While uncommon among dog lovers, the Beagle Blue Heeler mix breed has its share of fans. Descending from the Beagle and Blue Heeler breeds, the pups from these parents are just as loved as their parent breeds are. If you’re considering getting one of these pups, here’s some information that you might need before bringing one of these adorable furballs into your home.
Table of Contents
Beagle Blue Heeler Mix Highlights
- Beagle and Blue Heeler mix comes from purebred Beagle and Blue Heeler or Australian Cattle Dog. They are rather rare but are well-loved as home companions.
- Appearance-wise, Beagle and Blue Heeler dogs look different from each other. That’s why puppies in the same litter could look different from one another.
- This hybrid dog is a medium-sized pooch and could differ in physique and height depending on which parent has the stronger DNA. This also applies to their coat color which could range from brown to blue-speckles.
- Coming from two intelligent dogs, you can assure that your Blue Heeler and Beagle mix breed is as smart as its parents. They are easy to train as they learn commands faster.
- They need daily exercise as they can get weight easily. Plus it allows them to burn off all the energy they have seeing as they are active dogs.
- Beagle and Blue Heeler mix pups need the right type of food that gives them all the nutrition they need. Find one with a good source of animal protein.
- Feeding plans usually depend on the dog. You can either observe them first to come up with the best feeding plan, or you can visit your vet for suggestions.
- Health is important for your pups. Some of the most common health risks they face are hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts, and deafness.
- These dogs are heavy shedders so it is best that you invest in a good pet vacuum. In addition, they will shed heavier on certain seasons.
- Loyal, gentle, and energetic dogs — these dogs are great home companions for those who are looking for one.
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Appearance
When it comes to appearance, the Beagle looks completely different from a Blue Heeler. That means you can get quite a variety of looks when it comes to a Beagle Blue Heeler mix litter. Some would look more like one side of their ancestry than the other.
However, the most common look is a dog with a Beagle physique, but the coat of a Blue Heeler. Then again, pups from litter to litter or even from within the same litter could look different than others. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that characteristics from both breeds are apparent in their pups.
Most dogs acquire the pricked ears of a Blue Heeler. But since Beagles have V-shaped ears, some pups are born with semi-pricked ears.
Size and Weight
Both the Beagle and the Blue Heeler dogs are medium-sized dogs so you can expect that your dog will be around the same size as them. They could have the same size as with a female Beagle dog or as large as a male Blue Heeler pooch.
That being said, a Beagle can grow from 13 to 15 inches tall. Sometimes, they won’t even grow to reach 13 inches which happen most of the time for female dogs. Meanwhile, Blue Heeler dogs can grow from 17 to 20 inches.
On an average, a Beagle Blue Heeler mix breed could grow from around 13 inches to 20 inches.
When it comes to weight, a Beagle could be around 20 to 30 pounds as long as they are able to grow from 13 inches and up. Those who are smaller often reaches a maximum weight of 20 pounds. Blue Heeler dogs, on the other hand, reach 35 to 45 pounds.
It’s safe to say that an adult Beagle and Blue Heeler designer breed would be around the same weight as their parents.
Fur and Coat
Beagle dogs have tightly packed, short, and thick coat. Meanwhile, Blue Heeler pups have a double coat — a shorter outer coat and a dense undercoat. So what do most Beagle Blue Heeler coats look like?
Again, this would depend on whose coat they resembled more. Nonetheless, these designer dogs are likely to have thicker and dense coats. They may need a little more maintenance than other pups and they may not be the best choice for those who are allergic to fur.
Colors range from brown, black, tan, white, blue, or red. Usually, your designer pup will have a combination of these colors and are either specked like the Blue Heeler or marked like a Beagle.
History
As with almost any designer dog, there isn’t much information regarding the history of a Beagle Blue Heeler mix. It’s unsure whether they were bred for a certain purpose or it was rather by accident. There’s also an uncertainty where they were first bred.
However, here is the rich history of both the Beagle breed and the Blue Heeler.
Beagle
Beagles are among the ancient breeds of dogs, that could be the reason why it’s a little harder to grasp any solid information about them. However, there are dogs of the same size and purpose with the modern day Beagle that can be traced from 5th century B.C. in Ancient Greece.
Even their names are shrouded in mystery, but a popular theory says that it came from a Gaelic word – beag – which meant “little.” Nonetheless, some pet lovers and experts believe that this came from the French term “be’geule” which was the sound that hounds make while they are hunting.
“Beagle” then became the generic word for those smaller hounds. There were known during the time of Henry VII and Edward II. They would ride along during hunts while the bigger hounds would help the hunters chase the prey. If the game reaches the underbrush, they would then release the smaller Beagle-like hounds.
