The Red Heeler is a remarkably energetic and active breed of dog…
They are best known for having fantastic herding instincts, loyalty, agility, and intelligence. In addition to that, these dogs are very sociable and love spending time with humans…
But are there any common Red Heeler Behavior Problems?
In this article, we’ll be answering that question fully by going over the following information…
- Red Heeler Breed History
- Red Heeler Temperament
- Red Heeler Behavior Problems
- Are Red Heelers Aggressive?
- Are Red Heelers Good With Other Dogs And Pets?
- How To Stop Red Heeler Behavior Problems
In the end, you’ll know common behavior problems Red Heelers can have and what causes them, and you’ll also know what you should be doing to prevent or fix those bad behaviors…
Let’s start by taking a closer look at the breed background of the Red Heeler…
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Red Heeler Breed History…
Red Heelers originate from New South Wales, Australia, where they have been famous for many years within the Australian ranching community…
As a result, the actual breed name for these very spirited dogs is the Australian Cattle Dog…
That being said, they do go by several nicknames including Red Heelers or Blue Heelers (depending on their color), Queensland Heelers, and Halls Heelers…
The name ‘Hall’ comes from a man named George Hall who moved to Australia in the 1800s. He established several cattle stations, and eventually, he was herding large amounts of cattle to markets in Sydney…
The problem was that he was losing several cattle in the rugged Australian bush on the way to the markets…
Eventually, his son, Thomas Hall, imported drover dogs from England in hopes that they would be able to herd the cattle better…
But the problem he ran into was that the drover dogs could not keep up with the cattle when traveling long distances…
As a result, Thomas cross-bred the drover dogs with dingoes he had tamed and created the predecessor to the modern Australian Cattle Dog…
So Red Heelers were bred to be tough herding dogs from the beginning, but that doesn’t mean that they’re unable to make great family companions…
These dogs are super loyal and defensive of their owners, and they can be very playful and fun-loving as well…
In 2020, Red Heelers sat at #54 on the AKC’s rankings for most popular dogs in the United States…
So even though they’re not quite as common as German Shepherds and Labs, there are a lot of Red Heeler owners out there, and Australian Cattle Dogs, in general, continue to gain in popularity.
Red Heeler Temperament…
Australian Cattle Dogs can be wonderful pets, and before we start discussing some of their potential behavior issues, let’s talk about some of their positive characteristics…
They’re Independent…
From the beginning, Red Heelers were trusted to be excellent cattle herders. They could look after large groups of cattle and keep them moving with little to no assistance…
That’s where their incredible sense of independence began to develop naturally, and it’s why these dogs boast excellent energy levels that keep them very active and work-oriented.
They’re Intelligent…
Red Heelers are among the most intelligent dog breeds on the planet…
They were bred to be herding dogs, and to be able to look after cattle and keep them moving along takes a high degree of intelligence.
They’re Loyal…
While they’re independent and intelligent, Australian Cattle Dogs also crave companionship…
Because of that, Red Heelers are well-known to be very loyal and devoted to their family and owners…
They can actually be very affectionate dogs who will stick with their families and stay by their owner’s side.
They’re Playful In Nature…
Because Red Heelers are working dogs they’re pretty active and that naturally makes them pretty playful…
They can make excellent family dogs when properly trained and looked after, and their high energy levels tend to make them tireless…
So plenty of physical and mental exercise is a must when owning a Red Heeler.
They’re Brave And Protective…
Red Heelers can also be very defensive and protective. They can easily form a strong bond with their owners and tend to want to look out for them…
It’s not uncommon for a Red Heeler to be ready and willing to protect their owner from any perceived threats…
And if they’re being used as a herding dogs, they’re willing to protect their herd against any possible dangers as well.
