About Blue Heeler Dogs

The blue heeler is an Australian cattle herding dog. Bred for herding animals, these dogs are known for their intelligence and willfulness. They thrive on physical activity. Blue eelers are a popular breed, however they need to have a skillful owner who can handle this level of activity and intelligence, and give them a purpose.

  1. History

    • The blue heeler was developed by 19th century pioneer settlers in Australia. Discovering that the dogs that they had brought over weren't well suited for the distances that the settlers were traveling and their new, inhospitable environment, settlers decided to crossbreed a new type of dog. Blue heelers are primarily derived from dingoes bred with the dogs they brought with them, typically the old smooth collie. It's thought that Dalmatians and bull terriers were also added to create the breed. However, it wasn't until 1980 that the blue heeler was finally recognized by the American Kennel Club.

    Types

    • Blue heelers are also known as Australian cattle dogs and Queensland heelers. There are also red heelers. Red heelers are red speckled and blue heelers are blue speckled. The blue speckled may also have black, blue or tan markings on the head. The red speckled usually have speckles all over, with some darker markings on the head.

    Features

    • The blue heeler is a herding dog and is both extremely high energy and very intelligent. Along with making a fine herding dog, they have a cautious nature, making them good guard dogs. They have a tendency to do very well in obedience rings, as well as agility classes such as fly ball.

    Identification

    • Blue heelers are medium-sized dogs, typically weighing no more than 30 lbs. They tend to be longer than they are tall. Blue heelers are solid, compact dogs with bright, alert eyes, and pointed ears. They have a double coat, one short inner coat, and one outer coat with blue speckles.

    Considerations

    • Generally, they do not make very good family dogs. They need a lot of exercise, and they need to be able to use their minds, meaning that giving them a job to do is a good idea. When a blue heeler is herding, it has a tendency to nip at the cattle. A blue heeler family dog will do just the same thing to people. Owners need to find ways to relieve them of this urge to nip. The breed can also be prone to hip dysplasia, deafness and blindness.