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The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD),('bluey' Blue Heeler, Quuensland heeler and Red Heeler was developed in Australia for herding cattle. A medium-sized dog thay have boundless energy and an independent streak. The Cattle Dog's coat comes in a variety of markings, sometimes quite striking. The basic colours are blue and red speckle. For dog owners whose interest is primarily in their qualification for conformation shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings, and large solid-colour marks on the body are undesirable. For owners who are more interested in their dogs' performance in activities such as herding or dog sports, the breed's strong work ethic and intelligence are of more importance than the exact coat markings.

The mask is one of the distinctive feature of an Australian Cattle Dog, consisting of a darker red patch over one or both eyes (for the red speckle coat colour) or a black patch over one or both eyes (for the blue coat colour). These are called, respectively, single mask and double mask. Australian Cattle Dogs without a mask are called plain-faced. Any of these is correct according to the breed standard, and the only limitation is the owner's preference.

Many Australian Cattle Dogs have a blaze of white hair in the center of the forehead, usually 1/2 inch to 1 inch by 2 inches to 3 inches (about 2 cm by 7 cm) called the Bentley Mark. This is similar in appearance to the blaze markings sometimes found on horses. According to legend, a popular dog owned by Tom Bentley passed on this distinctive mark to all Australian Cattle Dogs.

Breed Standards
A female Australian Cattle Dog measures 17 to 19 inches (43 to 48 cm) high, a male 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 cm). An Australian Cattle Dog is a well-muscled, compact dog with a short, dense coat and a naturally long tail Weight is roughly 40 to 50 pounds (18 to 23 kg). Tail, should never be docked.

Temperament
As with most herding dogs, Cattle Dogs are highly energetic and intelligent. They need plenty of exercise and a job to do, such as participating in dog sports, learning tricks, or other activities that engage their minds or they will become destructive or seek to entertain themselves in antiscocial ways, like escaping the yard to round up your neighbours. They prefer a varied training approach with repeitive methods seen as boring. They are naturally wary, and may nip strangers as a warning, especially as they age.

Cattle Dogs drive cattle by nipping at their heels, but they have also been known to herd other animals, such as ducks or chickens without instruction when left to their own devices. When around people, their instinct to herd is sometimes hard to suppress and they can nip at people to herd them. If these dogs will be around children, they and their owners must have sufficient training to know how to manage or avoid such situations.

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