The Beagle arrived in the United States after the Civil War and grew popular with rabbit hunters almost immediately. In 1885, the American Kennel Club registered the first Beagle.
Today, there are still some Beagles that are used as assistants by rabbit hunters. However, they are now most known as house pets. Some Beagle dogs even starred in several movies and TV shows, thus raising their popularity even more.
Blue Heeler
The Blue Heeler’s official name is the Australian Cattle Dog. As the name suggests, they came from Australia and were first bred to help cattle farmers herd their livestock. They also helped in leading them by snapping at the heels of the cattle, enabling them to go a certain direction.
Apparently, the Blue Heeler was first bred by George Elliott in Queensland in 1840. He was able to produce a certain hybrid cross-breeding the Collie and the Dingo-blue merle that would soon be merged with a purebred Dalmatian.
Since both of these breeds are extremely hardworking types of dogs, their offspring became a well-known and well-rounded herding dog. Farmers took quite an interesting in it and bought pups of the new breed due to their ability in the farm.
Among those who got a Blue Heeler were Harry and Jack Bagust. They decided to improve the breed by cross-breeding it with the Dalmatian which changed the merle to blue or red speckles.
Beagle Blue Heeler Mix Trainability
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to a Beagle and Blue Heeler mix breed and training.
The good news is they are extremely intelligent dog breeds — rather obvious as both parent breeds are actually smart dogs. However, both breeds also have problems when it comes to stubbornness, and that’s something that their offspring is likely to get.
However, training is essential in making sure your dog grows up to the best dog it could be. This can avoid unruly behaviors which could have negative effects, especially around strangers and other animals. While Beagle and Blue Heeler dogs are not aggressive, they have this tendency to grow shy and fearful.
The Blue Heeler breed also has a tendency to herd other animals — if not trained properly, they might end up herding children, other people, other dogs and pets, as well as any animal they might see on the road. This would include biting their heels to get them to move.
Since they can be a little stubborn, you need to start training them as pups. It is best to be firm and resolute. Show them who the authority is. As they are intelligent dogs, they can learn tricks and commands easily but simply continue training them with the same firmness.
It’s also great to give them treats and positive praises whenever they learn a new command. This makes it easier for them to learn as dogs have a tendency to please their owners, and respond well to a rewards system when it comes to learning.
Exercise
Part of the training is exercise. It’s also essential for a healthy body and system. But how much should a Beagle Blue Heeler mix breed exercise?
This designer breed will require daily exercise to keep themselves healthy as they have a tendency to grow obese. They also have a high level of energy and they need to take it out. If they don’t, they take this energy and create problems around the house such as breaking your stuff!
You can walk them for at least half an hour every day or let them join your daily walks, jogs, or runs. Not only do you have some company, but you are also letting them get some needed exercise. In addition, you can bring them to a park and let them run around.
Playing with them is also effective, especially if you play frisbee or catch. These types of activities not only trains their body but also improves their agility.
As smart dogs, mental training would also prove to be useful.
Temperament
In general, Beagle and Blue Heeler designer dogs are really sweet and incredibly energetic dogs. They are also good family companions as they love showing affection to their owners. Of course, they also love some good belly rubs and petting.
Apart from your own family, these dogs are great with other pets especially when they are trained. Sure, they can get feisty sometimes, but they aren’t aggressive at all. However, they do have this tendency of biting heels due to the Blue Heeler’s DNA. Also, they might be a little shy and fearful.
But for the complete opposite, look to the Beagles – usually a friendly bunch. Depending on which DNA they lean towards, they could either be friendly or bashful.
Beagle dogs are also known to be curious about a lot of things. Your Beagle Blue Heeler mix pup would likely love to travel, sniffing places and even people and animals. While this isn’t entirely a bad thing, you do need to keep an eye on them as they can cause problems like being stuck in places they shouldn’t have gone to in the first place.
Beagle Blue Heeler Mix Nutrition
Just like with us humans, choosing the right food and nutrition for our dog is essential. It helps keep them healthy and strong. Of course, food can help fill their needs.
For a Blue Heeler and Beagle hybrid dog, choosing something that is rich in protein would help. Make sure that the first ingredient in the dog food is an animal source of protein such as chicken, beef, or rabbit. These are high-quality sources and can keep up with your dog’s need for protein.
Basically, this nutrient helps in the development of lean muscles as well as providing them with enough energy to keep them active throughout the day.
This designer dog is also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia — something that almost every dog is at risk of getting. To avoid this condition, finding a puppy food with chondroitin and glucosamine can help.
Feeding plan
A feeding plan usually depends on the dog in question.. Each dog is unique, and some would have different eating patterns. The best way to create the most effective feeding plan is to observe your pup and their eating habits. If you’re having difficulties, you can always ask your vet.
However, a dog breed such as the Beagle and Blue Heeler will usually consume three to four cups of dog food a day. You can split these into two or three times a day.
Make sure that you monitor what your dog is eating. As mentioned above, they can get obese pretty easily so don’t feed them any more than what they need or what was suggested by their vet.
In addition, make sure they have access sufficient water source that is clean.
Dry or wet dog food?
Again, this is a per dog basis. There really isn’t any difference with dry and wet dog foods when it comes to nutrient content — so long as you read the label and check what they are offering. Nonetheless, most dry and wet dog foods have the same nutritional values.
It all depends on what your dog prefers. Some dogs won’t eat dry dog food but will love wet or semi-wet food, and vice versa.
Health and Care
Unfortunately, our pets don’t live forever. The sad truth is, they won’t even make it halfway through our lifetime. Most of the time, they can only reach a decade or so. The Beagle and Blue Heeler mix is no different, as their average lifespan is between 10 years to 13.
But proper care and their health could play a huge part in prolonging their lifespan for up to a couple more years. That’s why you should only breed hybrid mutts with completely healthy purebred dogs. This avoids the risk of inheriting any problem the Beagle or Blue Heeler might have.
And speaking of, here are several of the most common health issues that both breeds face. Knowing what you are up against could help you in determining whether your dog is in danger or not.
Beagle
Here are the most common health issues that often threat Beagle dogs:
- Glaucoma
- Patellar Luxation
- Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA)
- Cherry eye
- Epilepsy
- Deafness
- Chondrodysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Hemophilia A
- Distichiasis
- Umbilical hernia
- Demodicosis
- Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)
- Cataract
- Primary Carnitine Deficiency (CUD)
- Intervertebral disk disease
Blue Heeler
Here are some of the most common health threats Blue Heeler dogs acquire:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Canine Hip Dysplasia
- Deafness
- Liver Shunts
- Cataracts
- Persistent pupillary membranes
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Lens luxation
Your Beagle Blue Heeler mix pup could inherit these problems or they can contract the same diseases. However, symptoms for these diseases don’t show up early on. That being said, they may contract it when they are older.
It is best that you get them checked regularly especially eye, bones, and blood tests.
Grooming
You will want to invest in a good vacuum for dog hair as a Beagle Blue Heeler mix breed is a heavy shedder. While they do have their moments of moderate shedding, there will be a couple times a year that their shedding would be extremely heavy that it would be in clumps.
Apart from getting a good vacuum, you should also try to buy a brush for your dog. Brush their coat daily since this could minimize shedding even for a bit. There are also some dog shampoos that are known to help control shedding. You might want to use this during heavy shedding season.
Apart from their fur, you also need to pay extra attention to their ears. Dogs shouldn’t be bathed every day. In fact, once in a few weeks is the better choice. However, this could mean dirt could accumulate on their ears and cause ear infections.
Just take a clean cloth and dip it in clean water. Be gentle when you are cleaning their ears.
The same goes for clipping their nails. You should have a special dog nail clipper since theirs is much different than ours and our regular nail clipper will not work. Nonetheless, be extra careful as you might hurt your dog if you don’t how to do it.
Beagle Blue Heeler Mix Puppies
Puppies of this mix are the average size and normally, you can already tell who they look after. Since they are still puppies, it is important that you let them sleep comfortably on their own so they can grow into healthier adult dogs. You should also feed them life stage-specific food to ensure they get the right nutrients they need.
By 7 weeks or so, you can start potty training them and letting them play outside. They have better immune system around this time and can endure long hours outdoors. You can also start training them.
Of course, don’t forget to get them vaccinated, especially with an anti-rabies vaccine to guarantee your dog and people around you are safe.
Beagle Blue Heeler Mix Price
A Beagle and Blue Heeler mix pup could be around $800 to $1500 per pup. This really depends on the breeder. More reputable ones ensure they only breed healthy purebred dogs. They often offer in thousands for a pup.
Apart from the actual price of the pup, it’s likely that you’ll be spending at least a thousand dollars per year for their necessities. This includes their food, medical services, as well as accessories.
However, you can also try searching at local shelters to see whether they have a Beagle Blue Heeler mix. You only need to spend less plus you’re also saving a life.
Breed Organizations
Since Beagle Blue Heeler pups are relatively uncommon, they are yet to be acknowledged by any breeding organizations.
However, both breeds are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club.
It can be a little hard to find a Beagle Blue Heeler mix unless you specifically have them bred. But despite rarity, they are becoming more popular especially for families who are looking for a new member. With their intelligence, loyalty, sweetness, and charm, it’s no wonder they are a great choice for hybrid dogs.
