Red Heeler vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Red Heeler vs German Coolie - Breed ComparisonBoth German Coolie and Red Heeler are originated from Australia. German Coolie may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Red Heeler. German Coolie may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Red Heeler. German Coolie may live 3 years more than Red Heeler. Both German Coolie and Red Heeler has almost same litter size. Both German Coolie and Red Heeler requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
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Australia
Australia
Height Male:
40 - 60 cm
15 - 24 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
38 - 58 cm
14 - 23 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 22 kg
28 - 49 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
16 - 18 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
2 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Australian Koolie - German Koolie - Coulie - German Collie
Australian Cattle Dog, ACD
Colors Available:
Black, Red, merle
Reddish, Blue-grey
Coat:
smooth and comes in short or medium lengths
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

german coolieThe German Coolie is misnamed as it is an Australian bred dog and often called the Australian Koolie or Coolie. This Australian breed is more often just called a Coolie. The breed is a typical herding breed and a working dog that needs a job all the time. They have been a favorite of Australians since the late 1800’s when local dogs were bred with British working dogs.

Although all Coolie’s are not the same. Within the breed there is a lot of variation. This is because the Coolie was bred individually for different regions in Australia. In a very different writing the Koolie Club of Australia does not define the Coolie breed on confirmation as all other purebred dogs are defined. Instead the Coolie is defined by ability to work. In light of this most Coolie breeders state that the Coolie is a breed and the variations you see among regions are types within the breed.

As a herding dog, the Coolie brought a lot of skill to the Australian farmers and sheep herders. The Coolie will round up the sheep and bring them back to their enclosure at the shepherd’s command. They are upright, silent, working dogs. Not only do they herd sheep they are important at sheering to “cut out” the sheep or assist in the close quarters of lambing.

In Queensland North and New South Wales, the Coolie is medium boned, tall and agile ready to herd cattle over a long stretch of miles. In the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and the Hunter Valley Region, the Coolie is shorter and thicker in order to be able to get cattle that are lying low out from the gullies and dense bush. The Coolies found in Victoria are the smallest of all.

No matter where they live and work, the Coolie is bred to help the workers there, the farmers, the stockman, and the grazier. All Coolies are adaptable and very agile. They all have a strong willfulness to accomplish what they are asked to do. The ancestors of these various Coolie was the British Collie – a smooth coated, blue merle. This Collie was crossed with the Black and Tan Collie from the Scottish Highlands. It is believed that these are the same Collie breeds that came to Australia to create the Heeler.

The name may come from the German immigrants working in South Australia and unable to pronounce Collie incorrectly they called the dogs German Coolies. There is also a fraction of German breeders who believe that the German Tiger dog was brought to Australia in the 18th century and then when the Collies came they were bred together. Many Coolie breeders have records showing that the breed has been in Australia for at least 160 years. It is also believed that the Border Collie and Kelpie (Blue Heeler) were mixed into the breed at sometime as well.

No bench standard exists for the German Coolie even though there is the Koolie Club of Australia. The mission of the club is to protect, preserve and promote the breed. The Australian Sporting Register was recognizing the Coolies in 2004. They are eligible to participate in the Australian National Kennel Council sanctioned sporting trials. They participate in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria through the individual states sporting register. Here they participate in herding, jumping, obedience, agility and tracking.

Several other recognitions as a herding breed soon followed. The Australian Shepherd Club of America, the American Herding Breed Association, were followed by recognition from others as well. They are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

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

german coolie puppy - descriptionWith their strong ancestry among the family of collies and herders, the German Coolie shares the look of collies and shepherds. Even though they differ from region to region and there is no actual standard, they are medium sized dogs with blue or brown eyes or even one of each. The ears are folded over on top when relaxed but they are rigid and straight when he is more alert. The nose is either chocolate or red depending on the color of their coat.

They can have either a long, medium or short coat but most owners want the short coat that is smooth as well. The coat can be one color – red/chocolate or black; Bi – red/white or black/white; Tri – solid black or red with white and brown; Tri merle -merle with white and brown; Merle – red merles and blue merles. Regardless of color, the German Coolie has the look of a collie or German Shepherd.

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

german coolie dog - characteristicsYes, they can be very friendly with children is they are socialized and supervised.

Special talents

They have enough stamina to work for 14 hours a day.

Adaptability

They are very adaptable. They can be calm and steady when working a mother and baby lamb and then be able to forcefully move steers, bull, rams or weathers.

Learning ability

The breed is highly intelligent, and their learning ability is excellent because they want to please you.

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

german coolie puppies - health problemsThis is a relatively healthy breed without many genetic disorders found in purebreds due to the 160 years they have spent fairly isolated and allowing natural selection to take its course.

Blindness/Deafness

In Merle dogs there can be deafness and/or blindness. If you breed a solid to a merle you can eliminate that.

Joint Issues

These are not inherited but rather acquired due to the immense amount of jumping and running.

  1. Allergies
  2. Minor skin allergies are possible in some.
  3. Seizures

Rare but it does occur and can be fatal if not treated

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

german coolie dogs - caringBreak meals into 3 a day feeding a high quality dry puppy food designed for dogs of his size. 11/2 to 2 cups per day.

Feeding the adult

Break meals into 2 a day feeding a high quality dry adult food designed for dogs of his size.

Points for Good Health

Traditionally good health. Great energy, intensity and devotion to work and owner.

Games and Exercises

This is an energetic dog that loves to work and needs to work. Regular routine exercise is needed daily. He needs to be stimulated mentally and physically. Find him a job. Make sure he knows what you want him to do. They work well with a human partner in games such as agility, tracking, flyball and herding. They need a large yard and a lot of play time. They are not couch potatoes and would be unhappy if they were stuck in a house or apartment

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