White Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

White Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed ComparisonWhite Shepherd is originated from United States but Austrailian Blue Heeler is originated from Australia. White Shepherd may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Austrailian Blue Heeler. White Shepherd may weigh 24 kg / 53 pounds more than Austrailian Blue Heeler. Both White Shepherd and Austrailian Blue Heeler has almost same life span. White Shepherd may have more litter size than Austrailian Blue Heeler. White Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance. But Austrailian Blue Heeler requires High maintenance

History

white shepherd - historyThe German Shepherd and the white German Shepherd are the same dog - the only thing is that their coat colors vary.

The White Shepherd evolved because people were looking for a working companion dog with a high degree of intelligence and a white coat.

The development of the White Shepherd began at the time of the 19th and 20th centuries. A breeding program was started but in 1933, the white coat color was made a disqualification in the German Shepherd Dog breed standard.

Not to be deterred, it was in 1969 that the U.S. and Canada formed White German Shepherd breed clubs and the breed was actually recognized by the UKC in 1999.

austrailian blue heeler - historyIn 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
United States
Australia
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
12 - 14 kg
26 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
1 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
American White Shepherd
Queensland Heeler
Colors Available:
White
blue, red
Coat:
Medium length, dense, straight
blue speckled or red speckled with dark or cream marks
Shedding:
Constant
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Alert, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

white shepherd puppy - descriptionThe White Shepherd is a true beauty and is a medium to large-sized dog that is muscular and strong. He stands at between 55 and 65cm in height and weighs between 35 and 40kg.

He is somewhat longer than tall. The double coat is medium length, dense, straight and white. He is a fairly heavy shedder. He has an intelligent face, a long muzzle and erect ears. The long tail is low-set.

Temperament:

This beautiful dog’s face tells you that he is highly intelligent. He can be easily trained. The bright eyes are eager and alert and he is ready to be an excellent guard dog and take his role as protector and guardian seriously.

The White Shepherd loves his human family and isn't overly enthusiastic around strangers. They’re playful dogs and will make great playmates for children. They also aren’t aggressive with other dogs and will get on well with other pets in the house.

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.

Characteristics

white shepherd dog - characteristicsThe White Shepherd is such a beautiful dog and he has some great characteristics to match his good looks.

He is friendly and amicable with his human family and is a great protector as well. He isn’t aggressive yet he makes a great watchdog.

He is loving and loyal and forms strong bonds with his human family. Bringing him into your home and heart is guaranteed to confirm the opinion held that dogs are man's best friend.

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.

Health Problems

white shepherd puppies - health problemsThe White Shepherd shares health problems much the same as the German Shepherd, and one of these is hip dysplasia.

These dogs are at risk of getting hip dysplasia. It’s a congenital disorder with dogs inheriting the disease from their parents. Some young dogs can get the disease too. Because they are such active dogs, the White Shepherd is at risk of dysplasia. There are a number of signs you can look for in your dog and some of these are -

trouble standing up

limping

favoring the use of one particular leg

reduced activity

weight gain

Your vet may want x-rays to examine your dog's hips. Your vet will want to slow the development of the disease and also ease the pain in your pet. There are other steps the vet will suggest to you that can make it as comfortable as possible for your pet.

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

white shepherd dogs - caringThe White Shepherd's weather-resistant double coat will need to be brushed regularly as he is quite a heavy shedder. When brushing him, check for ticks and fleas as well as any unusual lumps.

Exercise:

This beautiful dog was developed from a herding breed so he is very active. He will love a walk every day but that won’t be sufficient. He just loves ball games, and if you take him to the park, he’ll love you throwing sticks for him or the frisbee.

Because of his intelligence, he will require mental and physical stimulation. You get some toys for dogs where you can put some kibble in the toy and he has to figure out a way to get the food out.

Diet:

The White Shepherd is an active dog, so to keep him that way, ensure he gets good food which has the right balance of vitamins.

There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market, but the idea is to know how to choose the high-quality ones and to avoid the ones that can actually jeopardize your dog’s health.

Always read the write-up on the packaging and choose according to your pet’s age and his activity levels.

It is always a good idea to give such a dog some home-made food too. Not any kind of home-made food either because you have to be careful with dogs to avoid them suffering from abdominal pain. They like their food plain and simple – boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Some raw meat occasionally is also good. Don’t forget to ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. White Shepherd vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. White Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. White Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. White Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. White Shepherd vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. White Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. White Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. White Shepherd vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. White Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. White Shepherd vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. White Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. White Shepherd vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. White Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. White Shepherd vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. White Shepherd vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. White Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. White Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. White Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. White Shepherd vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. White Shepherd vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. White Shepherd vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. White Shepherd vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. White Shepherd vs Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. White Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. White Shepherd vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  27. Australian Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  28. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  29. Australian Cattle Dog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  30. Bearded Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  31. Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  32. Dutch Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  33. Blue Healer vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  34. English Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  35. Australian Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  36. Catahoula Cur vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  37. Australian Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  38. Catalan Sheepdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  39. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  40. Bergamasco vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  41. Berger Picard vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  42. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  43. Queensland Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  44. German Coolie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  45. Bohemian Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  46. Croatian Sheepdog vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  47. Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  48. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  49. Blue Lacy vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  50. New Zealand Huntaway vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds