If you’re looking for a dog to interact with, then a cattle dog may suit you – but Cattle dogs are active so be prepared.  Cattle dogs are active, intelligent, self confident, generally 20-25kgs, 18-20” high,  bred to work cattle, bred to work 20km per day, and can’t drink water without at minimum their front feet in the bowl.

If you go jogging, riding, work from home or can take your dog with you all day, or if you own property AND are active and want a faithful dog to be with you (or  watching you) all day, or if you want to do training or agility, then a cattle dog may be for you.

If you want a dog to leave in the backyard while you work, and then sleep outside when you are at home – then you and the cattle dog will probably not get along. THEY NEED MENTAL STIMULATION TO STAY HAPPY. If you don’t provide this then your cattle dog, being the great problem solver that he is, will devise his own, and his stimulation may not be to your liking!!  He may find your garden fun, like pulling out your new shrubs, your new shoes could be fun (what great chew toys they are.)

 He may like your washing, in pieces and on the ground that is, (and boy that was fun.) They have been known to open doors, including pantry doors, remove food from boxes and lids from rubbish bins, and they do rather seem to like their cardboard in 1” squares!

The more activities you can give your cattle dog to do then the more settled he will be, and the less likely he will be to invent fun for himself, fun which YOU may not find appropriate.  Or he may decide that the outside world looks pretty stimulating too, and a 6 foot high fence is not an insurmountable challenge to a mentally understimulated  cattle dog.

If you don’t exercise and stimulate a cattle dog – he will do it himself!!   And being self confident AND problem solvers, you need to motivate them to WANT to do the right thing, otherwise they will work out when it is safe to do the wrong thing and have fun.

They have VERY strong prey drive – so be aware that the neighbours cat, the postman and  skateboards make great substitute cattle, as do pushbikes, cars, and pedestrians leaving.

If you make it through your cattle dogs adolescent stage intact!  then from 2-3 yrs old  you will have a loyal, faithful, active, sensible intelligent companion, who will warn you of  strangers, who will sleep at your feet (or on your bed if he is allowed), and accompany you where-ever you go, or if its too hot or he’s feeling lazy, he’ll just lie and watch you do the work.