Australian cattle dog

American  

noun

1. one of an Australian breed of medium-sized herding dogs with a blue, blue-mottled, or red-speckled coat, developed by cross breeding the Australian kelpie, dingo, and collie.

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Australian cattle dog British  

noun

1. a compact strongly-built dog of a breed with pricked ears and a smooth bluish-grey coat, often used for controlling and moving cattle

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Etymology

Origin of Australian cattle dog

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

In between were three stays with Nicole’s parents where their precious Australian cattle dog Goose succumbed, they believe, to accumulated trauma.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Others responded seriously, saying the picture was an overweight Australian cattle dog, or that “the hog” looked like a larger version of Luciano, a beloved black small pig often seen around Capitol Hill.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024

“This is your new home, Conner!” he exclaimed to his 57-pound Australian cattle dog, whose paws were slipping on the wood floor in the living room.

From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2020

Peters, also a golf course superintendent, had Chase shadow his adult Australian cattle dog to learn how to behave.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2013

To corner them, Hulet uses half a dozen hounds of his own special mongrel breed: one-quarter pit bull, one-eighth Australian cattle dog, and the remainder Redbone or Walker hound.

From Time Magazine Archive