Yes, Australian cattle dogs are considered to be deep-chested.
The chest is deep, muscular and moderately broad with the loins broad, strong and muscular and the flanks deep. The dog is strongly coupled. Hindquarters: The hindquarters are broad, strong and muscular.
Typical round-chested breeds include Corgis, Labradors and Golden Retrievers. These dogs look like their chest is round and in the shape of a circle when looked at from the front.
The topline is level, back strong, with ribs well sprung, not barrel-chested. The chest is deep, muscular and moderately broad.
There are two distinct forms of the Australian Cattle Dog: the refined twentieth century strain developed after the inclusion of Dalmatian and Kelpie bloodlines, and the older nineteenth century working strain that has remained largely unchanged from the widely successful cross breed of breed of Dingo and English ...
Australian Kelpie. Australian Kelpie or just “kelpie” dogs are tenacious herders known for their intensity while moving livestock. Like heelers and aussies, the breed has strong herding instincts but with a little more aggression.
Cattle Dogs are good watch dogs, and enjoy human companionship. They have high exercise needs, and are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. Australian Cattle Dogs have a life span of 12-13 years.
Aggression (especially towards strangers) is the number one behavior problem we hear about from cattledog owners. Usually this begins when the dog reaches adolescence (8 months to 2 years). If not addressed, this behavior will get worse and worse as the dog learns to practice it to make unwanted people go away.
The term barrel-chested refers to a canine's very round chest that resembles the body of a barrel. The rib cage on a barrel-chested dog is very deep, wide, and round and they are visually chest-heavy.
They do it to cool off their belly, stretch their hips, or just because it feels really good. It's like their version of a yoga pose but if your dog doesn't sploot, it's totally normal too. Some dogs just aren't built for it and that's okay.
Defining Characteristics of Deep-Chested Dogs
The "heartbreak breed" typically refers to the Great Dane, nicknamed this due to their loving nature combined with a significantly shorter lifespan (around 7-10 years) and predisposition to serious heart issues like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Other breeds, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, are also called "heartbreak" dogs because of high cancer risks, while some owners find giant breeds or those with specific conditions, like Cavaliers and Pugs (heart issues), or Irish Wolfhounds (DCM), heartbreaking due to their health and mortality, despite their sweet disposition.
The calmest dog breeds often include large, gentle giants like the Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, and Great Dane, along with smaller, easygoing companions such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Basset Hound, Pug, and English Bulldog, all known for their relaxed, affectionate, and laid-back temperaments, though individual dogs vary. Sighthounds like the Greyhound are also surprisingly calm indoors, needing short bursts of energy but otherwise content to lounge.
Their short, double coat comes in red or blue speckled/mottled patterns, often with dark patches. These dogs are remarkably intelligent, highly energetic, and incredibly loyal to their chosen family. They possess a strong herding instinct, often attempting to "herd" people or other pets.
Common dog breeds with deep chests include:
Cattle Dogs are protective of their herd and their pack. They control their aggression, however, until a threat is deemed imminent.
Dogs can have wide, round chests, known as a barrel-chested confirmation, and is NOT the same as deep-chested. Deep-chestedness refers to the length of the chest from the back to the sternum, or bottom of the chest, and is usually associated with a proportionately narrower chest.
A red flag dog behavior signals deep fear, stress, or potential aggression, going beyond normal misbehavior, and includes intense growling/snapping without cause, sudden aggression in a calm dog, persistent hiding, resource guarding (food aggression), freezing, destructive behavior linked to separation anxiety, or signs of extreme anxiety like trembling, lip-licking, and tail-tucking, indicating underlying problems needing professional intervention.
Australian Shepherd Appearance
They're straight-backed and deep-chested, lean and sturdy but not stocky. The face is alert and friendly, with triangular ears set high on the head that either flop forward at the tips when alert or fold to the side.
With a Blue Heeler, don't neglect exercise & mental challenges, as boredom leads to destruction; don't skip early socialization, or they'll be wary of strangers; don't tolerate nipping, correct it immediately as it's a herding instinct; don't underestimate their intelligence & need for leadership, or they'll take charge; and don't expect short walks to suffice, as they need vigorous activity.
Also called sudden onset aggression, rage syndrome is a neurological disorder, not a temperament defect or training/socialization problem. Affected dogs go into a kind of seizure that makes them attack anyone or anything that happens to be in the vicinity.
They are highly loyal and protective but require early socialisation and training to ensure they interact well with children and other pets. Do Blue Heelers bark a lot? Blue Heelers are not excessive barkers, but they will bark to alert their owners of strangers or unusual activity.
Common Australian Shepherd illnesses
Like many herding breeds, the ACD can be a bit of a velcro dog. He tends to choose his main person and wants to stay as close to them as possible. That loyalty makes him a nice 'up for anything' breed.