Have you ever heard of or seen an Australian Cattle Dog? If yes, then you already have some idea bout Mini Blue Heelers. They are smaller than cattle dogs. They make adorable pets for larger houses, specifically if you are an energetic person! A Blue Heeler, with its toy size and endearing look, will change your world with its liveliness, cuteness, and of course, love.
But why would you want to get one? Do they make a great pet? What’s their history? Are they high-maintenance? To which diseases are they vulnerable? Man, there are so many things to know about, and that is how it should be. You want to be as well-informed as you should be for your little best friend, right?
This article will address everything you need to know about a Mini Blue Heeler, so you can prepare yourself in the best possible way to give it the perfect home!
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Photo by Jill Dimond on Unsplash
What Is The History Of A Mini Blue Heeler?
This dog breed does not have much history. But you will get some idea if you learn about the Blue Heelers, which are mixed breed dogs with a mixture of Collies and native Dingoes. The story behind their name is their blue coat. However, they also go by Australian Heelers and Queensland Heelers.
George Elliot developed the Blue Heelers in 1840, and Australian ranchers and cattlemen loved them for their strength and work ethic. These characteristics gave them the recognition of being cattle herders.
Afterward, many breeders bred them, combining other herding dogs. The purpose was to find a proper match that will suit Australia’s weather conditions best. It kept going on until Harry and Jack Bagust brought the perfect combination. They bred Australian Cattle Dogs with Dalmatians.
Okay, now where do the Mini ones come from, again? Actually, they do not have a recognized breed. They are the Australian Cattle Dogs’ offspring that breeders miniaturize in any of the three following ways.
- They mix smaller breeds,
- Or they introduce the dwarfism gene,
- Or they breed from runts.
How Much Does A Mini Blue Heeler Cost?
The price of a Mini Blue Heeler ranges from $150 to $3500. There is a list of websites below, so you can contact the breeders to learn about the deals.
What Are The Characters Of A Mini Blue Heeler?
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Photo by allison christine on Unsplash
A Mini Blue Heeler is as known as their original and larger versions because duh! It’s their adorably small size! The size combined with their nature makes them bold and charming at the same time. Keep reading, and you will see that they have as much work ethic, strength, and energy as other herding dogs.
Let’s talk about their size first since it is what distinguishes them from others. Regardless of gender, their height varies from 11 to 15 inches. The weight is somewhere between 12 and 25 pounds. Their average lifespan is 10 to 13 years.
About their temperament and nature, they resemble the Blue Heelers a lot. They’re so active that they never like idling around at home. All they want is to play outside, exercise, and work. Besides, predictably, they love freedom and do not require much of your cuddles or attention like other dogs. However, you will still have to give them positive feedback when they act like good girls/boys.
Since they are herding dogs, they are great with their instincts. You’ll also find them to be very protective. That makes them efficient guard dogs that love and protect their hoomans.
Why Should You Get A Mini Blue Heeler?
You should get a Mini Blue Heeler because it will bring you a world of love and happiness with its tiny being! To know what more it has to give you, scroll down.
1. Easily Trainable
The smartness of a Mini Blue Heeler will impress you. They are always attentive to your commands, and once you get them properly trained, they will maintain them without causing any trouble. Plus, they are intelligent, so you will not have to face difficulties to train the mini canines. It will be a fun activity for you.
2. Low Maintenance For Grooming
Not every owner has the time or interest to put the required effort into grooming their Mini pups. Luckily, there is a coated layer in their body to protect them from getting filthy. It does not smell and creates some oily residue. That helps make it easy and fast to do the cleaning and brushing.
3. Calm And Protective
One thing you will immediately notice in a Mini Blue Heeler is their protectiveness towards their owners. They may be small, but their watchful eyes and protective instincts make them trustworthy guards. Despite such alertness, they will bark only then they deem a situation serious. So, you can rely on them to not cause any disturbance to your sleep and neighbors.
