The Australian Cattle Dog, also known as the Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler, and Red Heeler, is a herding dog developed by early ranchers in Australia for controlling and handling sheep and cattle in the wide open spaces of that country. The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized dog with a lot of energy, intelligence and an independent streak.

Appearance
The Australian Cattle Dog's coat comes in two basic colours (blue and red) and a variety of markings and coat patterns, sometimes quite striking. The solid blue coat has a bluish appearance, caused by the mottling of black, gray and white hairs all over the dog's body. The solid red coat is distinctly red, generally with some variable percentage of white hairs frosting the coat. With the exception of solid colouring for a mask or a few body spots, the rest of the Australian Cattle Dog is covered with hairs which are alternately coloured and white, like the hair on a roan horse. This roaning is also found in collies that are merle in colouration. But unlike merle collies, this colour in Australian Cattle Dogs should not be accompanied by odd-coloured eyes and irregular albino patching. The coat of a Australian Cattle Dog should show an even disposition of colour, save in the coat patterns of 'speckle' and 'mottle'. These two patterns (which show in both red and blue versions of the coat) are less common. A 'speckle' is a dark coat with a heavy roaning of white speckles, almost in a reverse spotted pattern. A 'mottle' is a light or white coat with regularly-placed denser areas of dark colour showing up as spots, inherited from the Dalmatian ancestry. Both of these coat variations are considered unusual and uncommon, but acceptable by breeders.
Australian Cattle Dog puppies are born white (save for any solid coloured body or face markings) and grow darker as they mature.

Character
The Australian Cattle Dogs do normally well with other dogs they know. With unknown dogs, particularly males, the Australian Cattle Dog can be aggressive and fearless. The Australian Cattle Dogs are friendly with children and like to play with them, but they also have to be trained and socialized for this friendship. Also the children have to be careful and respectful with the dog.
 

Temperament
The Australian Cattle Dog is a very intelligently dog, loyal and tireless hard workers who are devoted to protecting their owners, herd and property. Independent and obedient, Australian Cattle Dogs are sometimes suspicious of people they don't know.

Exercise/Training
The Australian Cattle Dog needs a lot of daily mental and physical exercise to keep it from becoming frustrated. It can be a good companion for jogging, hiking ore running along side a bike. Playing, obedience lessons or other intellectual challenges have to be done every day. 20 minutes obedience and playing with your Australian Cattle Dog will be more useful for the dog’s exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide. The Australian Cattle Dog is always happy to do a job, and especially when that job is herding.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a very intelligent dog, who is always wiling to learn. It’s very easy to train.
The Australian Cattle Dogs are expert frisbee catchers, with just a little work they can master this activity and enjoy it for a lifetime.

Color
The more common colour of the Australian Cattle Dog is generally blue, with ginger feet, ginger spots on the legs, and some of the ginger color on the face and underparts. The alternate, but rare genetic colour is red. A red Australian Cattle Dog should have no blue whatsoever, (although they can occasionally appear with black saddles -- this is a strongly disfavoured marking). Its body is flecked with red and white, its mask is red and if it has patches on the body, they are red also.
For dog owners whose interest is primarily in their qualification for conformation shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings, and large solid-color marks on the body are undesirable.

Grooming
The coat of the Australian Cattle Dog needs only a very little grooming and coat maintenance. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Nails should be kept short. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Australian Cattle Dog as long as you use a good quality  shampoo that doesn't dry the coat and is formulated for a "harsh" canine coat. Ears should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.