Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
The Australian Cattle Dog is a tough, very intelligent herding breed developed to drive cattle over long distances. Devoted to its owner and energetic, it may try to "herd" people and children by nipping at heels.
Weight
15–22 kg
Height at withers
43–51 cm
Life expectancy
12–16 years
Size
medium
Activity
high
Shedding
moderate
Barking tendency
moderate
Apartment friendly
Hard in an apartment: needs daily work and plenty of movement; an active family with a yard suits it better.
Care
Brush weekly, more often while shedding. Needs a lot of physical and mental exercise every day; without a job it gets bored and destructive.
Health
Progressive retinal atrophy, deafness, hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation
Coat
Short dense weather-resistant double coat; blue or red speckled
Travel
Travels well after enough exercise beforehand; stop every 2–3 hours and bring water and familiar food
Carrier size
An L carrier or cargo-hold travel; a dog this size is usually not allowed in the cabin
Harness size
Choose a harness by chest girth, usually 55–70 cm; try it on before buying
Leash
A 1.5–2 m leash; a Y-style harness beats a collar; a long line for training in open areas
Airline cabin travel
usually not
Hani Walk — walk tracking, a digital pet passport and vaccination reminders, always at hand in the app.