Blue Heeler Mixes: 21 Different Australian Cattle Dog Crossbreeds

Last Updated on April 17, 2023

Also known as Australian Cattle Dogs (ACDs), Hall’s Heelers, Queensland Heelers, or Australian Heelers, the Blue Heeler dog breed is a popular working dog and herding breed.

However, Blue Heelers have worked their way into the world of companion animals and are no stranger to the world of hybrid dog breeding. 

Keep reading to discover some of the best Blue Heeler mixes out there.

What is a Blue Heeler?

Named for its gorgeous Blue coloring, the short-coated Blue Heeler is born white with the Blue speckled or mottled coloring developing as they age.

A similar breed, known as a Red Heeler, also exists with brown or tan freckles. 

They were developed by a man called Smithfield by crossing Dingoes with Dalmatians or Collies. Australian Cattle Dogs were recognized as purebred by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1980.

They are known for their ability to withstand the harsh conditions of Australia. 

A medium-sized breed with high energy levels, the fierce Blue Heeler is known for its strong work ethic.

With an energetic personality, they have a long history of being used by ranchers as herding dogs on cattle farms. They love to work and are at their happiest performing tasks. 

Blue Heelers are also known for their unwavering loyalty and protective nature. However, this energetic personality and intense drive to be busy do not make the Blue Heeler suitable for everyone.

So the Blue Heeler is often crossed with calmer, more even-tempered dogs who make better family companions. 

21 of the Most Popular Blue Heeler Mixes

Cross the Blue Heeler with another dog breed, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best characteristics of this breed, such as their unique coloring and loyalty, with other fantastic temperaments from other dogs too. Have a look at some of our favorite Blue Heeler mixes here.

1. Labrador Blue Heeler mix (AKA Labraheeler)

The Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, and for good reason. Cross a Labrador with a Blue Heeler, and you will end up with a Blue Heeler Lab Mix, an excellent family dog.

The Labrador Retriever’s personality helps to add an affectionate side to the Blue Heeler. 

You will also struggle to find a dog more loyal than this cross, and as a result, they can struggle to welcome strangers.

The high energy levels of both breeds make the Labraheeler a breed that will love to walk and run with their owners.

Active dog owners who can give this breed lots of attention and love will end up as the best friends with this breed.

You can expect the Labraheeler to weigh between 30 and 80 pounds (14 and 18 kg), with the coat resembling more of the Labrador parent side. 

2. Border Collie Blue Heeler mix (AKA Border Heeler)

As the name suggests, the Border Heeler is a Blue Heeler Border Collie mix. As the cross of two powerful herding breeds, the Cattle Collie may just be the ultimate herding breed.

This hyperactive mix breed will be highly intelligent and alert and will want to run and play all day. At the same time, they will also be fiercely protective. 

Border Heelers will weigh between 30 and 55 pounds (14 and 25 kg) and will likely have a coat that resembles the Blue Heeler parent. 

3. Pitbull Blue Heeler mix (AKA Pit Heeler)

The Pit Heeler is a mix between an American Pitbull Terrier and a Blue Heeler. These will be very energetic dogs that need a lot of training.

However, due to their love of human attention, the Blue Heeler Pitbull mix will respond well to instruction. 

This Blue Heeler cross makes an excellent watchdog with their muscular body and strong Pitbull-like facial features enough to chase away any intruder. This dog will grow to about 24 inches (61 cm) in height.

4. Siberian Husky Blue Heeler mix (AKA Ausky)

Arguably one of the best-looking Blue Heeler mixes, the Ausky is part Australian Cattle Dog and part Siberian Husky. The intense energy levels of both parent breeds can make this cross quite tricky to keep up with. 

This Blue Heeler mix will also have a solid prey drive, causing them to chase small animals and young children.

As a result, they will require adequate levels of socialization to avoid any destructive tendencies from taking hold. 

5. German Shepherd Blue Heeler mix (AKA Cattle Shepherd)

The Blue Heeler cross German Shepherd is a strong dog that is not suitable for first-time pet owners.

Due to their dominant nature, they can be a handful if not given adequate exercise while their thick double coat means grooming requirements are also quite demanding. 

These dogs do however make for excellent guard dogs because of their protective, intelligent natures.

A fully grown Cattle Shepherd will weigh between 30 and 95 pounds (14 and 43 kg) and stand about 25 inches (64 cm) in height.

The breed will typically have the long face and upright ears of the German Shepherd parent with a long double-layer coat, meaning it has a top layer as well as an undercoat. They will be a mix between merle, black and brown. 