4. Adventurous And Playful
If you are an explorer, often in the quest of finding adventures, a Mini Blue Heeler would be the best companion for you. They are crazy about escapades, always eager to spend their energy on running and playing around.
5. Loyal And Adorable
Mini Blue Heelers are not clingy if you are looking for one. They’d prefer playing with you outside to giving you cuddles. They will show their love for you in the form of providing security and protection. But all of that does not indicate that they do not like to receive pets. They love that!
To put it in a nutshell, Mini Blue Heelers are highly energetic, adventurous, playful, intelligent, and protective guard dogs. If you want to pet a lapdog to pamper it and get cuddles from it, this breed will disappoint you. Besides, even if you want a Mini Blue but do not have enough space to let it run around or enough time to play with it, you better look for some other breed.
How To Take Care Of A Mini Blue Heeler?
So, what does a Mini Blue eat? What is the required diet to keep it always active and energetic? Look for the points below to learn what a proper diet of bout Mini Blue Heelers includes.
Diet
You should get your dog its best diet option. That means you have to find high-quality and healthy dog food. You can purchase the commercially produced ones. If you want, you can also DIY them.
A Mini Blue Heeler does not require a special diet. You can give it any food that is highly nutritious and suitable for dogs. But if it has any underlying health problem, you should ask your vet and get their food recommendations.
Again, do not let their size fool you into believing they do not need much food because they do. A mini blue needs more food than other small dogs because it is always moving. They must get more calories to equal their energy spent on playing, training, and exercising.
Training And Exercising
You should start training your Mini Blue pup as early as possible. The training procedure includes everything from socialization to obedience training. You will have to teach it herding, obedience, and agility to keep it on its toes.
Since they do not like to idle away for a long time, you will have to take your pup out. Remember, short walks won’t do it. They want long runs every day. So, if one fails to meet its energy level, they should not pet it.
Exercising is highly crucial for Mini Blue Heelers. If you do not let them burn their energy, they will become frustrated and start chewing on and destroying things in your house.
Positive reinforcement is essential for a Mini Blue Heeler. For example, if it causes any trouble in your house, you will have to educate and discipline him to understand it did something wrong that you cannot allow. Again, if it does something praiseworthy like relieving himself at the correct spot, you will have to remember to praise it for that.
You have to maintain consistency during training. If you cut your Mini Blue some slack for breaking a rule once, it will try to break it again. Its adorable look will make that very hard, but you need to teach it well from the beginning to get it adequately trained.
Another significant part of the training is setting boundaries. Miniature Blue pups like herding, exploring, and working. It is their signature characteristic. If you do not set any borderlines, your pet will roam around any time and any place it wants to explore. Train it to recognize where it can and cannot go. Take it to the spots it should not run off to and teach it to wait and sit beyond the borders of the areas. This way, it will understand how far you will allow it to go.
Simply put, you need your pet to see that you are the boss, and it is not the other way around. If it thinks in the wrong way, it will do whatever it wants. It will not behave rightly and develop an unruly attitude.
Maintenance And Grooming
As I already mentioned, this breed is low maintenance. You will not have to spend long hours to have their coat groomed. You can simply give it a weekly quick brushing. Bathe them occasionally, maybe monthly or when needed.
A critical thing to remember is that this dog sheds its undercoat two times each year. It requires thorough brushing after every 3-4 days to have the dead hairs removed. Comb it after brushing. Note: the brush should have short bristles.
Before you brush its fur, trim its nails regularly. There can be no mistake about it. Plus, brush the teeth and clean the ears once or twice a week to check Woolly Felt to know more.
Health Risks And Vulnerabilities Of A Mini Blue Heeler
Mini Blue Heelers are vulnerable to several skeletal and joint disorders, some of which deteriorate because of being overweight.
Besides, they also suffer from hip dysplasia, deafness, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), and retinal atrophy like their original version. Therefore, you have to keep updated on their current health condition by having them checked up and evaluated by a vet. It will also lessen the chances of the diseases becoming more severe.
