ability is reduced by his longer than typical body. He provides
an informative contrast to the correct 10 to 9 length to height ratio of my representation
of typical. His rib cage is long, not his loin (an important consideration); and
although his topline is long, it is still firm. Because of his longer body in
ratio to leg length, he will not endure as long at the trot or the gallop as would
a more compact cattle dog.
DOG
D
This is my representation of typical. He could be blue mottled, blue speckled
or red speckled, all with or without other markings. He has a smooth, double coat
with a short, dense undercoat. The outercoat is close, each hair straight, hard,
and lies flat making the coat rain resistant. As an average, the hairs on the
body should be from 1 to 1.5 inches in length.
DOG
E
This over 20-inch (undesirable) long-legged example (over 20 inches disqualifies
in Canada) prevents him from quickly flattening under a kick from a bullock. His
long rear pasterns also prevent quick starts, turns and stops. His ears are large,
but more serious, there is a lack of width between his ears, not because they
are too high on the head (which sometimes occurs) but because the skull lacks
required breadth; in turn, there is a lack of filling under the eyes.
DOG
F
This poor specimen exhibits many of the faults current in the breed.
To
begin, he has four head faults. They are:
1. Lack of black nose pigmentation.
2. Lack of definite stop.
3. Long muzzle.
4. Large, round eye.
His head is poorly constructed in many apparent ways:
1. He is steep in shoulder.
2. He is steep in upper arm.
3. His neck lacks arch and does not broaden.
4. His front legs are too far forward on his body, covering forechest, producing
a hole between the front legs and uncovering the deepest part of brisket.
5.
Tuck-up is pronounced.
6. Pelvis is horizontal, forcing the upper thigh and
second thigh to steepen, the croup to flatten, the tail to set on high, and contributes
to the dip in the soft back.
7. His bladed rather than round bone is light.
8. His flanks are shallow (and without a doubt, his loin lacks breadth).
Robert Cole's Placements of 1, 2, 3, and 4
Dog D is first place, Dog B
second place, Dog C is third place and Dog A is fourth place.
DOG
A 
DOG
B 
DOG
C 
DOG
D 
DOG
E 
DOG
F