Australian Dog BreedsTough workers and small terriers from Australia

Working Dogs Built for the Outback

The Australian Cattle Dog, also called the Blue or Red Heeler, was developed in the 19th century to move cattle over huge distances. Its ancestry is generally said to include the dingo. It is tough, loyal and wary of strangers, and it needs a job every day.

The Australian Kelpie descends from working collies brought over from Scotland and is known for its stamina in heat and its habit of running across the backs of sheep in crowded yards. Both breeds thrive on farms or with owners active in herding, agility or canicross.

Australia's Small Terriers

The Australian Terrier is a small, rugged working terrier with a harsh coat and a ruff around the neck, bred to control rodents and snakes. The Silky Terrier was developed from crosses that included the Yorkshire Terrier and Australian Terrier, and it has a fine, glossy coat that sheds little. Both are spirited, alert and good watchdogs, with typical terrier independence.

The Labradoodle

The Labradoodle was first bred in Australia in the late 1980s, when a guide dog program crossed a Labrador Retriever with a Standard Poodle in search of a guide dog for a person with allergies. Its originator later said he regretted the doodle craze it sparked. Today coat type and size vary widely, and the Australian Labradoodle, developed over several generations, is distinct from a first-generation cross.

Choosing an Australian Breed

• Pick a Cattle Dog or Kelpie only if you can give hours of daily activity and training.
• Choose a terrier if you want a small, hardy and alert companion with moderate exercise needs.
• Consider a Labradoodle only from a breeder who health-tests both parent lines and is honest that low shedding cannot be guaranteed.

Australian working breeds generally cope with warm weather better than many northern breeds, but every dog still needs shade, water and rest on hot days. Expect the herding breeds to be reserved with strangers and to need early socialization.

Health and Care Notes

The Australian Cattle Dog is generally hardy, but responsible breeders screen for hip dysplasia, inherited eye disease and congenital deafness, which is seen in the breed. Kelpies are typically robust working dogs, though hip and eye screening is still worth asking about. Silky and Australian Terriers need regular brushing, and their small size makes dental care important.

For Labradoodles, ask for health testing relevant to both Labrador and Poodle lines, including hips, elbows and eyes. Their coats often need professional grooming every few weeks.