Stump Double Cattle dog -- Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog X Australian Cattle Dog

		Stump Double Cattle dog
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Australia -> Australia
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Stump Double Cattle dog

The Stump Double Cattle dog is a rare designer dog, a combination of two cattle dogs that were developed in the Australian outback. Although the famous Australian Cattle Dog and the lesser-known Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog look and often act very much alike, they actually developed separately and have slightly different origins. While some Australian Cattle Dogs are born without tails, the genetic mutation that causes them can be fatal to undeveloped fetuses if both parents pass this characteristic on to their offspring. Unfortunately, the same gene is responsible for the absence of tail in the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. This breed therefore tends to have smaller litters than most, and can pass this trait on to its offspring.

History of the Stump Double Cattle dog

The Stump Double Cattle dog is a combination of two different variations of cattle dog, both of which were developed to help breeders in Australia's rugged outback. The better-known of the two parent breeds is the Australian Cattle Dog, a tireless, agile worker with a strong will and bold, robust temperament. The lesser-known of the two related breeds is the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, known until recently as the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, a breed almost unknown outside Australia. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a tireless, agile worker with a strong will, a robust, bold temperament and a notable lack of tail. The two breeds are close enough in appearance and personality that they can easily be confused, and often are, but when placed side by side, there are some notable differences due to slight differences in breeding preferences between the breeds. The first herding dogs used in Australia were a type of long-coated herding dog that had been imported from Britain, the Smithfield, an unrecognized breed of dog still found today in some parts of Australia. Unfortunately, the Smithfield's characteristic long fur coat is a handicap in the hot, dry working conditions found in much of Australia. So breeders began experimenting with crossing the Smithfield with local Australian Dingoes. These dogs were known as Australian Cattle Dogs, and some were born with a tail, while others were born with a natural Bobtail like Smithfield dogs. A sub-section of these short-tailed cattle dogs was preferred in some parts of the continent, and the smooth-haired Collie was sometimes introduced into the gene pool; these dogs were known as Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs until the Kennel Club of Queenland deregistered all Stumpy Tail breeders in the late 1960s. A breeding development program was set up in the late 1980s to resurrect the breed as the Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog. This is a rare breed and it can be extremely difficult to find trustworthy breeders of Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs or their hybrids outside Australia itself.

	A little of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
	The "Short Tail" has a long history in Australia and was carefully bred to drive cattle in the early 19th century. There are two schools of thought about the breed's true founder. The first version cites a certain Thomas Simpson Hall who crossed herding dogs from northern England, the Smithfields, with Dingos, dogs indigenous to Australia, thus creating the first Australian cattle dog known as the "Hall's Foot Dog" (circa 1830). In the second version, a cattleman named Timmins from Bathurst, New South Wales, crossed a Smithfield with the Dingo in 1830. The products, short-tailed red dogs, became known as "Timmins' Biteers". These dogs were great to work with, but it turned out they were too tough on livestock. Another cross had to be made. A blue merle shorthaired Collie was introduced and the result was the creation of an excellent all-rounder, the ancestor of today's short-tailed Bouvier. The Smithfield brought the natural short tail, the Dingo the red color and also the ability to naturally accept the harsh conditions of Australia's remote outback. The blue color comes from the blue merle Collie, which was also known as the "German Coolie". In general, Shorttails were bred in the vast rural areas of Australia, and only a small number were registered in herd books. In 2001, this long-established breed was renamed the Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog.

	Standard of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog


	A little of the Australian Cattle Dog
	The Australian Cattle Dog was bred to assist with the establishment of the livestock industry at the founding of Australia. The most important requirement was to breed a robust, biting dog with a good portion of stamina, capable of rounding up and moving wild cattle. The working dog breeds imported in the early days lacked these characteristics. The early settlers didn't have many resources at their disposal, which created problems for controlling their herds of cattle and sheep. Most properties were unfenced, and the wild backcountry was undeveloped. In order to manage the sheep and cattle more easily, they set about creating a breed of dog that could do the job for them. There has already been a great deal of research into the origins of the Australian Cattle Dog, but as early breeders didn't record much information, there are many different opinions on the breeds used to create the purebred dogs we know today. In general, it is accepted that the Australian Cattle Dog originated from a cross between blue merle shorthaired Colleys and the Dingo, to which black and tan Dalmatian and Kelpie lines were later added. We also tried other crosses, with a Bull Terrier for example, but these didn't produce dogs suitable for working with livestock.

	Standard of the Australian Cattle Dog

Appearance of the Stump Double Cattle dog

The Stump Double Cattle Dog is a compact, well-muscled dog of medium size and, while the Australian Cattle Dog's parent breed is slightly longer than it is tall, the Stump Double Cattle Dog may take its inspiration from the short-tailed Australian Cattle Dog and have a slightly shorter back and longer legs. It has a strong head, somewhat broad and flat, but tapering towards the front, a strong, blunt muzzle with powerful jaws, oval or almond-shaped eyes that are mostly dark brown, and small triangular ears that stand high on the skull. The head of this crossbreed is also likely to be a little narrower and more finely boned than that of the pure-bred Australian Cattle Dog. Blue eyes, either in pairs or singly, appear occasionally, but this trait is sometimes linked to higher rates of blindness and deafness, and breeding of these dogs is not encouraged.

Temperament of the Stump Double Cattle dog

The Stump Double Cattle Dog is first and foremost a working dog. These dogs have a lot of energy and mental focus, and without an outlet, they can often become anxious, obsessive and destructive. If their considerable activity needs are met, these dogs can fit in quite well in families with adults and older children, although they tend to try to herd younger children and toddlers by nipping at their heels and may test family members, young and old, for dominance as they progress into adolescence. Early socialization and training will also be necessary to curb this dog's natural tendency to distrust strangers, and can help moderate his aggressive and sometimes dominant behavior towards other dogs. Dogs that are raised with other animals can occasionally get away with it, but some of these dogs won't be able to resist chasing and biting smaller animals like cats.

Needs and activities of the Stump Double Cattle dog

This is an athletic dog that has been specifically developed for tenacity and endurance and, as such, needs much more exercise than the average dog. Although these powerful dogs are usually content with an hour and a half of vigorous activity a day, most would prefer even more. Fortunately for those who choose to share their lives with a Stump Double Cattle dog, these animals are quite versatile and enjoy a variety of activities such as flyball, competitive Frisbee, agility training and, of course, working or herding exercises. This is not a hybrid to be confined to an apartment, as it often becomes destructive and too noisy in a confined environment, even if it gets plenty of exercise.

Maintenance of the Stump Double Cattle dog

This hybrid requires less grooming commitment than many other dogs, both in terms of time and effort. Although this dog tends to be very active, it doesn't tend to generate a lot of body odor, and a bath is only necessary a few times a year. Its moderate shedding throughout the year is usually controlled by short weekly sessions with a long-haired brush or grooming glove, although the number of brushings may need to be increased if your dog gets dirty or dusty, as well as in spring, when shedding naturally increases. Both parent breeds are sometimes prone to dental disorders, so regular dental care is particularly important for this crossbreed.