Texas Heeler : All About the Dog Who Loves to Work

Texas heeler is a hybrid of an Australian cattle dog and an Australian shepherd. They inherit the best of both parents and are known to be hard-working, intelligent, and lively. They were originally bred for the purpose of herding and are a native of the Texas state as their name suggests.Texas is their state of origin whereas ‘Heeler’ is the nickname used for one of their parents, that is the Australian cattle dog as they are also known as Queensland heeler or the blue heeler.

Even Though the Texas heeler dog is a designer dog, many of them end up in local rescues and shelters and we recommend you consider adopting one before you decide on buying a dog.

They are high-energy dogs that make amazing companions to people who are a bit experienced and keep them occupied with something or the other to do. These dogs just love to work and are not made for people with a laidback or sedentary style of life.

These dogs are quickly gaining popularity out of their home state due to various qualities like being a working dog as well as a great companion animal, they are also known to excel at sports due to their athletic personality.

Breed Overview Of The Texas Heeler

History

Breeders in Texas started crossing the Australian shepherd and the Australian cattle dog to create a hybrid that makes a smart herding dog. This breed originated in the state of Texas and was first registered in the 1970s by Lucy Guynes.

Many believe that the Texas heeler dog has existed since way before the 1970s as a result of unofficial breeding but finally got registered in the given year. There is not much-documented history available unfortunately when it comes to these designer dogs.

When it comes to getting a mixed breed or a designer puppy, beware of the puppy mills and unethical breeders as they often breed the dogs in inhumane conditions leading to puppies having a lot of health issues.

Personality and Temperament

The texas heeler is an intelligent breed of dog, who will try their best to get things their way. If you’re not an experienced owner, these babies may end up bossing you around. Thus they aren’t the best choice for beginners.

People who know how to work around smart and hard-working dogs can form amazing bonds with this breed and the dogs too would end up being their best companion.

Texas heelers do well in active homes as they have a working dog background. Houses with yards or open space, farms, etc are preferred homes for them over the apartment-style living. These dogs thrive with enrichment activities and a proper routine.

These dogs have a high potential to learn a lot of cues and complex tricks and they’ll be happy to do so as they love working. Positive reinforcement and reward work best with these babies.

Texas heelers are extremely loving and protective of their family but may be wary of strangers if not socialized well as a puppy. They tend to bark when suspicious of any person or animal. Early socialization can help them ease around new situations and reduce herding behavior towards kids and strangers.

Since texas heelers are herding dogs they may try to show that behavior around small children or smaller pets like cats and try to keep them in line by nipping them at heels. Thus they are not recommended for families with very young children who may be unaware of the dog’s boundaries and limits.

These dogs love going on adventures with their humans and are of a very sensitive nature. Doing various activities daily with your heeler can strengthen the bond between the two of you. They also make great service dogs due to their love for work.

Appearance

Texas heelers are compact and sturdy animals who are athletic in nature. They are a medium-sized breed of dogs with a waterproof double coat to protect them against the weather.

They have a short or medium, smooth coat that may exhibit solid color, but most often have a mix of black, blue, gray, white, brown, or blue merle. The main colors shown by the breed are blue merle, black, blue ticked with white or fawn.

Their coat is short or medium but often gives them a fluffy look. Their coat is less dense compared to the other double-coated breeds which make them unsuitable for extreme hot or cold climates. You can also check this out about Kangal Dog Breed.

Texas heeler puppies usually have floppy at birth but perk up within a few weeks and remain straight and pointy for life except in a few cases where they may remain folded over. They usually have brown eyes that are bright and big. Most Texas heelers are born with a bobbed tail.

Texas Heeler Puppies

Texas heeler puppies must be trained from a young age as they are intelligent dogs and pick up quickly. Socialization should also begin early in order to prevent them from being aloof or nervous around strangers or new dogs.

Training and socialization help build confidence in Texas heeler puppies. Even if you adopt a grown-up texas heeler, there’s nothing to worry about as they can still be trained and socialized using the right training techniques.

The Texas heeler puppies as well as the adults are food driven and love to work, both these things combined with patience and positive reinforcement can turn the tables and give you a very obedient and well-mannered dog.

The Texas Heeler Size

Texas heeler size falls in the medium category of dog breed.

Texas heeler weight: these dogs may weigh anywhere between 25 to 50 pounds depending on the size of parent breeds used for the cross.

• Height of Texas heeler: it ranges from 17 to 22 inches as they are a medium-sized breed.

Texas heeler size also depends on the parents used to create the hybrid and little variations can be seen. Some dogs can be smaller or bigger than the average as an exception.

Texas Heeler Lifespan

The average lifespan of the texas heeler is 12 to 15 years

Miniature Texas Heeler or Mini Texas Heeler

Miniature texas heeler or mini texas heelers are generally a hybrid of parents who are smaller than the standard size and the resultant dog may be a bit smaller than its counterparts.

Mini Texas Heeler Puppies

While looking for mini texas heeler puppies make sure they are ethically bred mini pups and not just a marketing gimmick created to hike up the price. Many breeders cross the runts of Australian shepherds and Australian cattle dogs to get a smaller puppy.

Mini texas heeler puppies obtained by such unethical methods are usually prone to a lot of health issues. Many times they are underfed to have stunted growth so they can be sold as miniature versions at a higher price. Thus we advise on buying the average breed size rather than going for a mini or teacup variety.

Texas Heeler Price

Texas heeler price ranges from 400$ to 700$ depending on various factors. You may get a Texas heeler puppy for 400$ to 500$ but paying more for a well-bred puppy is not unusual.

Puppies coming from a good breeder, having a good pedigree may even cost more than 900$. The Texas heeler price may vary depending on location, quality of breeding, genetics, and many more such factors.

Health

Just like every other breed, texas heelers are predisposed to some of the health conditions which are similar to those of the Australian shepherd and the Australian cattle dog. Good care and regular checkups reduce the risk of such conditions:

Some of the common issues are as follows :

1. Collie eye anomaly
2. Hip dysplasia
3. Elbow dysplasia
4. Distichiasis
5. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
6. Epilepsy

Final Thoughts

If you’re an adventurer looking for a companion or an enthusiast who wants to teach their dog a lot of tricks and cues and be engaged with them, this is the perfect dog for you.

From being your hiking partner to opening the fridge and getting you a drink, while you chill, these dogs can do anything and everything if taught well. It is on their humans to harvest their potential and bring out the best in them.

For more information :

• Walrus Dog Breed: A Guide to the Shar Pei Basset Hound Mix
• Central Asian Shepherd Dog Breed Ultimate Guide