The Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix: Information, Facts, and Characteristics

The Blue Heeler Pitbull mix breed is a bold, powerful dog filled with love, adoration, loyalty, and seemingly endless energy. Being the child of two herder dogs, this loveable pup can go for miles, so if you’re thinking of getting yourself one you need to be prepared to create an effective exercise regime, or even consider taking on canine sports to help them work through their excess energy.

For anything thinking of getting a Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix puppy, or even for anyone that is simply interested in the breed and wants to know a little more, we’ve put together this guide to give you all the fun facts and information we think you could do with knowing.

Breed Overview:

• Height – 17-24 inches
• Weight – 36-60 pounds
• Life Expectancy – 12-15 years
• Temperament – Affectionate, Protective, Loyal, Stubborn, Hard Working, Eager-to-Please
• Energy Level – Moderate-High
• Suitable For – Work, Active Families, Individuals (with time to exercise them)
• Grooming – Low Maintenance

It’s worth noting that with the Blue Pit Cattle Terrier being a mixed breed, it is entirely possible that they could grow to be the same size as the smallest Pitbull or the largest Blue Heeler. Much like with humans, there’s no knowing exactly how they will be born as Pit Heeler breeding is a genetic gamble.

What is a Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix?

The Blue Heeler Pitbull mix is a crossbreed that is made up of an Australian Cattle Dog and the American Pit Bull Terrier. The two breeds that make up the Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix are classed as herder dogs, as a result, it is expected that a Pit Heeler puppy will have oodles of energy as they are designed for hard work.

Blue Heeler Pitbull Mixes are known for not only being extremely hard-working, but they are also strong, intelligent, loyal, and make ideal companions for both individual people and large active families.

However, it is highly recommended that a person only gets a blue heeler Pitbull mix if they have confidence in training them, due to their strong work ethic and high intelligence. Blue heeler pit bull mixes require somebody who understands their energy levels and fitness requirements.

We should highlight that though they can make excellent companions for large families, this is predominantly when they have been carefully trained in early life to avoid antisocial behavior. Blue Heeler Pitbull mixes can be stubborn and argumentative in their early years, though once you pass this period, they are extremely loyal and gentle dogs.

Breed Facts:

• The Blue Pit Heeler is an extremely loving and loyal family dog breed.
• Its Australian cattle dog parentage makes this an extremely energetic dog breed.
• A Blue Heeler Pit mix is considered to be a herding dog, making them great working dogs.
• The American Pitbull terrier parentage makes this an especially strong breed.
• A Bull Pit Heeler requires confident handling and firm training, to begin with.
• Mixed breed dogs like Pit Heelers tend to have fewer hereditary health problems.
• This breed goes by multiple names, including; Pit Heeler, Queensland Pit, Cattle Pit, and Australian Cattle Dog Pitbull, and variations of the order of Blue Heeler Pitbull/Pit

Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix Breed History

Blue heeler pit bull mix dogs are not pure-bred dogs; however, they are a combination of two purebred breeds – Australian Cattle Dogs (aka Blue Heeler) and American Pitbull Terriers.

Blue heeler pit bull mixes (also sometimes known as the blue Pitt cattle terrier) are relatively new, and therefore there is not a lot known about the history of this particular breed and why they had been developed.

It is entirely possible that the two-parent breeds mated naturally, leading to the natural creation of a new breed. This would also account for the lack of information as to the origins of the breed.

However, seeing as this is a relatively sought-after breed, it is easier to assume that they were intentionally created more than likely at the turn of the century when lots of hybrid breeds will be made.

Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix Appearance

The Pitbull Heeler mix is a medium-sized breed. Often the males will be slightly taller than the females, along with having a little bit more body mass, making them appear stockier. Their appearance is a relatively even blend of the two parent breeds.

Body and head

Blue Heelers are more slender and less muscular than pit bulls, whereas pit bulls are stockier and effectively pure muscle with very little body fat. When combining the two breeds you end up with a dog that has a very similar build to the Pitbull, with a pronounced chest and high muscle mass, but with longer legs and perhaps a slightly slenderer frame.

In terms of the face, a Blue Heeler has a more tapered muzzle than the Pitbull, however, it is often observed that Blue Heeler Pit mixes inherit the more angular, wide-set, the squared muzzle of the Pitbull along with a rounder head. The ears also tend to be a little bit higher on the head and with more of a point, the eyes are more likely to be brown, and may have a sort of sleepy or squinted appearance to them.

Coat type and color

The Blue Heeler Pitbull mix typically has a shorter coat that is thicker and slightly longer than Pitbull’s thanks to the Australian Cattle Dog parent. This means that can handle cold weather more easily than a purebred Pitbull, however, they are more likely to shed more than a Pitbull as well.

The patterning of a Blue Heeler mix often takes after the Blue Heeler parent, giving the puppy a more mottled, patterned appearance. Where pit bulls are ordinarily one color with perhaps a few small markings, a Blue Heeler Pitbull mix could be quite dramatically varied between striped, spotted, brindle, or mottled with a base color of white, brown, or grey.

Height

A Blue Heeler Pitbull mix can stand up to 21 inches tall and weigh up to 60 pounds. However, it’s worth noting that females can be a couple of inches shorter than males and weigh between 5-10 pounds less.

The Blue Heeler Pitbull Mix Personality

Pit Heeler puppies are certainly adorable, but there are a few facts about the temperament of this beautiful Blue Heeler mix breed that any prospective owner should know before deciding to adopt one.

Temperament

If you spend a lot of time outdoors and live a particularly active lifestyle a Pit Heeler might be a good way for you to go, especially if you’ve got the space to accommodate them. Because this is a cross between two rather energetic breeds, they thoroughly enjoy a good run around and are even considered good working dogs, owing to their high intelligence and durability. Many Pit Heeler owners will entrust them with simple household tasks to keep their minds more active.

Contrary to popular belief, Pitbulls are actually extremely gentle dogs with a friendly disposition (despite the way they have been represented in the media). Of the two-parent breeds, the blue heeler is more likely to show stubborn behavior and be argumentative. Though they are also extraordinarily loyal.

When combined with the two breeds the dog has plenty of energy and is able to keep up with an active family, but will also respond well to training (especially when using positive reinforcement training techniques), be highly affectionate, and will form strong bonds and attachments with each one of its owners.

Other pets and animals

So long as they are properly trained, Pit Heelers shouldn’t have any real trouble with other pets in the house. However, that’s not to say that other pets will take well to them, as they are quite large and boisterous. Socialization is key if you’re wanting to ensure that your Blue Heeler Pit mix adjusts well to other dogs both in the house and out and about.

As a result, we perhaps would not recommend having a pit heeler in a house with cats or small dogs, as it could cause a smaller animal significant stress if they do not take well to the new arrival.

We also wouldn’t recommend putting a male Blue Heeler in a house with another male Blue Heeler as this can cause them to become quite competitive, and potentially attempt to exert dominance.

Entertainment

A Pit Heeler is very playful and relatively easy to keep entertained so long as they’re properly exercised in between play times. If they are not properly exercising, they may become stir crazy which can lead to destructive behavior.

The key thing to keep in mind when looking after a Pit Heeler is that they are extremely intelligent dogs as they are born of two intelligent breeds, this means they not only need physical stimulation but mental stimulation as well. A few good ways to maintain mental stimulation include:

• Puzzle toys
• Puppy training classes
• Canine sports
• Socializing
• Teaching them new tricks
• Teaching them names for their toys
• Obedience training

With children

A Pit Heeler is extremely loyal not only to its adult owner but to its entire family. In fact, they are not only loyal but extremely protective. You may find that your particular puppy becomes especially attached to any children in the house as it will begin to see them like pack mates. They can form very strong bonds with their families and be very gentle and affectionate so long as they are treated properly.

It is extremely important that any child you think will have close contact with your Blue Heeler Pit Bull mix puppy is aware of how to handle it properly. This is how children should treat all dogs, not just their family pets. If a dog is made to feel threatened, they are more likely to lash out, and children have a tendency to be more heavy-handed when they get excited, which could lead to an unfortunate incident if not dealt with properly.

So long as your children are aware of how to properly approach your dog and know to leave them alone when they are in their own space or sleeping, you shouldn’t have any problems. It is very rare that a dog would actually bite a child unless they feel they have no other choice, typically they are more likely to snap or bark at them in a warning.

Blue Pit Heeler Mix Care

These dogs are generally low maintenance when it comes to grooming but can be quite high maintenance when it comes to exercise. So, for anybody thinking of adopting a Blue Heeler Pitbull, you’ll want to take the following information into account.

Grooming

Though Blue Pit Heelers do have thicker fur as a result of their blue heeler parentage, the fact that the fur is quite short makes it much easier to manage. Additionally, it is not quite as thick as a pure-blood blue dealer.

