Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) Poodle Mix

The Blue Heeler Poodle is an interesting dog breed that is a mix of the Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) and the Poodle. The Cattle Doodle is a fun family dog that combines the energetic nature of the Australian Cattle Dog with the smart and playful nature of the Standard or Miniature Poodle to make a dog that is alert, gets along well with kids and other pets, and could be a good watchdog.

About the Blue Heeler Poodle mix Parents 📚

Poodle Parent

The Poodle comes in three sizes: the Standard, Miniature, and Toy. All three sizes can be bred to make this doodle. Similarly, the Poodle comes from Germany, and its purpose was to hunt ducks, birds, and other water animals. They’re renowned for their intelligent nature and love to be around humans. 

Blue Heeler Parent 

On the contrary, the Blue Heeler parent comes from Australia, they were first brought there from England. The Blue Heeler is a mixed breed of two dogs, the Dingoes, and Collies, herding dogs. It’s believed this breed first came into existence in 1840 and is now popular in Australia and worldwide. This dog is known for being brave, obedient, protective, and loyal. 

Combine the two together, and you have the remarkable Blue heeler (Australian cattle dog) poodle mix who lives up to 12-15 years on average. 

Temperament of the Blue heeler poodle mix ✨

The temperament of the Blue Heeler can vary based on what personality traits they inherit from their parents. First of all, if they inherit traits from their Cattle dog parent, they could be a bit aggressive and tend to nip or herd children. These are not ideal traits for a dog to have if you have children in your home. 

Therefore if you plan on getting this mix, you will have to observe their playtime with children. However, just because they may have aggressive tendencies does not mean they can’t be eliminated. Through adequate socialization from an early age, you will be able to diminish this behavior slowly.

They also have a watchdog instinct, so they’re commonly used as dogs in the military and the police. 

Both breeds do have two things in common though, sociable nature and are very intelligent. This makes these dogs great with humans and animals in your home; they will turn into a playful and laidback pet if socialized while young.

Also, because they’re intelligent, they can learn tricks quickly and easily, making it easy for you to train them from a young age; if you train them a bit later, when adults, then it might be a bit harder.

As both parents are energetic, you need to have a space where they can exert their energy. Therefore small apartments or places with no garden are not suitable for this dog to live in. They’re also highly intelligent animals and easily can become self-destructive if they don’t have enough physical or mental stimulation.

Exercise and Training requirements 🥎

If you’re a couch potato, then this dog is probably not for you. This dog breed has lots of energy and requires a lot of exercises daily. Unfortunately, a casual stroll or a gentle walk won’t work either. 

Their parent, the Australian Cattle dog, is often a breed recommended for most runners due to the speed it goes at and its passion for running. In addition to their daily walks, you will want to play fetch with them, hiking, playing with other dogs, and even agility training. Plus, if they inherit certain characteristics from their Poodle parent, then they could even love to play in the water. 

But be prepared for a good couple of hours of walks a day to have their needs met. Once they’ve exhausted themselves, it will be easier for them to learn basic commands and undergo obedience training. 

Another great working doodle like the Blue Heeler is the Portuguese Water Dog Poodle Mix.

When taking them out, you must train them how to use a leash. This doodle breed tends to have an instinctual nature for chasing animals and objects just like their Australian Cattle dog parent. The best way to train this breed is through positive reinforcement, providing them with a treat or a reward once they’ve done a good behavior. 

What do they look like? 🐩

The appearance of this breed can vary a great deal depending on what they inherit from each parent. First of all, an adult mix can weigh up to 30-50lbs/13.61-22.68kg and medium height. Their coats tend to be similar to their parent’s, coming in colors such as grey, white, tan, blue, or black.

Speaking of which, their coats can be interesting too. Their Poodle parent tends to have a single layer curly coat, which hardly sheds. At the same time, their Australian Cattle Dog parents tend to have a thick double coat that is well insulated. Unlike the Poodle, this dog undergoes excessive shedding a few times of the year. 

Due to these opposites, it can make it difficult to predict what coat this doodle might have! They don’t shed that much most of the time, but you can’t guarantee it fully. This means they’re not entirely hypoallergenic dogs either, so if you suffer from lots of allergies, it could be difficult for you to own one. However, if you want one, I’d advise looking after one for a few days to see how your allergies respond to their coat. 

Grooming requirements ✂️

Based on their pattern of inheritance, their grooming requirements might vary too. First of all, if they have a coat like their Poodle parent, you must brush their coat daily to eliminate any tangles or mats. You will also want to bathe them every few weeks and arrange for a monthly appointment with the groomer.

On the contrary, if they take after their Australian Cattle Dog parent, then you will want to use a shedding rake in-between seasons to stop their hair from falling all over your household furniture. Ideally, it would help if you also brushed them every day to make sure their fur does not become matted.

Diet 🦴

Due to the size of this hybrid breed and the large number of energy levels it has, you should take its diet seriously. This means you must provide them with enough food to replace the amount they burn through exercise.

If you’re planning on bringing this breed into your home, you will want to avoid low-quality and cheap dog foods. Especially the ones where the carbohydrate content is high, you will instead want to opt for dog food that’s got lots of protein in it to aid the growth and repair of their muscles. If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to speak to a vet who will advise you on what food is the best for this breed and the portions too.

Plus, look for dog food that does not contain filler ingredients or ingredients that could trigger a food intolerance like wheat, soy, or chicken. 

You should purchase dog food that doesn’t have filler ingredients or common ingredients that cause food allergies like wheat, soy, or chicken. Additionally, make sure your dog gets lots of protein since they are highly active.

Health problems 💊

Not all the time, but sometimes this Doodle mix might be susceptible to certain health problems. The typical health problems that this hybrid might face are:

• Hip dysplasia: This is a condition where their hip joint loosens, and as they get older, they develop mobility issues, and it becomes painful for them to walk. Eventually, their hip starts to wear out against the bone and later could develop arthritis and muscle atrophy.

• Osteochondritis Dissecans: An inflammatory condition that causes the bone and cartilage to separate from one another. This can happen to their elbow, hip, or knee. As soon as it becomes inflamed, osteoarthritis will occur, and that can become inevitable. 

• Deafness: It’s not uncommon for their Blue Heeler parent to be born deaf and some develop hearing problems later in life, causing them to go deaf. As this is a hybrid breed, they could potentially inherit this too.

Puppy cost 💲

Unlike other Doodles or Blue Heeler mixes, this hybrid is not that common to find. While they’re not impossible either, the best is finding them through shelters and rescue organizations. Often the feeds from adoption tend to be a lot cheaper than buying them directly from a breeder. 

Due to their rarity, it’s difficult to find the exact price you could expect to pay. However, if you plan to buy from a breeder, it’s important you request their papers and see their home and parents. 

The last thing you will want is to end up getting this Doodle breed from a puppy mill. The puppy could be unhealthy, but it will take a good trainer to eradicate their bad behavior.

Final thoughts ✔️

The Blue heeler Poodle mix is a rare dog to come by, but they tend to be loyal and great guard dogs when you find one. This is not a crossbreed for someone who lives an outgoing lifestyle, as it has a lot of exercise and feeding demands. 

First of all, due to its size, it needs a few hours of exercise each day, a gentle stroll won’t do. Similarly, it must be fed a large amount of food to get the nutrition its body requires. Unlike other hybrids, it does not have many health problems, but it does require a lot of your time.

What are your thoughts? Do you have the time to raise a Blue Heeler Poodle Mix? Let us know in the comments below.