With Cesar taking his live seminar to the great Australian wilderness (Sydney, oh my!), we at CMI thought this would be an excellent moment to catch you up on some of Oz's most popular and hard-working dog breeds. Ace!

German/Australian Koolie
Like many of Australia's dog breeds, Koolies are a working breed. Herders by nature, Koolies are not easily recognized because of their incredible physical diversity. In the north, they are taller and more agile; while in the south, they are shorter and stockier. Their coats are either solid (where they are often mistaken for Kelpies) or merled (an eccentric smattering of many different colors.) The Koolie is very task-oriented, and will bond closely with its pack leader when its needs are fulfilled. They are loyal, patient, and devoted.

Kelpie
The Kelpie is a popular breed throughout Australia and much of the world, valued for its herding abilities. With minimal training, Kelpies are adept at herding and droving, making them a popular choice for farm work. They vary widely in coloration and coat types, and they are divided by the Australian Kennel Club into two categories: Working Kelpies and Show Kelpies. Show Kelpies are bred for their looks and presentability, and are more highly valued in solid colors and a specified coat style. Working Kelpies, on the other hand, are bred for their herding ability, regardless of looks. Kelpies are sweet, good-natured, and loyal, but they require breed-specific physical and psychological stimulation to keep them balanced.

Australian cattle dog
The Australian cattle dog is a working breed that requires a demanding physical and psychological regimen. If left unfulfilled, cattle dogs become easily frustrated. They are remarkably sensitive to a pack leader's body language, owing in part to their impressive history as a herding breed. Unfortunately, this sensitivity can make them difficult to train for agility courses. Additionally, if pack leadership is lacking in any way, an Australian cattle dog is very likely to establish dominance or bond more closely with a senior dog, rather than with the owner. Examples of the breed include the Blue, Red, and Queensland Heelers. The unverified world record-holder for longest living dog is held by Bluey the Australian cattle dog who, according to anecdotal evidence, lived to be just over 29 years old.

Australian terrier
The Australian terrier is very similar to many other terrier breeds, and, in fact, shares ancestral roots with many terrier breeds in the United Kingdom. This particular breed, though, originated in Australia. They are small with short legs. That, coupled with their spirited temperament, makes them ideally suited for ratting and hunting out vermin. According to the Australian Terrier Club of America, these terriers must be watched carefully and made aware of the pack hierarchy, or else they are liable to become aggressive toward other adult male pets in multi-pet homes.

Dingo
The Dingo is probably the most popular and widely known of Australia's dog breeds. Despite the fact that it is so closely associated with Australia's wilderness, the Dingo is not exclusive to Australia, nor is it native. Dingo populations can be found throughout Southeast Asia - where it is hypothesized they developed several thousand years ago - as well as in Australia's northern mainland. They have features common to both wolves and many contemporary dogs, and are considered a vulnerable species as a result of crossbreeding with domestic and other wild canine breeds.