When grooming a Blue Pit Heeler, you will only really need to brush them a couple of times a week, as well as bathe them once every few months to ensure there is no loose debris trapped inside their fur. Fortunately, they don’t shed quite as much as Blue Heelers do, meaning you won’t need to vacuum up fur quite as much.

Exercise

Pit Bull Blue Heeler mixes are considered pretty energetic dogs, so you need to ensure they’re getting the right amount of exercise. It may not necessarily be a simple case of taking them out for regular walks.

Some Blue Heeler Pits require additional exercise if they take after their Blue Heeler parent, so you may also want to consider adding exercise methods such as the following:

• Agility training classes
• Hiking
• Going for runs
• Cycling (if they’re able to run fast enough to keep up)
• Swimming, (though they may not necessarily want to do this)
• Doggy play dates
• Dog park visits

Blue Heeler Pitbull Health

This is a relatively healthy dog when compared to its purebred parents, and that’s because when mixing two purebreds you often weed out or reduce the likelihood of certain hereditary conditions. Though it is still possible that the following health problems could affect a Pitbull Blue Heeler mix:

• Hip Dysplasia – This is a condition that affects the hip joints, causing them to dislocate easily, leading to lameness, pain, and mobility. It can be treated with medication, physiotherapy, and in some cases surgery. However, it can’t be fully cured.
• Hyperthyroidism – Hyperthyroidism tends to affect a dog’s ability to gain or lose weight, as well as affect their ability to process energy. Many dogs with hyperthyroidism can appear restless, and can often experience separation anxiety as their bodies are constantly active, which can cause them to feel anxious (imagine when you have one too many cups of coffee).
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy – Progressive retinal atrophy affects your dog’s vision. It often gets worse with age and can eventually lead to blindness. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this condition.
• Deafness – A trait of the Blue Heeler, your Pit Heeler may begin to lose its hearing over time, this will be noticeable by how well they respond to being called. Depending on the cause of the hearing loss there are ways that it can be treated, however, there are no guarantees.

Where Can I Get a Pitbull Blue Heeler Mix?

These beautiful herding dogs are constantly growing in popularity. However, because the Pit Heeler is not a registered dog breed it can be difficult to find somebody who breeds Pit Heeler puppies.

As a result, the best way to approach finding a puppy for yourself is to speak with breeders of either the parent dogs or rescue organizations that may be able to provide some health information as to why you might find one. An Australian Cattle Dog Club may know of breeders that are looking to create a mixed breed. The same can be said of American Pitbull clubs.

Adopt where possible

The Australian Cattle Dog Pitbull mix may even be found in general rescue shelters, as their very high energy can be quite intimidating to inexperienced owners, which can lead to Pit Heelers being surrendered or abandoned. Every dog deserves a second chance at life, so if you are able to commit the time to care for a rescue Pit Heeler, we implore you to consider rescuing one.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How much does a Blue Pit Heeler cost?

A: Considering the two-parent breed can go for anything between $700-$2,000 depending on whether they are AKC registered and the quality of the breed, it would be fair to assume that Pit Heelers go for a similar price. However, with them being an unrecognized mixed breed, they don’t go for quite as much at around $500-$1,200.

Q: What is the best work for a Blue Heeler Pitbull mix?

A: These dogs are a mix of two herding breeds; therefore, they would make excellent dogs for working farmland. They are responsive to training and do well with learning new activities. This means that they are capable of learning new tasks outside of herding activities.

Q: Are Blue Heeler Pitbull Mixes aggressive?

A: No. So long as they are raised properly and socialized from an early age, there is no reason a Pit Heeler would show aggression. The American Pit Bull Terrier may have a reputation for being mean, however, this is a complete falsehood spread by the media. Both the Australian Cattle Dog and the American Pitbull Terrier are loyal, kind breeds, so predictably, Pit Heelers are too.

Q: Does a Pitbull Blue Heeler Mix make a good family pet?

A: Yes. Pit Heelers are extremely loving, affectionate, loyal dogs that form strong bonds with their families, making them great family pets. They are also very protective and like to make sure their family is safe. The key is ensuring that the children know to be respectful and gentle with your Blue Heeler Mix to avoid an incident (something that can happen with any breed if they are mistreated).

Q: Are Blue Pit Heelers purebred dogs?

A: No. Blue Heeler Pitbull is a mixed breed made from two purebred parent breeds – the Australian Cattle Dog (aka the Blue Heeler), and the American Pitbull Terrier. They often inherit the large, square head of the Pitbull parent, whilst retaining the height and more slender build of the Blue Heeler parent. Blue Heeler Pits are also often extremely muscular, making them extraordinarily strong.