Australian Cattle Dog

Also referred to as Blue Heelers, Australian Cattle Dogs are energetic herding dogs bred to drive cattle by biting at their heels. They are alert and active with a bit of an independent streak, requiring proper training and exercise but relatively little grooming (although they can shed a lot!). Born white, they quickly grow a unique blue or red speckle coat, with lighter piebald patterning associated with hereditary deafness. Otherwise, they are generally healthy, with an average lifespan of 12-14 years. They also make great agility dogs, but their herding instincts can sometimes cause problems if they start nipping at children’s feet.

• Primary Lens Luxation ADAMTS17
  Eyes
• Collie Eye Anomaly, Choroidal Hypoplasia, CEA NHEJ1
  Eyes
• Cystinuria Type II-A SLC3A1, Australian Cattle Dog Variant
  Kidney and Bladder
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5, NCL 5 CLN5 Exon 4 SNP, Border Collie Variant
  Multisystem
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd PRCD Exon 1
  Eyes
• Late-Onset Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, NCL 12 ATP13A2, Australian Cattle Dog Variant
  Multisystem
• Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa LAMA3 Exon 66, Australian Cattle Dog Variant
  Skin & Connective Tissues
• Myotonia Congenita CLCN1 Exon 23, Australian Cattle Dog Variant
  Muscular
• MDR1 Drug Sensitivity ABCB1
  Clinical
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 8, NCL 8 CLN8, Australian Shepherd Variant
  Multisystem