Australian Cattle Dog health: what owners should know

The breed is generally robust, but conditions known in ACDs include hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, primary lens luxation and congenital deafness, which is linked to the white gene in the coat. Responsible breeders use hip and elbow scoring, DNA tests for eye conditions and BAER hearing tests on puppies.

Because Cattle Dogs are stoic, problems are often spotted late. Ask your vet to look at eyes and hearing during annual visits, and get an appointment quickly if your dog stops responding to its name when it cannot see you, bumps into things in dim light, has a cloudy, red or painful eye, or is still lame two days after hard work.