Wolfdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

Wolfdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed ComparisonAustrailian Blue Heeler is originated from Australia but Wolfdog is originated from Germany. Austrailian Blue Heeler may grow 26 cm / 10 inches shorter than Wolfdog. Austrailian Blue Heeler may weigh 29 kg / 63 pounds lesser than Wolfdog. Austrailian Blue Heeler may live 4 years more than Wolfdog. Austrailian Blue Heeler may have less litter size than Wolfdog. Austrailian Blue Heeler requires High Maintenance. But Wolfdog requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
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Australia
Germany
Height Male:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 14 kg
26 - 31 pounds
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 7
2 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Queensland Heeler
None
Colors Available:
blue, red
white, dark brown and black. , Grey, cream, red
Coat:
blue speckled or red speckled with dark or cream marks
Medium length, thick
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

History

austrailian blue heelerIn 1840, George Elliott made a match with Australian Dingo and Collie and got a clever and very active dog breed – Australian Blue Heeler. Soon, he showed his good herding instincts and protective nature and got really popular among the cattlemen and ranchers. Soon, as the USA soldiers arrived in Australia, they decided that it will be a great dog to bring home.

Australian Blue Heeler has short, double coat. The coat is water resistant and helps them when the temperature is too high as well. Their coat is rough to the touch, naturally. They can be found in blue or red coat colour mix. The Blue Heeler isn’t actually blue, but their black coat has a bluish tint. Red Heelers have red fur instead of black. They have long tails, strong legs, Dingo-like heads with pointy ears and muscular necks and balanced and athletic bodies.

wolfdogThe Wolfdog was brought about when domestic dogs were mated with a variety of wolves so as to produce a hybrid.

People who want to own these hybrids have to be careful because they find that the unpredictable behavior of their pets makes it difficult for them to care for them.

Then they want to get rid of it. Every year, heaps of these hybrids are abandoned due to humans interfering with nature.

The wolfdog has been bred with a number of dogs but we think about it more in terms of wolf and German shepherd.

Description

austrailian blue heeler puppy - descriptionThis breed is somehow designed for an outdoor life and outdoor activity. This implies that Blue Heelers have nature made of the high dose of energy. They are always ready to go anywhere you go, and they will be a loyal friend. They are actually very clever, intelligent and ready to help.

If you are a type of the person who prefers being indoors and having minimal physical activity, Blue heelers are not the type of a furry companion for you. They have a high daily need for the activity, and they love having lots of space to run and explore. Sometimes, you will realize that having a leash is a must because they will get so playful that they will forget about you!

If you start teaching them to be friendly with other dogs while they are still pups, they will accept that kind of lifestyle. But, if your Blue Heeler is raised as the only dog on the ranch, note that they won’t be very friendly toward other dogs.

Since most of the herd dogs usually respond to only one person, most of the Blue Heelers can follow this old instinct. They can be very independent, as well, and they are usually not the type of the dog that will always be around your leg waiting for a cuddle or ear scratch. But, they build the respect towards humans depending on how they treat him so they can be very lovable and friendly pets.

If you are still confused about their name, you must know that the Blue Heelers can actually lightly nip your heel for attention. They are not aggressive, but they tend to be very protective of the family, humans around them and their property.

wolfdog puppy - descriptionPeople mesmerized by the wolf long to bring some of that wildness home, and the wolfdog is supposed to do this.

Their looks differ a lot, even those that come from the same litter. You can’t have a predictable looking wolf dog because it could be any domestic dog bred with a wolf so they display a large variety of appearances.

Most Wolfdogs seem to have smaller heads than pure wolves. The ears seem to be bigger and more pointy.

A popular wolfdog mix is a German Shepherd mixed with the wolf. These dogs can be between 70 to 76cm in height and weigh between 40 and 45kg.

Their coat is thick and can be in colors of grey, cream, red, white, dark brown and black.

Temperament:

While the wolfdog can be trained to become quite a friendly kind of dog, it is not suitable for the first time dog owner. It can show bouts of aggressiveness around strangers and be highly protective of its family.

However, this can be helped with early socialization and training. It is illegal to own the wolfdog in some states. You don’t want to leave a wolfdog alone with your children even though the dog is capable of love and loyalty towards his human family.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

austrailian blue heeler dog - characteristicsThey are generally good with children, but you must be aware of their inherent desire to herd. Always supervise when your Blue Heeler is around small children.

