What Is A Blue Heeler Rat Terrier Mix?

The Short Answer is:

An unusual mixed breed with a friendly disposition and medium build, the Blue heeler rat terrier is a rare mix of two breeds. Blue heelers have been crossed with many breeds to produce dogs like this one. A blue heeler is the offspring of a rat terrier and an Australian Cattle Dog, also known as the blue heeler.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “What Is A Blue Heeler Rat Terrier Mix?“.

An unusual mixed breed with a friendly disposition and medium build the Blue heeler rat terrier is a rare mix of two breeds.

Blue heelers have been crossed with many breeds to produce dogs like this one. 

A blue heeler is the offspring of a rat terrier and an Australian Cattle Dog also known as the blue heeler.

Rat terrier blue heelers are hybrid dogs that have not yet gained official recognition as a breed.

The rat terrier blue heeler is not very common and its genetic make-up is not yet well-defined and it will vary greatly from one dog to another. 

Although they are like miniature ACDs with a blend of characteristics from both parents they do look like miniature ACDs.

A brief look at the history of the two purebred parents will help us better understand the blue heeler rat terrier and its history.

Meet The Parents: Brief history of the Rat terrier and the Blue heeler

Purebred Rat Terrier

As a hunter and farm dog the rat terrier was developed in the United States in the 1910s.

Rat terriers were developed in the Middle Ages by farmers who wanted a small tenacious dog to hunt down farm pests especially rodents. 

In the early 20th century small rodents were a farmers worst enemy as they destroyed crops.

It was necessary to deal with these pests and the solution came in the form of a compact and energetic little hunting dog with the speed of a Greyhound and the stamina of a Terrier. 

Ultimately the Rat terrier was created by crossing seven dog breeds including the Smooth Fox Terrier the now-extinct Old English White Terrier the Manchester Terrier Bull Terrier Whippet Italian Greyhound and the Beagle. 

A vermin-hunter the Rat terrier has a powerful build powerful shoulders and long legs that make it ideal for running after prey.

Known for its cheerful and friendly disposition and independent streak its an active and energetic breed of dog. 

Purebred Blue Heeler (ACD)

Australian Cattle Dogs also known as Blue Heelers and Queensland Heelers are herding dogs that were bred for agricultural purposes by Australian settlers.

ACDs were designed to herd cattle on large ranches and they contributed greatly to the Australian beef market. 

Ranchers needed a herding dog that would quietly drive cattle to market without scaring them or causing them to stampede. The ACD was developed to meet that need.

The ACD was finally developed after several crossbreeding among different dog breeds. 

Among the most desirable traits of the Blue heeler was its quiet herding style. The wild stock is gently nipped to get moving instead of barking and scaring them.

Initial parents of the Blue Heelers were Scottish Blue Merle Highland Collies crossed with Australian Dingos to produce the gentle Hall Heelers that were further crossed with Dalmatians to add the “loyalty” characteristic. 

To increase endurance and working stamina more crosses were made with the Kelpies. In the end the Australian Cattle Dog emerged as a breed with tenacity to quietly herd cattle great working endurance and obedience to their masters. 

These positive qualities quickly made the ACD popular among Australian ranchers and it was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1980. 

Meet The Offspring: The Blue Heeler Rat Terrier

General Appearance

It is a strong energetic and affectionate dog. The blue heeler is a cross between the rat terrier and the blue heeler. Like the Blue Heeler this breed is muscular and sturdy yet compact and alert.

The dog is medium-sized muscular and has strong shoulders and a powerful muzzle. They have pricked ears and oval-shaped eyes. 

There are a variety of colors on the Rat Terrier Blue Heeler coat; white rusty red and black.

The coat will be primarily white with small dark speckles evenly distributed over the body and rusty red spots will be visible on the face chest and limbs while a significant portion of the face especially around the eyes and ears will appear black. 

Hybrid dogs do not yet have any defined physical characteristics or personality traits so you may find dogs that look just like the Blue Heeler or Rat Terrier parent or some that look substantially different.

Personality

Being the offspring of two high-energy and hard-working dog breeds you should expect the Blue heeler rat terrier to have a similar level of stamina and energy.

They will most likely have the same characteristics as their parents who are known for their loyalty bravery trustworthiness and hardworking natures.  

Definitely a very active dog the Blue heeler rat terrier can play for hours at a time without getting tired. Playful and strong-willed this dog can handle pretty much anything; however it must be trained and its energy channeled properly to avoid damaging things. 

Blue Terriers need to stay active in order to stay out of trouble. The dog is not one that will be able to sit around and do nothing all day every day. Blue heelers are very alert with fast legs and do not hesitate to chase after small prey or moving objects.

Because these dogs tend to nip they must be closely monitored around children much like their ACD parents. 

Size And Life Expectancy of A Blue Heeler Rat Terrier

Blue heeler rat terriers are medium-sized dogs that stand 13-18 inches high at the shoulder and weigh about 25 pounds. This dog can live for 15 years on average.

Health Problems

An animals overall health including inherited disorders is generally determined by its parents. Although the Blue heeler rat terrier and Rat terrier are both generally healthy breeds they are also susceptible to certain health conditions that affect dogs. 

