Australian Cattle dog mix is a breed with many names; you may call them Blue Heelers, Red Heelers, Australian Heelers, or Queensland Heelers. The reason why they are famously known as Heelers is because of their unique herding technique which involves nipping at the heels that makes the cattle move.
Australian Cattle dog mix is known for their beautiful coat, intelligence level, and their go-to everyday playing nature. They came into being by the crossbreeding between two dog breeds, the Blue Marle and the Australian Dingo, in the late 1800s by the British settlers in Australia.
They are very loyal and energetic dogs who love to run and play and want to spend most of their time with their owners. Australian Cattle mixes easily suffer from separation anxiety if you leave them alone for a long time.
There are some things that you need to know about before adopting them which are explained below:
Appearance and Attributes
Looks
Australian Cattle dog mix is a very muscular, well-built, and dense breed that has a wide skull, fibrous cheeks, and a nose of medium size. Their eyes are oval and come in a dark color, and the ears are pricked. Their forelegs are parallel and their feet are arched. They have strong necks and shoulders.
Size
The size difference between the Australian Cattle dog mix is that the male dog is 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder and is 40 to 50 pounds in weight. The female dog is 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder and is 35 to 45 pounds in weight.
Coat
They are from the herding dog breed group. Their coat is short and double-coated and comes in either red or blue color, which is why they are also commonly known as Red or Blue Heelers. Their coat is what helps in protecting themselves against different seasons.The good thing about their coat is that their coat doesn’t need much care and only require minimal grooming.
Personality and Temperament
Active Dog
Australian Cattle dog mix is a highly active dog who just loves to run all around and play with his owner, and that is why he needs physical and mental stimulation to keep him busy. If you don’t provide him with something to keep him engaged, he’s gonna start destructive behavior that you won’t surely like.
Protective
Australian Cattle dog mix is very protective of his territory and he will defend it with all his might. He may act unfriendly towards strangers but by this, don’t get the wrong idea, he is very loving and loyal towards his people.
Once you create a special bond with your Australian Cattle dog, there is nothing that could break it, he will follow you to the end of the world.
Smart but Stubborn
Australian Cattle dog mix is a very intelligent and smart breed, he picks up things quickly which makes it easier for you to train him. But sometimes he shows his stubborn side and may refuse to act out your commands but you can overcome this by using positive reinforcements during his pieces of training such as treats.
He is a very willful dog who is eager to learn things. Remember not to punish him, this will only encourage him to show his stubbornness.
Early Socialization
One thing you need to keep in mind after adopting a dog is to train him at an early age. If you wait for the right time, you will not be able to train him at all and he will start behaving badly.
One of the first things that you need to teach him is early socialization. You can begin the training by slowly making him experience different people and environments. This helps in making your dog an all-rounder. By this, he will not be shy around different people and will be comfortable with them.
Also, take him on a walk with a leash to make him meet the neighbors and get to know them.
Health Conditions and Diet
Before adopting a dog, you should be aware of the health problems that they may suffer from. Australian Cattle dog mix is a healthy dog but still like many other dog breeds, he is also prone to some genetic and other health conditions.
i. Hip Dysplasia
Dogs that suffer from hip dysplasia have hip joints that do not fit together properly. It is a growth-related developmental condition that primarily affects larger, stockier breeds of dogs.
Hip dysplasia is a complicated hereditary condition that is impacted by hormones, growth rate, food, activity, and muscle mass.
ii. Deafness
This genetic disease is involved in the Australian Cattle Dog but it can be found in very early puppies. It is recommended not to breed dogs who are deaf.
There is also color-linked deafness that is caused by white-coat genes which cause the puppies to be born with white-coat hairs generating a roaming pattern that results in deafness, according to research.
iii. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
PRA is a genetic eye health disorder in which the retina of an eye is gradually disoriented. In the beginning, it affects the night vision of a dog and makes it difficult for him to see at night, and then slowly the dog also can not see in the day and loses his vision permanently.
