HISTORY
It is believed the progenitors of these dogs arrived in Australia with sheep brought out with the early settlers. It is safe to presume they carry similar lines to the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and the Border Collie. After the 1840 Australian Gold rushes, many gold diggers took off for the Californian gold fields and with them went sheep and their sheepdogs. Thus it was in America that a distinctive type evolved and a resultant breed standard approved
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 46-58cm (18”-23”). Colour: Black, red, blue or red merle with or without white markings and/or tan points. 
Coat: Outercoat straight or wavy. Short on face, ears and front of legs. 
Gait: Agile, straight and free. Single tracks with speed.
These shepherds must be lithe, muscular but not cloddy and with moderate bone. They are slightly longer than tall. The tapering muzzle is equal in length or slightly shorter than the square skull. The ears are semi-pricked or rose shaped. The animated eyes may be brown, blue, amber with or without ticks or flecking. The nose and lips may be brown or in merles may have up to 25% pink spots. Balanced fore and hind quarter angulation, fore pasterns have a slight slope and finish with oval feet. The back is strong and level and the croup slightly slopes to a straight tail docked or naturally short (l0cm or 4” long) which is similar to the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE 
Like the Australian Cattle Dog and the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, these shepherds are intelligent with developed guarding and herding instincts.They too have tremendous stamina and are faithful to their duties and family. They are happy and rarely quarrelsome, however they may be reserved on first meeting. The coat is of medium length and will need periodic brushing with a pin brush to reach through the undercoat.