Those puppies whose parents are healthy will be healthy dogs; if you decide to purchase one of the above puppies be sure to request health clearances from both parents to make sure you have a healthy dog. 

In addition there are some conditions to which this breed of dog may be prone and they include;

Allergies: This is a problem that affects dogs of all breeds including the Blue heeler rat terrier. You may find that your dog is allergic to some food types or has some form of airborne allergy or contact dermatitis which is another type of allergic reaction. 

Canine Hip Dysplasia: This condition occurs when the thigh bone does not fit properly into the hip joint. One or both hind legs may be painful or lame in this condition which usually manifests much later in a dogs life. Dog hip dysplasia is an inherited condition so Blue Heelers as well as their hybrid offspring may be affected. 

Incorrect Bite: An incorrect bite occurs when the jawbone is misaligned and this is seen in certain dog breeds such as the Rat Terrier. As a result of this misalignment the teeth on both upper and lower jaws do not line up correctly when the mouth is closed. An operation can correct the condition which affects a dogs bite and swallowing.

Deafness: Certain dog breeds including the Blue Heeler are prone to losing their hearing as they age. The condition can also affect Blue Heeler crosses such as the Rat Terrier Blue Heeler.

It should be noted that not all Rat terrier blue heelers will develop any of these conditions. In fact the dog will be healthy if its parents are healthy. In any case its important to be aware of the possible health conditions if you want to adopt.

Blue Heeler Rat Terrier Care

Dogs like the Blue Heeler Rat Terrier should not be kept in apartments. He needs a stimulating environment so that he can be mentally stimulated. 

Dogs like these tend to thrive in rural settings farms ranches and fenced-in homes with a lot of room to run around and burn energy. 

Blue Heeler Rat Terriers may become destructive out of boredom without daily stimulation and exercise. When a dogs parents were herding and hurting it gets excited whenever they see moving objects so it will often chase small animals people cars balls etc. Dogs like these animals crave challenges and activities. 

Blue Heeler Rat Terriers are only bothersome because they nip and bite even when they are playing. From an early age they should be properly trained and socialized in order to overcome this natural instinct.  

Diet And Nutrition

Blue Heeler Rat Terriers require a balanced diet with an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals just like any other dog breed. Protein-rich diets are ideal for these dogs and some great options include beef salmon chicken and pork. 

Carbohydrates fiber vitamins and minerals are also plentiful in whole grains and vegetables. At different stages in their life the Blue Terriers diet will typically change especially as they grow from pups to adults. Your dog will receive all the necessary nutrients if you feed him a combination of dry kibbles canned food and homemade dog meals. 

Coat Color And Grooming

There are three colors in the coat of the Blue Terrier; rusty red white and black. Its not hypoallergenic and its coat sheds seasonally like its parents. Moderate grooming is required as are weekly brushes and occasional baths with an appropriate dog shampoo. 

During shedding seasons brushing the coat more often is recommended to ensure all dead hair strands are removed. 

You should trim this dogs nails at least once a month and brush their teeth as often as possible every day is ideal. You should also check your Blue Terriers ears weekly and remove any wax to avoid ear infections. 

Children And Other Pets

Because of their natural herding and hunting instincts the Blue Heeler Rat Terrier may not be suitable for homes with young children and small pets. They also have a tendency to nip children which can be scary for kids and they are always chasing something. Almost hyperactive these dogs love to play and run around and are extremely affectionate. 

12 Blue Heeler Terrier Mixes

Blue Heeler Rat Terrier mixes are the most common Blue Heeler and Terrier crossbreeds of dog.

There are many terriers that are bred with Blue Heelers but the Rat Terrier isnot the only one.

According to the AKC (American Kennel Club) thirty-one different types of terriers exist.

I was thinking about this…

Can you tell me how many other blue heeler terriers mixes there are?

As a result I dug.

What do you know about that?

Thirteen blue heeler terrier mixes appeared in photographic evidence out of 31 possible mixes.

I found the following mixes:

1. A mix of Blue Heeler and Jack Russell
2. Staffordshire Terrier/Blue Heeler mix
3. A mix of Blue Heeler and Pitbull Terrier
4. Breed mix of Blue Heelers and Boston Terriers
5. A mix of Blue Heelers and Airedales
6. Breed mix of Blue Heelers and Border Terriers
7. A mix of Blue Heeler and Bull Terrier
8. Cairn Terrier/Blue Heeler mix
9. Fox Terrier mix with Blue Heeler fur
10. An Irish Terrier mix with a Blue Heeler coat
11. Manchester Terrier and Blue Heeler mix
12. Miniature Schnauzer Blue Heeler mix

If you do not believe me then type any of those terrier mixes into Google and you’ll find a real picture from a site like Pinterest or a rescue organization.

Conclusion

Rat terriers are very active and intelligent dogs and with the right training they can make wonderful family pets.

However since it is an uncommon breed you may have difficulty finding one at your local animal shelter.

If you decide to adopt a Blue heeler rat terrier puppy be sure to do enough research to make sure that the puppy is from healthy parents and ask to see a health clearance from both parents.

The odds of getting a healthy dog increase if you adopt a puppy from a reputable breeder or rescue group.

You may not be able to find a Blue heeler rat terrier mix that is suitable for your home but you might be able to find one.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.