Dietary Requirements
The recommended dog food amount depends upon various factors such as size, age, health conditions, and metabolism of your dog because all types of dogs need different kinds and amounts of food.
For Australian Cattle dog mix, it is recommended to be 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dog food twice a day. Make sure you measure the food before giving him and don’t leave the food in the bowl all day.
You can check if he is overweight or not by touching his belly, if you can feel the ribs without pressing too hard but can not see his ribs then he is not overweight and is the normal amount of healthy. He needs less food and more exercise if you can not feel his ribs.
Exercise and Training
Living Condition
If you want to adopt an Australian Cattle dog mix you should be aware that they need an environment where they can be themselves. You can’t force them to just sit when it is in their nature to play and goof around. He needs an environment where regular physical exercises and mental stimulation are provided to him.
He is the type of dog that is just in love with their owner once a special bond is created, they can’t survive in an environment where enough attention is not given to them.
They are not for people who have a full-time job and are not home for long periods because they get separation anxiety which triggers destructive behavior because when they are bored, they start destroying things.
Proper Outlet
If you think you can fulfill the requirements of an Australian Cattle dog mix and give him an environment where he can spare his natural high energy and goofiness. It is in his nature to herd and chase, you can’t change him or stop him from doing so.
You need to provide him with activities according to nature that will keep him busy and help in sparing his high energy, preventing boredom.
Easy to Train
As the Australian Cattle dog mix is a willful dog who loves his owner, it is easy to train him. You can use this opportunity to train him by giving him different commands, starting slowly by giving short commands such as sit, roll, or high five.
You can also boost his intelligence level by hiding dog food in different parts of the house and making him find them.
Canine Sports
We know that the Australian Cattle dog mix wants to spend most of his time with his owner, you can play different sports with your dog, and in this way your dog can fulfill his daily exercise quota and also get to spend time with you, killing two birds with one stone.
Canine sports like walking, jogging, hiking, and fetch help keep your dog busy and fulfill exercise requirements.
Grooming and Care
The coat of the Australian Cattle dog mix is double-coated with the outer coat being short and straight and the undercoat dense. This is a dog that doesn’t shed much only twice a year, during fall and spring because of changes in weather.
The coloring of the Australian Cattle Dog is speckled with red or blue. Partially tan on the throat, chest, and forelegs; tan on the jaw and rear legs; and black, blue, or tan markings on the head are all examples of blue or blue-mottled. Red speckle refers to a uniform red color, which may include dark red marks on the head and the undercoat.
The grooming requirements for an Australian Cattle dog mix are not much except for occasional grooming that helps keep him clean and healthy and prevents the coat from matting or tangling.
You can comb his coat four times a week, once each week, and also bathe him only necessary when he is dirty or needs cleaning. Excessive bathing can rip off the natural oils in their skin.
Remember to brush his teeth twice or thrice a week to keep up with dental hygiene, clean his ears and boogers in his eyes, and also trim his nails regularly.
During grooming, check for different infections, allergies, mites, or any inflammation. Make sure to regularly visit the vet for health checkups as it helps in discovering any potential health problem at an early stage.
Final Words
These dogs are great family members since they are smart, loyal, and fiercely loyal. They may fit in well with households, especially those with kids, and are not aggressive despite their power.
Their herding instincts may cause them to attempt herding children, a trait they share with other herding breeds like Border Collies, thus early training may be necessary to handle nipping tendencies. Training methods based on positive reinforcement work well for controlling this behavior.
Frequently asked questions about Australian Cattle dog mix:
1. Are Australian Cattle Dogs descended from dingoes?
Many English breeds were bred with Dingoes because of their herding nature. In 1840, a cattle farmer cross-bred multiple collie strains and a dingo, and from here started Heeler breeds.
2. Is the Australian Cattle dog mix very close to his owner?
Yes, he is so much in love with the owner that for him the punishment is getting separated from his owner, he goes where his owner goes.
3. What is the environmental requirement of an Australian Cattle dog mix?
If you take care of his needs and health and provide him with proper exercise and mental stimulation then you should adopt him.
