Medium-sized, rugged working dog with naturally short tail, bred for herding cattle in harsh Australian conditions. This compact, athletic breed combines intelligence, stamina, and exceptional herding prowess.
Developed in the early-to-mid 1800s by Australian cattlemen crossing British herding dogs (such as the Smithfield) with native Australian dingo-type dogs. Bred specifically for working ability and natural bob-tail, developing parallel to the Australian Cattle Dog as an independent herding breed.
Males typically weigh 16-23 kg and stand 46-51 cm at the shoulder; females 14.5-20.5 kg and 43-48 cm.
“The "Stumpy" possesses a natural aptitude in the working and control of cattle, and a loyal, courageous and devoted disposition. It is ever alert, watchful and obedient, though suspicious of strangers. At all times it must be amenable to handling in the Show ring”
Quoted from FCI standard n°351. It describes the breed the registry recognises, not any individual animal.
Breed reference from The Dog API.
Nobody has written this side yet. It is a judgement rather than data, so it waits for a person — not for a missing source.
Drawn from sources rather than written as an opinion — cited health research, the registry’s own standard, and peer-reviewed longevity. FCI breed standard. One breeder’s animals can differ from any of it, and an empty column means we hold nothing for that side rather than that there is nothing to say.
FCI standard · Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
As the FCI standard sets it out. Every line below is the standard’s own wording, tagged permissible.
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
Preferred, permissible, undesirable and disqualifying are FCI’s own words about the breed. They describe what the standard asks for — not an assessment of any individual dog, and not ours.
Shortened from FCI standard n°351 — each label is the standard’s own wording with the verdict lifted into the tag beside it. Read the full clause at source.
What a judge marks the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog down for, and what puts one out of the ring, in the registry’s own words. This describes the breed standard — it is not a checklist for the animal in front of you, and a pet with a disqualifying fault is an unshowable dog rather than an unhealthy one.
Marked heavily against a specimen in the ring.
Puts an animal out of the ring altogether.
Breed-level information from The Dog API. It describes the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog in general; any individual animal can differ.
No breed-specific health panel has been written up for the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog on this platform yet. That is a gap in our records, not a clean bill of health — ask the breeder which hereditary conditions their lines are tested for, and ask to see the results for both parents, dated and from a named laboratory.
This is where Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog owners’ own photographs will go, from the pet profiles they keep here. Nobody has added one to a public page yet.
A photograph in a pet profile stays private to its owner. We will not put one here unless they ask us to.
No Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog breeder has a record on this platform yet, so there is nothing to list. That is a gap in our coverage, not a fact about the breed.
