The AKC has grouped all of the breeds that it registers into seven categories, or groups, roughly based on function and heritage. Breeds are grouped together because they share traits of form and function or a common heritage.
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is not an Australian Cattle Dog with a docked tail. There are major structural differences in breed type between the two breeds of cattle dogs. Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are a natural bob-tail breed. Some Stumpy Tail pups are born with long tails and should not be discarded from a breeding program if they are of structural quality, but rather bred back to quality natural bob tails.
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Society of the United States
Denyse Adams: chredacds8@gmail.com
Lori Graham: lgraham1145@yahoo.com
Kim McDonald: breezyacresstumpies@gmail.com
Kevin Nicholson: nicholson.klnicholson@gmail.com
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 1.5 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.
Easily trained using reward based methods. Problem solving and comical in nature. Temperament ranges from people friendly to a bit wary of strangers. Great with known persons. Can be a bit of a watch dog and alert owners to strangers nearing their property. Amenable to judges exams in the show rings
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.
Recommended Health Tests:
Shall be that of a well proportioned working dog, rather square in profile with a hard-bitten, rugged appearance, and sufficient substance to convey the impression of the ability to endure long periods of arduous work under whatsoever conditions may prevail.
Broad between the ears and flat, narrowing slightly to the eyes. Stop is slight but definite. The foreface is of moderate length, well filled up under the eye, the deep powerful jaws tapering to a blunt strong muzzle. Nose is black, irrespective of the colour of the dog. Muzzle is blunt and strong. The teeth are strong, sound and regularly spaced. The lower incisors close behind and just touching the upper. Cheeks are muscular without coarseness. The eyes should be oval in shape, of moderate size, neither full nor prominent, with alert and intelligent yet suspicious expression, and of dark brown color. The ears are moderately small, pricked and almost pointed. Set on high yet well apart. Leather moderately thick. The inner side of the ear should be well furnished with hair.
The neck is of exceptional strength, arched, muscular and of medium length, broadening to blend into the body, free from throatiness. The length of the body from the point of the breast-bone to the point of buttocks should be equal to the height of the withers. Back: Level, broad and strong. Loins: Deep and muscular. Chest: The well sprung ribs taper at the lower half, to a deep moderately broad chest. The tail is undocked, of a natural length not exceeding 10 cm (4 ins), set on high but not carried much above the level of the back.
Well-boned and muscular. Viewed from any angle they are perfectly straight. Shoulder: Clean, muscular and sloping. Elbow: Parallel to the body. Forefeet: The feet should be round, strong, deep in pads with well arched toes, closely knit. Nails strong, short and of dark color.
Broad, powerful and muscular. When viewed from behind the hind legs from hock to feet are straight, and placed neither close nor too wide apart. Thigh: Well developed. Stifle: Moderately turned. Hock joint: Strong, moderately let down with sufficient bend. Hind feet: The feet should be round, strong, deep in pads with well arched toes, closely knit. Nails strong, short and of dark color.
Hair: The outer coat is moderately short, straight, dense and of medium harsh texture. The undercoat is short, dense and soft. The coat around the neck is longer, forming mild ruff. The hair on the head, legs and feet, is short. Color: Blue: The dog should be blue or blue mottled, whole colored. The head may have black markings. Black markings on the body are permissible. Red Speckle: The color should be a good even red speckle all over, including the undercoat (not white or cream), with or without darker, red markings on the head. Red patches on the body are permissible.
| Description | Standard Colors | Registration Code |
| Blue | Check Mark For Standard Color | 037 |
| Blue Mottled | Check Mark For Standard Color | 438 |
| Blue Speckled | Check Mark For Standard Color | 439 |
| Red | Check Mark For Standard Color | 140 |
| Red Mottled | Check Mark For Standard Color | 455 |
| Red Speckled | Check Mark For Standard Color | 440 |
| Description | Standard Markings | Registration Code |
| Black Markings | Check Mark For Standard Mark | 002 |
| Red Markings | Check Mark For Standard Mark | 023 |
