The Australian Cattle Dog is an especially energetic, loyal dog suited for cattle herding and other organized activities. They have a wild appearance, but can make great friends.
Heather - 2010-12-29 We are trying to name our second blue heeler...our first one was a female called Buffy, she was 14 when she left us...and a fat little one at that. Our new one is a boy...he is so cute. They are the best dogs...
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mel - 2011-02-11 We named our blue heeler Toby, actually my kids named him that. He's about 2 yrs and just adopted him out of a dog pound. Pretty sad that such a pretty dog like this is in a dog pound.
Tommy - 2011-11-09 Name her or him spot, or blue.
Terri G - 2011-12-30 Rudder is a good name for a boy, because of the job they do. You might also want to consider Tiller, but the meaning of this is twofold (you might not want him digging in your yard!)
Anonymous - 2012-01-27 We named ours Petey...
Lisa DeForest - 2012-02-24 I have a australian shepherd and blue heeler and his name is Rilie jo. I know for instance he is a one person dog, because he chose me to protect. He is a silly smart playful and he loves pop bottles stickes empty paper towel rolls and he is a bed hog. But well natured.
Linda Wyatt - 2012-01-22 I have a rescued red heeler mix we found in a garbage bag with a rope tied around his neck and a rope tied around the bag. He was a puppy, and he has been neutered and has all shots and is healthy. He will snap for no apparent reason and attack another dog. All my dogs are rescues, neutere or spayed with all shots up to date. I had to take a little chihuahua rat terrier mix that came up to our house to a no kill shelter, because Champ tried to kill him. What can I do to help this situation. We love Champ and he loves us.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23 This little fella had a rough start and hate to hear these kind of things. Some folks are just cruel. The Heeler/Cattle Dog mix is an independent breed and they don't really do well with other dogs. Some will become agressive with other dogs or with people they don't know. They also are usually a one person dog. It is also a herding animal or a working dog and they do snap/growl/circle or whatever to keep the HERD in line. It is their nature. I would consult a behaviorist or a trainor as you would be trying to stop a natural behavior that is a part of this pup. Genetics for centuries. You see Chihauhau and Champ sees stranger/threat. I wouldn't know of anything else to do accept consult a behaviorist/trainer or allow Champ to be an enviornment where his genetics and protective behaviors are a plus.
dlady - 2011-08-15 I have a red heeler/husky mix. He's a little over a year. But He is a great dog to have. Before getting him when he was 3 months old I was so scared of dogs. But he's like my best friend now. He follows me around all day, and when I give my kids or my husband hugs he's right there trying to get a hug or rub to (it's so funny). But he loves to chew bones and his toys (I got him a new toy the other day and he destroyed it within 5 hours. My husband walks/runs him in the morning and I walk him in the evenings. He likes to play fetch on the stairs ( I throw his toy over the top of the stairs and he runs down and brings it back, he does it like 10-15 times before he gets tired). He loves people and thinks that when we have company they are supposed to rub and love him too.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-16 My compliments to you for getting a pup when you were afraid of dogs. So many are afraid of things and don't ever get the enjoyment because of fear. You overcame yours. Hats off to you
TDS - 2011-01-22 I could use some help with an emerging problem with my 9 month old blue heeler mix. Scrabbles is a rescue dog I have had for 4 months. She was fearful of everything when I first got her, especially men. Once she learned to return to me when called, I began to take her to the park every day and let her run about or chase a ball for about an hour. She is great with dogs and is growing increasingly comfortable with people, letting them pet her on occasion without pulling away. Kids have been at the park before but she usually avoids them or barks once or twice then goes the opposite direction. Recently she has been getting more vocal with the barking and I usually call her away to another part of the park. Then one day, shortly after I let her off the leash, she suddenly began chasing a little boy, circling him, and barking ferociously. I gather from the circling that she was attempting to herd him but it was uncomfortably aggressive and she attempted to nip him when she was close. The boy, thankfully, was remarkably calm. I eventually leashed Scrabbles and he offered to walk her so I let him walk next to me while I walked her. Scrabbles seemed ok but after a couple of minutes stopped walking straight ahead and headed toward the boy again and not in a friendly way. So I just took her home. What can we do to reverse this emerging pattern of behavior, especially if I don't have or know kids who can interact with her? Is her behavior leading to biting a child?
