The oldest dog on record was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey.
Bluey lived to be almost 30 years old. That figure is in human years.
Dogs mature more rapidly than humans.
According to dog age experts, a one-year-old dog is really about age 15
in human equivalent years. The average life expectancy of The Australian
Cattle Dog is about 12-15 years.
Bluey was exceptional in that he outlived all the online life expectancy calculations. It may have been his diet or his genetics. The life expectancy of dogs increase dramatically because of better diets, better health care, and better living conditions.
Bluey was put to sleep on November 14, 1939 at the age of 29 years, 5 months.
The official AKC breed name for Bluey is “Australian Cattle Dog”. Sometimes these
dogs are called “heelers” because they were developed in Australia for controlling
cattle. The dogs were trained to herd cattle by nipping and biting at their heels.
Ancestors:
Bluey’s ancestors are Collies, Dalmatians, and the native Australian Dingo.
Bluey was heavier and more muscular than his ancestor the Border Collie.
The ACD have been working on Australian ranches since early in this century.
Bred to withstand extreme temperatures and the resourcefulness to forage to
feed itself like a wild dog made the ACD a very independent pet.
Physical Characteristics:
The coat is smooth with a double coat that it is resistant to the
elements. The breed sheds constantly and requires regular brushing.
Bluey and his breed are:
- Sturdy and compact herding dogs
- Well-developed muscles
- Powerful, strong and agile
Size & Height:
-
The breed is medium in size
- Weighs around 32-35 pounds
- Height of 17-20 inches.
Personality:
Bluey and his breed are very good with the family children. This breed has a natural
protective instinct. They are very loyal dogs and are easy to train. These dogs need
to attend dog obedience classes. As a result of their dog obedience classes, they
will be absolutely obedient companions.
The ACD tends to show some aggressive tendencies toward noisy and strange
children that tend to tease the animal. These dogs will nip at the heels of people
and children because of their inherent “heeler” traits. They may be suspicious
of individuals as well as other dogs.
This breed needs regular exercise. A daily walk will keep the dog satisfied. This breed is
very easy to train. The dog wants to stay busy so engage the dog in stimulating
activities like “fetch” or the frisbee.
Give the Australian Cattle Dog a toy and he will play with the toy until the toy is totally destroyed. They will run and fetch sticks, balls and even cans. The breed is fun and playful and make excellent companions for children.
Physical Accommodations:
- Requires a large open yard.
- Barks at any change in environment
- Needs attention.
When an Australian Cattle Dog is bored they tend to become destructive.
The dog will destroy any object left in his area. The ACD is a very
active dog and wants to run and jump in open areas.
Health Problems:
Genetic health problems may include the following:
- Deafness
- Progressive retinal atrophy (causes blindness)
- Hip dysplasia,
- Temperament abnormalities.
- Deficit of attention disorders
Few ACD owners complain of loneliness or lack of companionship with this breed.
The ACD wants love and attention and will give these back ten fold. Bluey is no
longer with us but the ACD breed , Australian Cattle Dog is one of the most popular dogs in the United States and in the UK.