Red Heeler vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

Red Heeler vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed ComparisonFlat-Coated Retriever is originated from United Kingdom but Red Heeler is originated from Australia. Flat-Coated Retriever may grow 10 cm / 4 inches higher than Red Heeler. Flat-Coated Retriever may weigh 20 kg / 45 pounds more than Red Heeler. Flat-Coated Retriever may live 5 years less than Red Heeler. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and Red Heeler has same litter size. Flat-Coated Retriever requires Moderate Maintenance. But Red Heeler requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Herding dogs
undefined
United Kingdom
Australia
Height Male:
59 - 61 cm
23 - 25 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
56 - 59 cm
22 - 24 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
2 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Flatcoat, flatt, Flattie Flatte (Sweden)
Australian Cattle Dog, ACD
Colors Available:
liver and yellow (blonde, black
Reddish, Blue-grey
Coat:
double, glossy and smooth
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

flat coated retrieverThe Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

red heelerKnown also as the Australian Cattle Dog, the Red Heeler is also known as the Blue Heeler. This is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia.

These dogs are known for their stamina and resilience with driving cattle over long distances in hot weather and across rough terrain.

It was George Eliott who developed the Red Heeler – crossing native Dingoes with Collies and other herding dogs.

In America, the breed was fully recognised in September 1980.

Description

flat coated retriever puppy - descriptionThe Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

red heeler puppy - descriptionThe Red Heeler is a medium-sized dog standing at between 43 to 51 cm in height and weighing in the region of 14 – 16 kg.

He is muscular, with a sturdy build. The coat of this robust dog is shortish and thick and quite often you’ll find a white star marking on he forehead. The coat is a blue-grey color or reddish. The tail of this dog is long and the ears are erect.

Temperament:

The Red Heeler has always been a working dog so he is energetic and lively, being independent and strong-willed.

He is super intelligent too and can be easily trained and socialized. He is a dog that simply loves the outdoors and if you don’t live on a farm, he is going to need lots of exercise.

He gets on well with kids and other pets, but children should be taught to respect him and be kind towards him, otherwise he might not tolerate them. He is a loyal, protective dog, wanting to ensure the safety of his human family.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

flat coated retriever dog - characteristicsThe Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

red heeler dog - characteristicsWhen you bring a Red Heeler into your home, you must know that you’re never going to have a dull moment. They’re not content to lie around with nothing to do. These popular dogs literally coax you to come out and to be active.

Red Heelers need lots of activities and lots of room, so they aren’t particularly suited to life in the city. Large properties and plenty to do is what they ask for.

Your Red Heeler is going to make a splendid pet, loyal and devoted, the perfect example of man’s best friend.

Health Problems

flat coated retriever puppies - health problemsFlat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

  1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
  2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
  3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
  4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
  5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

red heeler puppies - health problemsYour Red Heeler can live to be 15 years of age with good care. Every dog however, can fall prey to some of the many common dog diseases there are, some of which can be -

Musculosceletal Problems:

There are quite a lot of congenital and inherited musculoskeletal disorders in dogs, with some of the more common ones being hip dysplasia and muscular dystrophy for instance.

There are some of these musculosceletal problems which can be fatal. Some of the typical symptoms you’ll see with these problems are difficulty climbing stairs or jumping, loss of muscle mass in the hind limbs, arthritis and lameness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

The retina of the eye is that light-sensitive part and which is part of the central nervous system. With retinal degeneration, the cells decline, leading to impaired vision and sometimes even blindness.

Some symptoms to look out for include dilated pupils, night blindness and the inability to see clearly in bright light. The disease worsens over times with sudden blindness being quite common with older dogs. Your vet will want a thorough history of your dog’s health.

Other dog diseases to be very aware of are cancer, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

flat coated retriever dogs - caringHe will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.

Exercise:

red heeler dogs - caringThe Red Heeler is an active dog, and apart from walks which will give him the chance to sniff around, he will need lots of other forms of exercise. Rope pulling games he’ll love and running after a ball will please him because it takes him back to days when he used to run around and herd livestock.

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person who loves hiking in the wilds and swimming in rivers, you can count this dog in.

Grooming:

You can look at the Red Heeler as a low maintenance dog. He does shed, but a good brush of the coat twice a week will be excellent for him. If he doesn’t wear his nails down naturally, you will need to trim them. Also, while you are brushing him, check his ears and eyes and inside his mouth to make sure he is clear of all infections.

Diet:

Red Heelers rely on good food for their resilience and stamina, and for convenience it is good to have commercially manufactured dog food as a backup. The best is home-made food which is easy to prepare and totally uncomplicated.

Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pet's dry kibble once or twice a week. Simple and tasty, your Red Heeler will love it and thrive on it too.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

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