Anonymous - 2010-07-04 I just adopted a Blue Heeler/Husky mix. I live in an apartment and she does just fine. I provide two long walks a day and she has toys. She is a VERY good girl. Doesn't chew up anything...is content to rest around the apt until she is walked. All around a fabulous dog. My first dog in 20 years!
steve - 2010-06-19 We have two "Heelers", named Jondy and Jake. We got them from a rescue in Fresno, CA>, as 10 week old pups. Both were easy to house train, and except for the constant need to chew bones, shoes, plants, ETC. We sure love our cattle dogs! Both are VERY protective of the yard, and my wife and I. They also LOVE to go running with us when we ride our horses, but have never bothered the horses. If I could trust other folks horses we would take them on group rides as well.
Steve, Palmdale, CA.
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Veronica - 2010-06-28 I was interested to read your post. My husband and I recently got a new puppy. She has Heeler in her. She also has Border Collie, lab and Scotch Collie. The BC is unmistakable in her, for she has the colouring and the patchy markings. She has the spotting of the blue heeler. Interested to learn more about any behavioural things you may have encountered with your Heelers. So far, ours is five months and training is coming along well. She loves everyone. She loves her older brother (a ten year-old American Eskimo), but tries to heard him. He doesn't seem to mind. But her ankle nipping is crazy. She doesn't really do it anymore with my husband, but for my seven year old son and I, she tends to go wild.
We really love this dog and see that she's making a great family pet.
Robin Yaro - 2010-06-12 We have 4 Heelers which we have had since they were all puppies. Pepper (13) is going selectivly deaf. Banshee and Ghost (10) and Rocky (3). They are the best dogs we have ever had. We got Banshee and Ghost as littermates and didn't find out until Ghost was about 4 that she had either been stepped on or kicked by a horse and had her pelvis fractured. Other than having problems getting up and down now, she is still active even with her handicap which is a testament to how resilient these dogs are. They are very protective even to the point of taking on a Rottwieler to protect my husband after his back surgery. I would not recommend a Heeler as a family pet. If they grow up with the children it might be different but they are a bit aloof and do not like to be handled unless it is on their terms. They can also be aggressive with people. We recently took on my daughters 2 dogs, both mixes (not heeler), and they integrated pretty well although Rocky is a bit agressive towards the other male.
Luanne Root - 2010-04-27 We have a cattle dog/blue heeler mix named Quincy. He's 6 mo. old and wonderful. He's actually rather lazy for his breed. He sleeps 10 hours at night and always has since we got him at 3 mo. He housebroke really fast and is learning his obedience school lessons well. We always had Labs before but are really happy with him. He's a rescue dog and loves us and everyone else. I would recommend his breed.
annabell - 2010-04-24 I have an australian shepherd cross australian cattle dog crow collie smooth really good at run protective when any one come to the door, shy around people she doesn't know, she's active, she's really sweet, gentle, loves to play, likes to chase rodents and rabbits, ok with dogs.
Becky Brendle - 2010-03-09 I have a Blue Heeler, and she will be 2 years old in April. Her name is Sassy, and I love her very much.She has been herding since she was 8 weeks old. She is very smart,, and always wants to please me but here recently she has become more aggresive with the smaller goats. She wants them to stay in a certain area, and will not allow them to be with the herd. Should I be alarmed about this behavior.