Other than the tests, take your dog to the vet for routine checkups. They help to maintain your dog’s health. Moreover, give it the shots in time. That is essential if you want your Mini Blue to socialize with dogs.
Where To Get A Mini Blue Heeler Pup?
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Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
Okay, so now you know about Mini Blue Heeler pups, how they are like, and what they eat. But how would you get yourself one? Blue Heelers are not a rare breed to find, but the Mini ones are since breeders have to breed them with specific and different dog breeds. So, it is not easy to find them for sale.
However, if you really want a Mini Blue Heeler, try the following options.
1. Searching Online
Search online first. Many breeders post ads on different social sites and websites to sell their puppies. Some are experts in breeding the Mini Blue Heelers. If you find one, research further on them, learn how reputed they are, ask for photos, information, and details. If you are lucky, you will find a Mini Blue pup on your first try.
2. Searching Locally
While searching online, look for Mini Blue Heeler breeders around your location. Talk with your family and friends owing a dog of this breed. Gather as much information as you can about your selected breeders before narrowing some down.
3. Be Prepared For Meetings
Before you buy a Mini Blue Heeler, you should meet its breeder and parents. Thus, you can learn how they bred it. Plus, it is crucial to understand the dog’s originality as a Mini Blue Heeler.
It is essential to schedule a physical meeting with the breeder and discuss the terms, policies, and agreements. That helps you to confirm that both parties are on the same page.
4. Terms And Agreements
When it is time to negotiate with the breeder, do not hesitate to ask any questions. Talk about any issues that come to your mind. Discuss the return terms in case there is a problem you cannot control. It is best to have the agreement written to ensure they are thoroughly followed when required.
5. Getting The House Ready
If everything falls into pieces during the process, the next step will be getting the pup! Before you get it home, get your home equipped with sufficient toys. Do everything to give your dog the home it deserves. After that, put your focus on its health, training, and exercise.
Adoption – Another Beautiful Option
If online search and family and friends do not help, you can contact the local organizations for animals. Find an animal shelter too. Although the chance is not that big, you may find a rescue Mini Blue Heeler dog. Following video shows how to train a australian mini heeler dog.
Customized products that be designed with dog images win over the hearts of dog lovers. Custom lapel pin are the most popular. GS-JJ.com is a company that specializes in custom lapel pins. You just need to upload your dog’s photos to their advanced online design system, and they can make lapel pins (more than pins) for you quickly and conveniently. These delicate items are suitable to be worn on your clothes, bags or other places, and they are also great dog lover gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have tried to cover everything about petting a Mini Blue Heeler. But the FAQ section is here in case I left out some of the most frequently asked queries.
Q1. Can I Shave My Mini Blue Furbaby?
It can cause increased shedding since the coat sometimes produces more under-coat and becomes uneven and thicker. That will damage your pup’s guard coat for good.
Q2. Are they aggressive towards kids?
Not if they know they are your kids. I mean, they are always loyal towards their families. But they do not do well around unknown people.
Q3. Why does my Mini Heeler nip?
Nipping is a way of herding dogs to lead the animals in a specific direction. Additionally, it will also nip to signal potential threats and warnings to people that have got overly close for its comfort.
Q4. At what age do they calm down?
At 4 to 6 years old, they usually calm down. As they grow older, they behave better and become calmer.
Q5. Are they good family dogs?
Yes. They are always loyal and protective of their owners.
Q6. What can I do to make my Miniature Heeler pup stop biting?
Get a treat, bring it down at its nose, move it slowly toward its head’s back. When it sits and tries to follow it, praise it liberally before giving the treat.
Wrapping Up
If you want a different, hyper, yet superbly adorable dog, you will love a Mini Blue Heeler. With their intelligence and alertness, they’ll protect you with their life when needed. Among the unique breeds out there, it is one of the most delightful pets. It has the perfect combination of cuteness and boldness.
Hopefully, you have found the article helpful. If so, when are you going to get a Mini Blue Heeler?