A dog is one of the best companions any human could ask for. They are great listeners, they’re loyal, and they love unconditionally. The best part is, they don’t talk back (well sometimes they do get in one last bark). If you’re looking for the perfect companion, the Blue Heeler Border Collie Mix might just be the one you need.
Whether you live alone, you’re looking for a hunting companion, or you have a family and are looking for the most compatible family pet for you, this dog has all the potential to make the perfect fit.
With this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about this intelligent cross breed, so let’s get started!
Quick Rundown About The Blue Heeler Border Collie Mix
Full of energy and love to give, both breeds are hunters by nature. They love to please their human and even though they’re not much of a couch potato, they will occasionally try your lap on for size.
They require a lot of room for exercise so they wouldn’t be comfortable living in an apartment, but give them a whole house with a fenced in yard, and they will be in their perfect happy place.
Since they are high in energy, they will need to stay busy to avoid boredom. A simple task or heavy-duty chew toy will do the trick, and speaking of tricks, they’re easy to train.
So that you have a better idea of why the Blue Heeler Border Collie Mix will be a good fit for you, let’s talk about this cross breed’s two parents first.
The Blue Heeler Border Collie Mix’s Parents
The Blue Heeler
Also known as the Australian Cattle Dog, the Blue Heeler was born in Australia and trained to herd cattle through rough terrain on long ventures.
They’re friendly and lovable, and although they’re easy to train and they listen well, they may need a strong hand to keep them from straying toward distractions they might discover during their walks.
The average weight of the Blue Heeler is 35 to 45 pounds and they’re generally 17 to 20 inches tall. You can expect your healthy heeler to live for approximately 15 years.
Some of their common health issues:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Problems with their eyes
- Deafness
Traits of the Blue Heeler:
- Highly intelligent
- Extremely wary and cautious
- Protective
- Alert
- Hard-Working
When considering this breed keep in mind they don’t like to lay around the house, they prefer to exercise and might even beg you to take them out for many walks throughout the day.
The perfect human companion for the Blue Heeler would be:
- A single person
- A family
- An active person
- A hunter
- A cattle herder
Grooming your furry companion is simple with the Blue Heeler. They’re considered to be “wash and wear” dogs because you can bathe them and let them “air dry.” Their short double coat will require an occasional brushing to keep them smelling good and looking clean.
The Blue Heeler will be happy to help their human so it’s important to give them a job or a task on a regular basis so they can feel accomplished. After all, it’s in their blood to herd the animals. You might even feel them nipping at your feet when they want something. That’s their way of herding and the only way they know to get attention.
Overall the Blue Heeler would make a great companion for a family or a single human with high energy.
Keep them busy, love them, give them positive reassurance, and you will have the perfect companion.
Now let’s talk about the Border Collie.
The Border Collie
With exceptional intelligence and excellent obedience, the Border Collie comes from the Anglo-Scottish border region and was trained to herd sheep.
They offer plenty of friendly affection to their humans, but when it comes to strangers they tend to be a bit more cautious.
A male Border Collie usually weighs 30 to 45 pounds and the female weighs 27 to 42 pounds. When it comes to their height the male stands 19 to 22 inches tall and the female is 18 to 21 inches tall. A healthy Collie will live to be 10 to 17 years old.
Some of their common health issues:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
- Epilepsy
Traits of the Border Collie:
- Highly intelligent
- Acrobatic
- Athletic
- Extremely energetic
Just like the Blue Heeler, the Border Collie also prefers to exercise more than watch TV. This furry companion requires a lot of room to roam and a few daily walks will keep them happy.
The Border would make the perfect family pet, especially where there are kids to play with.
Hunters enjoy the Border Collie, but unlike the Blue Heeler, they do have a bad habit of barking needlessly.
If you’re an athletic single person, the Border Collie would also be happy loving on you.
When it comes to grooming your Border, they do require daily brushing to keep their coat shiny and healthy, especially when they begin to shed. To keep them from putting off that “wet dog” scent after a bath, they will need to be dried thoroughly and brushed when dry.
These furry companions also enjoy a task, and keeping their human happy is their number one priority.
The Border Collie is exceptionally affectionate and might even need to be reminded that they’re not a lap dog.
Allow them plenty of space for exercise, give them a ball to play with, and love them unconditionally as they will you, and you will find the Border Collie to be the perfect companion.
The Border Heeler – Comparison Between The Two Parent Breeds
Let’s review and compare the traits of these two breeds:
The Blue Heeler
- Highly intelligent
- Extremely wary and cautious
- Protective
- Alert
- Hard-Working
The Border Collie
- Highly intelligent
- Acrobatic
- Athletic
- Extremely energetic
When you compare the traits of these two breeds you can see why this mix would be the perfect companion for you.
When mixing the intelligence of the two, can you imagine how smart your pooch would be?
If you get your pooch as a puppy it would be easy to train and even with an older companion, it wouldn’t be hard to train them to your standards because they’re both very adaptable. After all, isn’t pleasing their human what they strive for?
They both have the perfect watch dog traits and you will never get lazy because both breeds are extremely active.
Be sure you have a full understanding of their needs when it comes to their health issues and be ready to take care of all their necessary grooming demands.
With the perfect mix of genes from their mom and dad, the Blue Heeler Border Collie will have a beautiful coat with various colors of red, bluish-gray, or black and they might even have some white mixed in.
When it comes to the mouthy one, that would be the Border who likes to express their voices frequently, so you can only hope that your pooch inherits the barking gene of the Heeler.
Things to Consider When Adopting Your Heeler Collie Mix
Adopting a new companion is always a big decision. If you’re still unsure if the Heeler Border is the perfect match for you, let’s review some things that will help you in making your decision.
Ask yourself these questions:
– What kind of a person am I? If you’re active and like to have fun, this companion would be the perfect fit for you, but if you’re more of the couch potato type, you might want to look for a smaller, more laid-back breed.
– Where do I live? If you can provide a house with plenty of room and a yard for exercise, this mix would enjoy your company. If you live in an apartment or townhouse, this one wouldn’t be as happy and the two of you might not fit.
– Am I prepared to provide the attention for any special health needs? With any furry companion, there will be times when they will get sick, but you need to take into consideration the health risks these two breeds carry and don’t forget, this is a mix so it can have double the health issues.
– Will my kids be able to handle a dog with this much energy? Keep in mind that a dog of this nature requires a lot of space and exercise. Are your kids up to the challenge? You know the pooch won’t complain.
If you answered these questions with a positive response, more than likely you already made up your mind. You know this loving pooch will be the perfect companion for you!