Special Talents

Ball tricks, frisbee fun, running companion, herding cattle.

Adaptability

It is best to buy a puppy. These dogs get attached to one human and to the territory.

Learning ability

They are generally quick learners. If you teach them to be playful, friendly and loving, they will learn it in no time. So be aware of the decisions that can cost you when the dog grows up.

wolfdog dog - characteristicsWhen you add the genes of a wild animal to the pool, you get a crossbreed and when its an animal from the wild, its nature is unpredictable.

Many people don’t think about the consequences of what they do when they interfere with nature and the wolfdog gets put down when it behaves like a wild animal and attacks or bites out of defense.

Yes, they can be loyal, loving pets but always you will have the shadow of the dog or wolf’s unpredictable behavior.

There is a reason why these dogs are banned in a number of states. This dog-type-wolf breed is not recommended as a pet at all – take a look at animal shelters and the number of wolf dogs there and ask yourself why.

Health Problems

Eye problems

austrailian blue heeler puppies - health problemsProgressive Retinal Atrophy usually causes slow and painless loss of sight. This process takes years, but there are cases where this disease took only months before the dog ended up completely blind. It is advisable to take your Blue Heeler to the vet for a test that can tell you if your dog is carrying the gene for this disease.

Lens luxation is a disease where the lens of dog’s eye separates partially or completely. Good news is that this disease can be treated.

Joint diseases

Most common is the hip or elbow dysplasia. This is the disease where hip joints do not develop properly and begin to grind. This condition can sometimes be treated with physiotherapy, but there is a chance that your Blue Heeler will need a surgery. If you have a habit of regular vet checks and keeping your dog slim and fed with quality food, you can a make a big difference.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) causes the dog to have excess cartilage and deficient bone, where cartilage does not get replaced by bone during fetal development. This disease usually requires surgery and prescribed medicines.

Deafness

Congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness – CHSD is a common form of deafness.

Bilateral deafness can be identified when the dog is still a puppy, more-less at six weeks of age. A puppy with deafness in only one ear is harder to identify, but it can happen.

Portosystemic shunt means that the blood flow is getting back into the bloodstream instead of passing through the liver. That means that liver can’t clear out the toxins, and the organ itself fails to grow properly. This inherited type of shunt can be treated with surgery if the diagnose is set on time.

These dogs are generally healthy and aren’t prone to genetic related issues.

wolfdog puppies - health problemsThey will also be susceptible to common dog ailments such as parasites and hip dysplasia.

Like any other dog, these Wolf dogs will also possibly develop tumors. He will also need to be vaccinated against harmful diseases and you will need to have a reliable local vet who is interested in your wolf dog.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

austrailian blue heeler dogs - caringChoose a dog food that will provide nutrients that will help in the bone developing. Since they are more likely to suffer from joint diseases, you must take this advice seriously. It would be great if you speak about this with your vet before you choose food on your own.

Feeding the adult

The best food for Blue Heeler is a high-quality food which supplies them with premium nutrition to fuel their activity.

They also drink a lot of water, so be sure that they always have a fresh water available.

Points for Good Health

Lots and lots of the outdoor activity and a quality food. You must be very cautious because this kind of dogs gets overweight easily because they just love the treats and extra food portion.

Games and Exercises

Any outdoor activity that is mentally challenging and interesting enough to keep them from running in the field trying to catch anything that moves.

wolfdog dogs - caringIf you own a wolfdog the same care procedures would need to be followed as you would with a regular dog.

A wolfdog, however, can’t be vaccinated against rabies. It seems that the reason for this is that it is due to current legislation, and vaccine manufacturers don’t want to support wolf dogs as pets because they are considered to be dangerous.

Provide your wolfdog with highly nutritional, protein-based food. You don’t want to feed your wolfdog any of the low quality, traditional store-bought food high in carbs and artificial additives. Instead, look for a diet rich in proteins and be sure to give this dog some raw meat occasionally.

Groom the thick coat to ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

The dog is active and you will need to provide heaps of exercise for him, both mental and physical activities.

The wolfdog will require training but it will require dedication, though it can be done as the dog is very intelligent.

Even with training, the wolfdog isn’t suited to life in the city but should be kept in the countryside.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wolfdog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Wolfdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Wolfdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
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  6. Wolfdog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Wolfdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Wolfdog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wolfdog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Wolfdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Wolfdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  14. Wolfdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Wolfdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  18. Wolfdog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Wolfdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
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  26. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison