We have been blessed to re-home a young blue heeler who is already showing promise for being a good farm dog. I am considering the idea of breeding with an australian shepherd down the road for Texas heelers but I don't know too much about them. Anybody on the board have experience with that cross?

My advice is don't cross them up. Each breed has its purpose and my experience with crossed up dogs is they don't perform as well as the straight run for their given specialties. Heelers for cattle, shepherds for sheep. Of course individual dogs are another matter and you will always find the exception. Consider breeding heelers only, they are very hard to find now. Watch the ads in Livestock Weekly for awhile and you will see lots of shepherds and guard dogs, but very few straight heelers. Those that come up are gone at once. And never breed your heeler to another who does not have a well defined "Bentley mark". Without that mark of true heeler blood they have too many out-crosses in their background. Just my thoughts.

txrancher69 said:

---

My advice is don't cross them up. Each breed has its purpose and my experience with crossed up dogs is they don't perform as well as the straight run for their given specialties. Heelers for cattle, shepherds for sheep. Of course individual dogs are another matter and you will always find the exception. Consider breeding heelers only, they are very hard to find now. Watch the ads in Livestock Weekly for awhile and you will see lots of shepherds and guard dogs, but very few straight heelers. Those that come up are gone at once. And never breed your heeler to another who does not have a well defined "Bentley mark". Without that mark of true heeler blood they have too many out-crosses in their background. Just my thoughts.

---

Pretty much agree 100%. It is hard to find solid blue heelers. Even harder when AKC breeders have turned much of the breed into short stocky house pets.

Heelers have a completely different and fascinating personality.

Perfect information to know.

I wish she was registered but alas she isn't. I guess I need to be looking for a blue heeler male then.

We love this dog already. She's been with us for about 2 months and she is 9 months old herself. Was kept in a an apartment with a couple who both worked full time. Luckily, they recognized the need to get her out. She immediately started working our donkey, and I'm okay with it because he can be a butt hole some times.

She's a beaut. I'll be looking for another heeler in the near future.

One of the best things you can do is train a VERY good lie down in your dog. This can save you a lot of frustration etc when her herding drive takes over & she would otherwise quit listening to you. Also it's useful if you want to herd animals with her. Lie down & stay is actually what you want her doing.

will.mcg said:

---

One of the best things you can do is train a VERY good lie down in your dog. This can save you a lot of frustration etc when her herding drive takes over & she would otherwise quit listening to you. Also it's useful if you want to herd animals with her. Lie down & stay is actually what you want her doing.

---

Agree completely. Heelers are probably the smartest dog you will ever work with, but very stubborn and hardheaded in the young years. Need to get them trained up to come to you at once when you call no matter what. Breaks their focus when doing something you don't want. Nice markings and coloration on your dog, congrats.

I always like being able to have mine lay down and a good "stand" command. The stand command is so they are in the position you want them, an open gate or less pressure on standing livestock, but they are still working.

And trainers were always big on using "Walk up" and other versions for a release on livestock. The last thing you want to use is an aggressive release like "go!" or "get them".

There is a good stock dog training book with all the terminology that is very helpful in understanding terms like "There" for good positioning, "look" so they are reminding to focus on you while working, and etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Stockdog-Savvy-Jeanne-Joy-Hartnagle-Taylor/dp/1577791061/ref=nodl_

Thanks for the info. We are at the point now where these lessons need to start taking shape. Since we aren't working large groups of livestock I will be working with her a lot to lie down.

I loved working on a long line (25' leash) and practicing the commands.

Best and smartest dog I've ever owned was an accidental red heeler/aussie cross. It was like he understood everything I told him.

Beautiful girl! We have four blue heelers - mom, dad, and two puppies (one male, one female) that we kept out of the last litter. The pups will be a year old next week. There is never a dull moment at our house.

Ours aren't registered either but they are excellent working dogs with sweet temperaments. We've had this line in our farm family for four generations and hope to keep it going.

I'd be happy to let you meet our male when you're ready to breed.

dahouse said:

---

Best and smartest dog I've ever owned was an accidental red heeler/aussie cross. It was like he understood everything I told him.

---

We just adopted another rescue puppy. Supposedly, she's half heeler half poodle. DNA testing with confirm, but for now she's leaps and bounds smarter than the prior rescue we still have (terrier mix). Within a week she was sitting, shaking, walking on a leash, and letting us know with a nose-poke or paw on your arm that she has to go to the bathroom. She was born in early September, so she's still just a baby.

I'd be very interested in meeting your male. Apparently there is no need to cross her if they are already good at what they are doing. Where are you located?

We are in Bryan. Shoot me a message at owr2933 at hotmail dot com.

Texas Heelers are great dogs. I will never own another breed.

I miss our heeler who is in doggy heaven.

I'm bumping this in reply to Sangria.

I think I received an email response earlier this summer. Our heeler is coming in season and we are interested in finding a stud if you have time to talk.