ACD breed, characteristics from the guardian's point of view

Australian Cattle Dog

The origins of this breed are around 1830. The first attempts were a combination of Collie and Kelpi type dogs with the “silent hunter” wild Dingo. In fact, every portal and breeder's website describes the breed introducing or modifying a bit of history. We encourage you to find studies describing the formation of the ACD and pointing out the role of the various breeds added to what eventually influenced the characteristics of the ACD.

Mrok - The ACD

Our description of the ACD breed will be subjective, and will be about what we have, that is, what kind of dog our Mrok is and what we expect him to be with our help 😊

Many traits of this breed are treated by novice guardians as very positive and desirable, such as above-average intelligence. Meanwhile, the ACD's level of intelligence can cause the most trouble - an explanation in this article.

So we will not divide our observations into positive and negative so that everyone can judge each of Mrok's traits for themselves.

Very resilient and physically strong

These qualities are absolutely necessary for ACDs to work with heavy cattle. In a young Mrok, we take a very cautious approach to increasing the load on his muscles and joints. Until the 12th month, the dog chose for himself whether he wanted to run through the meadow or traverse it at a slow pace. We never provoked high jumps, running up and down stairs (Mrok learned to use the elevator because of this 😊 ). It may be a good idea to slowly increase the distance traveled on walks. From 1-2 kilometers for a 6-month-old puppy to 6-8 kilometers at 13-14 months. It is important that this happens gradually.

NOTE:

ACDs are known for giving the impression of being immortal! Without hesitation they jump off very high obstacles, climb trees in pursuit of a cat, or into very tight burrows from which it is difficult to get out. It is worth keeping a close eye on the young ACD and not allowing it to go to extremes.

Climbing? Sure :) !

Brave, independent with a strong character

This is what ACD is and this is what you should leave him. We do not force Mrok to be super obedient. We talk to him showing him options and ask him to choose the one we indicate. I know this may sound strange, especially for fans of “obedience” competition. However, the independence of a working dog is one of the most important qualities built over decades. Trying to “break the character” of the ACD is a very big misunderstanding. This dog will take care of us when we let him be himself but... there is a pitfall here.

Above-average intelligence (that's the trap)

Working dogs replace humans, or support their activities using qualities that we humans do not possess. Such dogs are highly intelligent, able to evaluate situations and choose good solutions.

This is not because they are intelligent, but because the intelligence and traits of the belt a very experienced trainer can channel and use for the work the dog does. This means that the dog feels fulfilled when it can act mentally and not just run.

NOTE:

It is the intelligence of the ACD that can be a source of problems for the uninformed handler who, when choosing this breed, thought that since he is above average intelligence. All I have to do is tell us to do something and it's done! No more wrong. ACDs analyze what they have to do and choose simpler, more beneficial solutions for themselves. They need an indication of the goal, not the components to achieve it. For example, a dog's recall, which we practice by always rewarding them with a treat, can quickly become boring and ignored in favor of sneaking a treat. However, the recall and the benefit that follows it, such as a few moments of tug-of-war play with a puppy, causes the dog to always respond to the recall willingly by giving up. ACD intelligence requires a lot of creativity on the part of its handler. The goal should be team building, not teaching show tricks. Team building includes learning tricks together as well, but this is a minor component, not a goal.

Long term and very good health

Our choice of ACD, in the beginning, was to look for dog kennels that primarily prepare working dogs, and treat participation in dog shows marginally. Unfortunately, there are times when winning shows can be lucrative, and breeders can focus more on making sure the dog has a correctly placed tail than being 100% healthy.

Mrok's brothers and sisters

ACDs suffer from joint dysplasia, deafness and serious eye diseases. When choosing a dog from a kennel, it is a good idea to ask for the health certificates of the dog's mother and father. Good breeders pay great attention to the proper selection of parents. The puppy itself has its hearing tested before going to its new home, and at 3, 6 and 18 months should be examined for joint dysplasia.

ACD puppy hearing test

ACDs do not pay attention to minor injuries, sometimes we say with a smile that they are like our Land Cruiser: his wheel may fall off, but it will not stop him and he will get us home. You need to carefully check paws, foot pads and claws, neck, ears night and eyes after every walk, and especially after long hikes. This dog will not be stopped by a minor injury, he will ignore it because he has a mission to accomplish, which is to be next to his handler.