Due to the German Shepherd’s parents, this cross is prone to developing some health issues, such as hip dysplasia. 

6. Corgi Blue Heeler mix (AKA Corgi Heeler)

Blend a Pembroke Welsh Corgi with an Australian Cattle Dog and you will end up with a small powerhouse of a dog with a spirited nature.

Thanks to the Corgi parent, this crossbreed will feature a barrel-shaped body, short legs, and an adorable face.

The Blue Heeler parent tends to quieten down the naturally noisy Corgi, resulting in a quiet, peaceful companion.

However, don’t expect this breed to just lay around all day. This hard-working cross has sharp instincts and will thrive when given a job to do.

7. Australian Shepherd Blue Heeler mix (AKA Texas Heeler)

A medium-sized breed with a high level of energy and excellent herding instincts, the Blue Heeler cross Australian Shepherd is an extremely loyal dog that is very easy to train and loves to please.

Their natural working natures, make the Australian Shepherd Blue Heeler mix a very energetic breed that needs a home with a large yard. 

Weighing in at between 25 and 50 pounds (11 and 23 kg), with a height of 17 to 22 inches (43 to 56 cm), the Texas Heeler will have a medium-length coat that can be black, merle, gray, or white and brown.

Interestingly these dogs are actually known as Texas Heelers because the Aussie Shepherd was bred in that state and not Australia as their name suggests.

Also read: Australian Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog

8. Beagle Blue Heeler mix (AKA Beagle Heeler)

Thanks to the Beagle side of this Blue Heeler cross, the Beagle Heeler is a curious, inquisitive, and uber-playful companion.

Just be sure to keep them under close watch when exercising or they could have a tendency to wander off, following that Beagle nose!

These loyal, affectionate companions have the droopy ears of the Beagle with the beautiful coat of the Blue Heeler, possibly with some Beagle patches. The Beagle Heeler will typically be a medium-sized dog.

Check out this video of a sweet Beagle Heeler rescue to get a better idea of what this cross looks like:

9. Boxer Blue Heeler mix (AKA Box Heeler)

An interesting Blue Heeler mix, the Boxer Heeler has strong protective instincts and makes for a loyal guard dog.

While Blue Heelers typically aren’t great with small children, the Boxer’s nature gives this breed a more loving and patient side. However, don’t expect this breed to take too well to strangers.

This friendly mix will have a short, shiny coat that needs minimal care. They will grow to about 25 inches (64 cm) tall.

10. Shih Tzu Blue Heeler mix (AKA Blue Tzu Heeler)

What do you get if you cross a Blue Heeler with a Shih Tzu? An adorable cross with plenty of attitudes!

The cute face of this dog will have the big round eyes of the Shih Tzu while the coat will likely be long and adorable. Your Blue Tzu Heeler will grow to between 12 and 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) tall. 

This attention-seeking breed will love to be showered with affection but with such charming looks, it will be hard not to give this mix puppy oodles of cuddles!

11. Dalmatian Blue Heeler mix (AKA Dalmatian Heeler)

Cross two dogs with very distinctive coats and this Dalmatian mix may just be one of the most striking dogs around.

However do be warned, Dalmatian Heelers are only suitable for experienced owners who know how to care for the attention-demanding personality of this breed. 

This loyal and sensitive breed craves attention all the time and doesn’t take well to strangers with aggressive behaviors and nipping commonplace.

Be sure when training this cross to only use positive reinforcement techniques as the Dalmatian side can cause the breed to withdraw if treated harshly.

12. Shar Pei Blue Heeler mix (AKA Heeler Pei)

With both the Shar Pei and Blue Heeler having a herding history, the Heeler Pei too has a keen sense of direction, sharp instincts, and a high intellect.

These independent dogs do however have a fiercely protective side which can cause them to be a danger to strangers if not given the proper training. 

The medium-sized Heeler Pei will feature the powerful body of both breeds on short, muscular legs.

13. American Eskimo Blue Heeler mix (AKA Aussimo)

Cross the pure white American Eskimo dog with an Australian Cattle Dog and you’ll end up with a gorgeous breed whose soft, silky, long fur, is a characteristic trait.

These gorgeous Aussimos are wary around strangers but devoted to their families. With proper socialization from a puppy, this Blue Heeler mix can be a good choice for families with kids and other pets. 