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Em - 2010-04-27 Unless she's showing actual aggression toward the smaller goats in a predatory fashion, I wouldn't worry about it. These dogs are smart and it's not all that rare to see them take a preference for sorting things into groups, whether it's people, their toys, or other animals. The big ones are different than the smaller ones. Keep an eye on her, but I've had dogs do this. One dog had such a drive to sort things that she would even pull rocks out of a river and sort them into large piles based on color.
The Australian Cattle Dog is an especially energetic, loyal dog suited for cattle herding and other organized activities. They have a wild appearance, but can make great friends.
We are trying to name our second blue heeler...our first one was a female called Buffy, she was 14 when she left us...and a fat little one at that. Our new one is a boy...he is so cute. They are the best dogs...
We named our blue heeler Toby, actually my kids named him that. He's about 2 yrs and just adopted him out of a dog pound. Pretty sad that such a pretty dog like this is in a dog pound.
Name her or him spot, or blue.
Rudder is a good name for a boy, because of the job they do. You might also want to consider Tiller, but the meaning of this is twofold (you might not want him digging in your yard!)
We named ours Petey...
I have a australian shepherd and blue heeler and his name is Rilie jo. I know for instance he is a one person dog, because he chose me to protect.
He is a silly smart playful and he loves pop bottles stickes empty paper towel rolls and he is a bed hog. But well natured.
I have a rescued red heeler mix we found in a garbage bag with a rope tied around his neck and a rope tied around the bag. He was a puppy, and he has been neutered and has all shots and is healthy. He will snap for no apparent reason and attack another dog. All my dogs are rescues, neutere or spayed with all shots up to date. I had to take a little chihuahua rat terrier mix that came up to our house to a no kill shelter, because Champ tried to kill him. What can I do to help this situation. We love Champ and he loves us.
This little fella had a rough start and hate to hear these kind of things. Some folks are just cruel. The Heeler/Cattle Dog mix is an independent breed and they don't really do well with other dogs. Some will become agressive with other dogs or with people they don't know. They also are usually a one person dog. It is also a herding animal or a working dog and they do snap/growl/circle or whatever to keep the HERD in line. It is their nature. I would consult a behaviorist or a trainor as you would be trying to stop a natural behavior that is a part of this pup. Genetics for centuries. You see Chihauhau and Champ sees stranger/threat. I wouldn't know of anything else to do accept consult a behaviorist/trainer or allow Champ to be an enviornment where his genetics and protective behaviors are a plus.
I have a red heeler/husky mix. He's a little over a year. But He is a great dog to have. Before getting him when he was 3 months old I was so scared of dogs. But he's like my best friend now. He follows me around all day, and when I give my kids or my husband hugs he's right there trying to get a hug or rub to (it's so funny). But he loves to chew bones and his toys (I got him a new toy the other day and he destroyed it within 5 hours. My husband walks/runs him in the morning and I walk him in the evenings. He likes to play fetch on the stairs ( I throw his toy over the top of the stairs and he runs down and brings it back, he does it like 10-15 times before he gets tired). He loves people and thinks that when we have company they are supposed to rub and love him too.
My compliments to you for getting a pup when you were afraid of dogs. So many are afraid of things and don't ever get the enjoyment because of fear. You overcame yours. Hats off to you
I could use some help with an emerging problem with my 9 month old blue heeler mix. Scrabbles is a rescue dog I have had for 4 months. She was fearful of everything when I first got her, especially men. Once she learned to return to me when called, I began to take her to the park every day and let her run about or chase a ball for about an hour. She is great with dogs and is growing increasingly comfortable with people, letting them pet her on occasion without pulling away. Kids have been at the park before but she usually avoids them or barks once or twice then goes the opposite
direction. Recently she has been getting more vocal with the barking and I
usually call her away to another part of the park. Then one day, shortly
after I let her off the leash, she suddenly began chasing a little boy,
circling him, and barking ferociously. I gather from the circling that she
was attempting to herd him but it was uncomfortably aggressive and she
attempted to nip him when she was close. The boy, thankfully, was
remarkably calm. I eventually leashed Scrabbles and he offered to walk her so I let him walk next to me while I walked her. Scrabbles seemed ok but after a couple of minutes stopped walking straight ahead and headed toward the boy again and not in a friendly way. So I just took her home. What can we do to reverse this emerging pattern of behavior, especially if I don't have or know kids who can interact with her? Is her behavior leading to biting a child?
