Cattle dogs have genetics from pit bulls in them. I have heard it's as high as 25% in some lines. A genius friend of mine, Don Greider, raised them for a very long time and was important in getting the breed established in the US. I would not worry about it though. I've had several and they were good dogs. They will bite when they feel the need too. Some can be nippy on animals or children running from them.
I hope he makes a great dog for you and your family.
Keith
I call bs on that. I know some who have crossed pit on some cattle dogs. But your cattle herding breeds don't have pit in them. Some of the cur catch dogs might but that's why they are curs.
In the US, until the AKC got a hold of them, Australian cattle dogs were a working breed and more of a type, where the dog's abilities and performance were what was important, just like border collies and feists. There were no set standards. The only think that mattered was performance. My friend Don was a big believer in the fact that standards based on just appearence and registrations, frequently ruin dogs. He wrote numerous papers on that and fought to prevent the AKC from ruining cattle dogs. Ability is much more important than physical breed standards in a working dog.
The heeling instinct in heelers comes from pitbulls that were used in bull baiting. Pit bulls were bred back into Australian heelers many times for strength and grit.
Physical breed standards, without regard to performance, have ruined many great hunting breeds, such as poodles, cocker spaniels, Irish setters, golden retrievers and many labradors.
One of the very worst things that can happen to any breed of working or useful animal is for it to become popular enough that people just breed it for appearance.
Keith