It is not all cuddles for this breed though, their intelligent, highly adaptable natures, mean they need a good about of stimulation. As a very diligent breed, they will excel at skill training.

Due to both breeds being prone to congenital deafness, an American Eskimo Blue Heeler puppy may need to get certain checks at birth.

14. Boston Terrier Blue Heeler mix (AKA Boston Cattle Dog)

This Boston Terrier mix is a sturdy dog with a muscular body. Due to the Boston Terrier parent, the Boston Cattle Dog will have a spritely personality.

This frisky nature means a strong owner is essential to avoid the high strung nature of this breed from causing problematic behaviors to dominate. 

With the right dedication, this cross can be a friendly and smart companion. 

15. Bernese Mountain Blue Heeler mix (AKA Bernese Cattle Dog)

Both beautiful breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog and Bernese Mountain Dog make this designer dog a gorgeous cross with a high intellect.

The Bernese Cattle dogs are easy to train but need plenty of physical and mental stimulation.

With the right attention, this cross will be a friendly companion that is affectionate to everyone, including children.

16. Basset Hound Blue Heeler mix (AKA Basset Heeler)

The Basset Heeler is a very attractive hybrid dog with a dabbled coat and floppy ears. These dogs will have a strong muscular build and need lots of exercise.

This cross will likely be cautious around strangers with a fiercely protective personality. As a result, a good deal of training and socialization will be required.

17. Cocker Spaniel Blue Heeler mix (AKA Blue Cocker Spaniel)

Utterly irresistible, the Blue Heeler Cocker Spaniel mix is a gorgeous dog with a wavy coat, thanks to the Cocker Spaniel parent.

However, this beauty does come with a price and this cross has demanding grooming needs. However, as a people-loving breed, the Blue Cocker Spaniel will repay you with lots of love and affection.

Protective of their owners, this hybrid dog can become aggressive towards strangers or other dogs and does have a tendency to bark.

Provide this athletic breed with lots of exercise and training in order to keep those traits in check.

As Cocker Spaniels are known to suffer from health problems like progressive retinal atrophy this is one thing to watch out for with this cross.

18. Poodle Blue Heeler mix (AKA Blue Cadoodle)

Also known as the Cattle Doodle, the Blue Heeler Poodle mix is a rare pooch. The various sizes of the Poodle parent will influence the height and weight of this cross, as will the coat color be determined by the Poodle. 

This loyal and charming dog can also be one of the smartest Blue Heeler mixes around, if you are lucky enough to find one!

19. Golden Retriever Blue Heeler mix (AKA Golden Cattle Dog)

Surprisingly, Golden Cattle Dogs are not always yellow in color, and typically this Blue Heeler mix will actually have the darker coloring of the Australian Cattle Dog parent.

Their head and body shape will however resemble the Golden Retriever parent.

The Golden Retriever parent brings out a different side to the energetic Blue Heeler. Thus you can expect a more even-tempered, loving, and affectionate dog that thrives on interaction with humans. 

20. Dachshund Blue Heeler mix (AKA Doxie Heeler)

Cross a Dachshund with a Blue Heeler and you will likely end up with a crossbreed that has the dark coloring of a Dachshund, a small, long body with a long tail and short legs, with a Blue Heeler head and large ears.

Doxie Heelers love to play just as much as they crave a good cuddle and make great family pets.

21. Rottweiler Blue Heeler mix (AKA Blueweiler)

The Blue Heeler Rottweiler mix has extremely strong herding instincts and might even try to herd you around.

This herding instinct also makes this cross very protective and fantastic watchdogs. As a high-energy breed that is also very eager to please they will love to be exercised and need a lot of playtime.

Give them the attention they deserve and you will end up with a great family dog.

As a large breed that sheds moderately this cross requires a good level of maintenance and will need to be fed a decent amount of high-quality dry dog food or kibble.

Just don’t overfeed them or you run the risk of developing health issues such as obesity and joint problems. 

Which Australian Cattle Dog Mixes are Your Favorites?

One cool fact about this breed is that one holds the record for the oldest dog. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records at 29.5 years old is a dog named Bluey.

Thus you can look forward to a long and lovely lifespan with whatever Blue Heeler mix you decide to get.

Now that you know more about all the options out there, which one is your favorite?

Further reading: More Mixed Dog Breeds You’ll Love

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• 27 Dalmatian Mixes
• 44 Jack Russell Terrier Mixes
• 37 Adorable Pug Mixes
• 23 Weimaraner Mixes
• 15 Catahoula Mixes