Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed ComparisonAustralian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is originated from Australia but Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). Both Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) has almost same life span. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog may have less litter size than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog requires Moderate Maintenance. But Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
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Australia
Belgium
Height Male:
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 23 kg
35 - 51 pounds
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 50 kg
94 - 111 pounds
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
6 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Stumpy, Stumpy Tail
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Colors Available:
speckled red- or speckled blue.
Black
Coat:
short to medium length, dense and straight
Dense double coat
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Constant, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

australian stumpy tail cattle dogThere is quite a bit of mystery surrounding the origin of the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. The breed was developed as a working dog to herd sheep and cattle, but there are quite a few theories about the development of the breed. It is agreed however, that the dog was developed in Australia and came about from crossing the Australian Dingo and British herding dogs.

Perhaps the most popular theory for the origin of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is that the breed was developed by a man named Timmins, sheep drover and a cattle operating in New South Wales during the colonial period. Whatever the dog’s origins, it was in 1996 that the United Kennel Club, the 2nd largest dog registry in the world and the United States, granted full recognition to the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog as a member of the Herding Group. The breed’s name was changed to the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog in 2002. Today he remains almost exclusively a tail-less working dog.

belgian shepherd dog groenendaelLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

Description

Naturally Tail-less

australian stumpy tail cattle dog puppy - descriptionAn interesting fact about the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is that he is naturally tail-less so no tail docking has been required for this naturally bobtailed dog. He is medium-sized to large-sized with his most distinctive feature being the lack of a tail. The coat of the dog is short to medium length, dense and straight. Another interesting aspect is that the coat color is a speckled blue or speckled red.

A Well Proportioned Dog

Height of the dog is 46–51 centimetres at the withers the dog is normally squarely proportioned with long legs and pricked ears. The dog has no exaggerated features and what you see is what you get – a plain, hard-working dog which is fit and muscular. He is equally long from chest to rump as he is from the ground to the shoulder.

The muzzle of the dog is of average length, but fairly broad and the nose is always black. The dog is intelligent, alert and also mischievous and he makes a good pet. With proper socialization, he’ll get on well with children they know and who treat them with kindness. He is alert and makes a very good watchdog, being fairly territorial.

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

Characteristics

australian stumpy tail cattle dog dog - characteristicsThe Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a hardy dog, capable of hardships that would take its toll on other dog breeds. He is a wonderful athlete and if you’ve got him working with your livestock, he’ll tirelessly perform his duties – small wonder he is so valued in the Australian cattle industry.

Your Partner in Adventure

If you’re looking for a robust breed who will have all the energy needed to accompany you on all your adventures, he won’t disappoint. He is amazingly capable and always willing.

Caution with Small Children and other Pets

He’s a family dog and will be loving, devoted and loyal. Care should be taken with him around small children and other pets as he’s not to comfortable around them and he doesn’t tolerate strangers too well either. Train him and socialize him and you’ll have an amazing friend for life.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

Health Problems

australian stumpy tail cattle dog puppies - health problemsThe Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is regarded as being an extremely healthy breed, and the average life expectancy of this breed is at least 14 to 15 years and older.

They don’t suffer with many genetically inherited conditions, but they are susceptible to

  1. hip dysplasia
  2. progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  3. cataracts

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

Caring The Pet

australian stumpy tail cattle dog dogs - caringThe beauty about the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is that he is low to moderate maintenance. He will require a good weekly brushing as he can shed quite a bit when the season’s change and his new coat comes in. He is hypoallergenic.

Feeding

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog puppies will need 4 bowls of food over a 24 hour period Puppies from 6 months on can have 2 bowls a day. Speak to your vet about the best foods for your dog and ensure fresh, cool water is constantly available to your pet.

Don’t just feed your dog pellets continuously – mix in some raw meat and some cooked chicken and rice for variety and to ensure a shiny, glossy coat.

Plenty of Exercise

The Stumpy is a hugely energetic dog and he will become bored and frustrated if he doesn’t get plenty of exercise and games. Ball throwing, swimming, long walks and a run in the park will be important for the Stumpy that doesn’t live on a farm. Leaving him alone without exercise will lead to anti-social behaviour such as continuous barking, digging and chewing.

Vet Checks

Take your Stumpy to the vet if you suspect health problems. Certainly, when you buy a puppy, make sure that he has all his vaccinations. There are certain health problems that are more common in the Australian Cattle dog and you want to do whatever it takes to ensure your dog steers clear of them.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  6. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  10. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  25. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison