Natural History

Posted in dog breeds | Tagged Australian cattle dog, blue heeler, Queensland heeler, red heeler | 11 Comments

11 Responses

1. on June 19, 2011 at 11:30 pm Steph

   I’ve never seen an ACD like that either. Looks like there’s a saddled red dog under all the roaning.

   
   
   • on June 19, 2011 at 11:38 pm retrieverman

     There are two Welsh sheepdogs that have the saddle marking:

     1. http://www.gis.net/~shepdog/BC_Museum/Permanent/AdelineJones/Hillman.jpg Welsh hillman
     2.http://www.gis.net/~shepdog/BC_Museum/Permanent/AdelineJones/BlackAndTan.jpg Welsh black and tan.

     
     
     • on January 7, 2014 at 8:03 pm Jadalina Vargas Ortiz

       I have one just like him! His name is Quinzy & I love him!!
       

       
       
2. on January 10, 2012 at 6:40 pm Biedale

   That saddle pattern is just a variant of the tan and black marking pattern common in blue ACDs. Per the standard, blue ACDs are called blue whether or not they have any red marking, but red markings in black and tan pattern is common. “Tri-colored” is not a recognized color for ACDs, as that would mean they had “pattern white” markings, like white chest, white muzzle, white belly, etc., which are not typical nor desirable in ACDs. The white mixed in with mottling (larger patterned ticking like this one) or speckling (finer ticking that can look almost solid) is not seen as a separate color as it is caused by ticking gene that gives ACDs their distinct coat patterns. The only white an ACD is allowed by most standards is the white “Bentley” mark on the top of the head (like on this individual), and maybe a slight white tip on the tail if the speckling/mottling doesn’t extend all the way to the tip of that tail. Mottled individuals, like this one, can have white areas around the dog’s seat and posterior “trim” of the hind leg where the mottling pattern often doesn’t completely cover. But this is due to the mottling pattern, not a separate white gene.

   The breed standard calls for a limit to amount of red can be present on a blue dog (usually judging by how high the red goes on the hind legs), so saddle patterns like this are undesirable and thus such individuals aren’t typically used as breeding stock. Doesn’t mean they can’t happen though, since the ACD breed was developed from breeds that carrying this black and tan variant, like collies and other herding breeds.

   
   
   • on April 13, 2012 at 2:15 pm littleapplesauce

     Can you look at some pictures of my ACD and tell me what kind of coat she has? You seem to know a lot. Thanks!

     
     
     • on April 13, 2012 at 2:45 pm retrieverman

       Sure. Use e-mail on the contact page to send me pics.

       
       
3. on March 20, 2012 at 4:56 pm Doris Myrick

   I had one that almost looked like this, he lived almost 19 years , he was beautiful.

   
   
4. on March 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm Doris Myrick

   This dog is about as close to my Australian cattle dog, that I have ever seen, he had a lot of the same markings accept the head, very close.

   
   
5. on July 9, 2012 at 12:57 pm James Steeps

   I have a female , with similar marking as this red & blue roan, she have never
   need bred .Would you mate her with a blue or red ? I have neve seen another
   with such a mix of color

   
   
6. on June 24, 2013 at 2:20 pm Jennifer C.

   This Australian Cattle Dog is Mishak from MK Australian Cattle Dogs in East Texas. I used to work for this dog’s breeder a few years ago. He is a finished AKC champion and has produced some very beautiful dogs. He is now overseas in Switzerland. He is gorgeous dog with a personality to match.

   
   
7. on September 5, 2013 at 4:11 pm docrighteous

   This is what I imagine Jasper in The Dog Stars, the novel by Peter Heller, looks like.

   
   

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