The stumpy tail cattle dog has been bred to control and herd cattle both in wide open and confined areas, and to able to handle harsh climate conditions. It is alert, intelligent, watchful and dutiful.
The breed has a long history in Australia, originating from cattle herders from the early 1800s. There are two main theories regarding its past. One is that Tomas Simpson Hall is responsible for the breed - he crossed northern English herding dogs, Smithfield collies and dingoes, creating the first australian cattle dog, originally known as Hall's heeler.
The other theory is that a drover named Timmins of Bathurst New South Wales mated a Smithfield in 1830 with a dingo, giving birth to a bob-tailed red dog, a type which became known as 'Timmin's biters'. The dogs were great workers but too aggressive towards the stock, so they were crossed with a smooth blue merle collie (most likely a dog of the type of dog today referred to as 'german coolie'), and the result formed the basis for the australian stumpy tail cattle dog.

The stumpy tail cattle dog has a broad skull with slight stop, deep powerful jaws with a blunt muzzle and muscular cheeks. The eyes are of moderate size with an alert and intelligent yet suspicious expression. The ears are fairly small and set high. Te neck is exceptionally strong, the topline level and broad. The chest is of moderate depth, the tail is undocked - it is naturally short, and carried not too high above the back. The coat is moderately short, straight and dense with a soft undercoat. There is a slight ruff around the neck.