Australian Cattle Dog vs Australian Shepherd - Dog Breed Comparison - Aussie vs Blue Heeler

History and origin
Although both breeds share "Australian" in their name and are herding dogs, they are not related. The Australian Shepherd is not actually an Australian dog. It was bred in the United States around the 1840s to herd sheep. The name "Australian" may have been given because their ancestors, including Basque Shepherds, were brought to the USA from Australia along with Merino sheep.
On the other hand, the Australian Cattle dog is truly Australian dog breed. It was developed as the best possible dog for driving the semi-wild cattle over long distances and as a dog that would handle the harsh Australian climate and conditions without problems.
The Australian Cattle dog was developed from Dingoes and from various herding and drover dogs that were imported to Australia since the 18th century, but that were not perfect for doing such a hard job in such climate. The first person who started developing the Australian Cattle dog was Thomas Hall, who crossed the Dingo with herding dogs such as Collie, Kelpie, possibly with Bull Terrier. Unfortunately, no one really knows the exact ancestry of this dog, but they are definitely not related to Australian Shepherd.

​Appearance
Now lets talk about the appearance and , it is clear that these two breeds have distinct appearances. It is very easy to distinguish these two breeds apart. The biggest differences are ears and coat.
The ears of Australian Shepherd are floppy, while the Heeler ears are pointed. And the Australian Shepherd has longer and fluffier coat, compared to the shorter and coarser coat of the Cattle dog.
The Australian Shepherd comes in blue merle, red merle, red and black, while the Australian Cattle dog comes in blue and red color, both either mottled or speckled.
The Australian Shepherd also has longer muzzle, it is not as robust as Australian Cattle dog and it can have naturally docked tail, compared to the typically long and very bushy tail of the Heeler.
And what about the size? You can see the numbers of average height and weight on the screen right now and as you can see the Australian Cattle dog is on average slightly smaller than the Australian Shepherd, but the difference is not extremely big.

Temperament
The temperament of both dogs is not as different as their appearance. Both are hardworking, lively, loyal, playful, and generally gentle dogs. However, the Australian Shepherd is considered a softer dog and tends to be more companionable, whereas the Australian Cattle Dog is more alert and less affectionate.
Of course, that does not mean that the Cattle dog is not good affectionate companion, it still shows affection to its owners and create a loyal bond with them, but not to a degree as the Australian Shepherd, who requires much more attention from people. The Australian Shepherd is also, lets say, more jelaous than the Heeler.
While both breeds may be wary of strangers, the Australian Shepherd is generally more accepting of unfamiliar individuals, while the Cattle Dog takes more time to warm up to strangers. It is important to note that neither breed should display aggression without reason.
The Australian Cattle dog typically has stronger herding and guarding instinct than the Australian Shepherd. I would not recommend neither of these dogs to complete novices, but the Australian Shepherd is kind of easier to handle than the Australian Cattle dog.
Both dogs can live with other dogs or kids in the household, however you should always supervise interaction between any dog breed and a young children.

Exercise needs
Both the Australian Shepherd and Australian Cattle Dog are extremely active breeds that require substantial daily physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. A minimum of one hour of intensive exercise a day is recommended for both breeds, but more is always better. It's important to consider the dog's age and health, as young and senior dogs may require adjustments to their exercise routines.
Both dogs are always ready for outdoor walks, hikes, jogs, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions. Both are also capable of doing very good in various dog sports, such as agility or herding trials. There is not much difference in the exercise needs, as both have similar high energy character.

Health and grooming
While both breeds may be prone to certain health issues like hip dysplasia or various eye problems, they generally tend to be very healthy and have an average lifespan of around 15 years. These dogs often remain active even in their older years.
And what about the maintenance? Well, both dogs have doublecoats that shed some deal of fur all year long. Both dogs will benefit from regular brushing which will remove all the dead and loose hair and minimize the shedding. The longer coat of Australian Shepherds sheds slightly more than the shorter coat of Cattle dog, which means that the Australian Shepherds will require slightly more brushing. Other than that, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.