I just adopted a Blue Heeler/Husky mix. I live in an apartment and she does just fine. I provide two long walks a day and she has toys. She is a VERY good girl. Doesn't chew up anything...is content to rest around the apt until she is walked. All around a fabulous dog. My first dog in 20 years!
We have two "Heelers", named Jondy and Jake. We got them from a rescue in Fresno, CA>, as 10 week old pups. Both were easy to house train, and except for the constant need to chew bones, shoes, plants, ETC. We sure love our cattle dogs! Both are VERY protective of the yard, and my wife and I. They also LOVE to go running with us when we ride our horses, but have never bothered the horses. If I could trust other folks horses we would take them on group rides as well.
Steve, Palmdale, CA.
I was interested to read your post. My husband and I recently got a new puppy. She has Heeler in her. She also has Border Collie, lab and Scotch Collie. The BC is unmistakable in her, for she has the colouring and the patchy markings. She has the spotting of the blue heeler. Interested to learn more about any behavioural things you may have encountered with your Heelers. So far, ours is five months and training is coming along well. She loves everyone. She loves her older brother (a ten year-old American Eskimo), but tries to heard him. He doesn't seem to mind. But her ankle nipping is crazy. She doesn't really do it anymore with my husband, but for my seven year old son and I, she tends to go wild.
We really love this dog and see that she's making a great family pet.
We have 4 Heelers which we have had since they were all puppies. Pepper (13) is going selectivly deaf. Banshee and Ghost (10) and Rocky (3). They are the best dogs we have ever had. We got Banshee and Ghost as littermates and didn't find out until Ghost was about 4 that she had either been stepped on or kicked by a horse and had her pelvis fractured. Other than having problems getting up and down now, she is still active even with her handicap which is a testament to how resilient these dogs are. They are very protective even to the point of taking on a Rottwieler to protect my husband after his back surgery. I would not recommend a Heeler as a family pet. If they grow up with the children it might be different but they are a bit aloof and do not like to be handled unless it is on their terms. They can also be aggressive with people. We recently took on my daughters 2 dogs, both mixes (not heeler), and they integrated pretty well although Rocky is a bit agressive towards the other male.
We have a cattle dog/blue heeler mix named Quincy. He's 6 mo. old and wonderful. He's actually rather lazy for his breed. He sleeps 10 hours at night and always has since we got him at 3 mo. He housebroke really fast and is learning his obedience school lessons well. We always had Labs before but are really happy with him. He's a rescue dog and loves us and everyone else. I would recommend his breed.
I have an australian shepherd cross australian cattle dog crow collie smooth really good at run protective when any one come to the door, shy around people she doesn't know, she's active, she's really sweet, gentle, loves to play, likes to chase rodents and rabbits, ok with dogs.
I have a Blue Heeler, and she will be 2 years old in April. Her name is Sassy, and I love her very much.She has been herding since she was 8 weeks old. She is very smart,, and always wants to please me but here recently she has become more aggresive with the smaller goats. She wants them to stay in a certain area, and will not allow them to be with the herd. Should I be alarmed about this behavior.
Unless she's showing actual aggression toward the smaller goats in a predatory fashion, I wouldn't worry about it. These dogs are smart and it's not all that rare to see them take a preference for sorting things into groups, whether it's people, their toys, or other animals. The big ones are different than the smaller ones. Keep an eye on her, but I've had dogs do this. One dog had such a drive to sort things that she would even pull rocks out of a river and sort them into large piles based on color.