ACDs are long-lived dogs. On average they live about 12-14 years .

Easy to maintain

Yes, a thick undercoat and a small amount of periodically replaced hair significantly improve the ACD's “handling” especially if it lives in an apartment and not outside.

ACD cheese easy to keep clean

Possessing a strong homing instinct.

The ACD is a master at finding moving objects, especially those that have separated from a larger group, such as a bull that has decided to chase ahead, separating from the herd. This ACD trait requires very firm redirection if we are not going to teach the dog to herd cattle.

If left, the herding instinct develops and quickly turns into chasing runners, cyclists, or cars, which can end tragically for the dog. In Mrok's case, from the moment we brought him to our home we began a process of extensive socialization, which is still ongoing. Outings to town, stores, elevators. Trips on the bus, train and streetcar. Visiting parks where there were a lot of moving people and animals. During this time, in addition to giving Mrok time to see what was going on, we always asked him to approach the caregiver before he started chasing, who would start a game that was attractive to him.

Does it work?

Yes - Mrok at the age of a dozen months does not react to moving people or cyclists, ignores cars, but is still learning to stop when reaching the edge of the street.

What we are still working on is anticipating cancellation in the case of wild animals (Mrok has several instances of chasing a deer or bird) and ignoring barking dogs behind the fence which is coming out better and better.

Communication with other dogs

ACDs without an extensive socialization phase can quickly become heavily territorial and protective (in a negative sense) of their pack. Little Mrok started his first encounters with other dogs very quickly. He learned from much larger, stable males, but was also eager to

meet his peers.

Little Mrok and the Czechoslovakian Wolfhound

We implement such encounters constantly. It takes a lot of effort for a maturing, uncastrated male to stay calm and get to know the dog he is meeting, instead of immediate dominance. We implement the learning of dog communication under the guidance of trainers and behaviorists who are very experienced in this field.

...But what if we skip it?

Dog communication is a very mentally taxing part of working with ACD. Such a burden a dog of this breed badly needs. Learning how to walk together, how to react to another dog or a group of dogs, helps a lot in gaining stability on walks or hikes together. ACDs usually do not feel fearful of another dog, which can lead to serious consequences, and these should be prevented.

Communication with other dogs - Fifka, a friend of Mrok's

Setting boundaries, or using ACD intelligence

This is more of a training and description section than a description of a typical ACD trait.

If we don't clearly communicate what Mrok can and can't do, he will get on our heads (literally) to get attention, or get what he wants. This is a very important part of socialization and the later coexistence depends on it. ACD requires ironclad consistency in following the set rules. If one breaks a set rule once, the ACD will take advantage of it in a way that can negate a long period of training.

Do you understand what I am saying to you ;) ?

ACDs will try to change (to their advantage) the set boundaries by pushing them by various means.

This is where we have one of the biggest pitfalls of living with an intelligent dog. Anything that looks “super sweet,” especially when the dog is a puppy, can turn out to be an effective strategy for achieving one's own goals, pushing set boundaries, or deciding what I will do.

However, if we remain consistent, the ACD will begin to respect us in its own doggy way. This is where you see the division between the person whose requests the dog obeys and the one it easily ignores.

In our case, we split everything 50/50. Each of us goes out with Mrok for short and long walks. Each of us rides in the car or on a bicycle with him. Each of us discusses very sharply whenever Mrok tries to push the set boundary.

NOTE:

The easiest way to lose your bond and cooperation with your ACD is to hit him intentionally as punishment.

To summarize the use of ACD breed traits:

We achieve the best results in terms of socialization and training by allowing our ACD a fair amount of independence and decision-making. We support him when he chooses dangerous solutions out of inexperience, something he doesn't yet know about. We try very hard to respect his pride and decisions but at all times, we ruthlessly set and respect set boundaries.

Mrok - part of our family

The Australian Cattle Dog is so much more than a dog. It’s pure energy, courage, and endless loyalty, wrapped in the body of a true friend. Give them a piece of your world, and they’ll fill your life with joy, love, and countless everyday adventures.😊 .