Red Heeler Behavior Problems…
While Red Heelers boast some amazing characteristics on the positive side, they can also have behavior issues…
Keep in mind that Australian Cattle Dogs were bred to work. In fact, they’re called Red Heelers because they would famously nip as the heels of cattle to keep them moving…
So naturally, if they’re not cared for properly with good training and physical and mental exercise, you can run into some of the following behavior issues…
Nipping At Heels…
As I mentioned earlier, the actual reason for developing Australian Cattle Dogs was to help guard and herd livestock…
Again, a Red Heeler’s job was to nip at cattle to keep them moving through the rugged terrain of Australia…
Therefore, if they’re not properly trained, Red Heelers are known to get nippy at the wrong times and with the wrong people…
In fact, when Red Heelers get bored they may attempt to “herd” people within your home, especially if you have children…
Now with proper training, this type of behavior can be stopped, but if you’re looking for a family dog that can be playful without the risk of nipping, there are a lot of other, more family-friendly breeds out there.
Barking…
Another behavior problem that you can run into with Red Heelers is barking. Again, these dogs need to be worked…
And if they start to get bored or have too much energy pent up, they can start to bark excessively for attention…
Just as with the nipping though, this type of behavior can be stopped in Red Heelers with training and proper outlets to release their naturally high energy levels.
Chasing Habits…
As I said before, Red Heelers feel the need to herd, and they have a tendency to chase after people especially children in an attempt to try and herd them…
This of course can be dangerous to small children. So again, exercising and training a Red Heeler is of paramount importance especially if you have little ones nearby.
Chewing And Digging…
Other behavior problems that you might run into if your Red Heeler is bored and has too much energy are chewing and digging…
Chewing on objects such as shoes and socks can be common for a bored Red Heeler, and digging up the backyard can also happen as a way of relieving boredom and expelling some pent-up energy in these dogs.
Are Red Heelers Aggressive?
Because of their background, Red Heelers may be prone to aggression, but that being said, they’re typically not the most aggressive breed out there…
Yes, there are many breeds that tend to be more easygoing, but that’s typically because Australian Cattle Dogs are kind of wild and independent…
After all, they were bred by combining dingos with other working dogs, so they still have some predatory instincts that are just a part of them…
In addition to that, Australian Cattle Dogs are known to be very protective of their territory, and it’s possible that they will attack strangers if they view them as a threat…
Aside from training and exercising your Red Heeler, it’s a good idea to start socializing them as puppies with other dogs and people.
Are Red Heelers Good With Other Dogs And Pets?
Red Heelers are intelligent and have a natural desire to work, and these instincts can make them aggressive towards other dogs sometimes…
They can have a desire to be dominant over other dogs and some aggression may come along with that dominance…
In addition to that, since they’re natural herders, Australian Cattle Dogs will often attempt to herd pets like cats and other domestic animals…
This can lead to problems because they are prone to nip the animals in their attempts to herd them…
Because of that, these dogs might not be an ideal option for families that have cats as pets. But that being said, you can minimize these behaviors with proper training and early socialization…
And if they’re raised together with other dogs or cats from puppyhood, red heelers are much less likely to get aggressive or dominant with them.
How To Stop Red Heeler Behavior Problems…
Even though Red Heelers can be prone to behavior problems, with proper care you can all but eliminate those problems…
If you own a Red Heeler and are experiencing behavior issues, there are several things you can do to put a stop to those behaviors…
Ensure Your Dog Has A Proper Diet…
Red Heelers are very active dogs and because of that, they need a diet that will sustain all of their natural energy…
They generally need around 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day, and that should be split into two meals because it will help prevent your dog from becoming bloated…
Red Heelers also do well with high-protein food. So you’ll want to pick a grain-free food that has a lot of meat and protein in it…
If you need help finding the right dog food, I recommend you check out Ollie because they create high-quality dog food that is tailored to your dog and deliver it right to your door…
If you’d like to learn more about Ollie dog food and how these healthy meals can help your dog, click the link below…
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Ensure Your Dog Has Proper Exercise…
Some dogs require minimal exercise daily, but that is certainly not the case with Australia Cattle Dogs…
These dogs are working dogs, and they require anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes of exercise daily…
If you’re not a very active person, then a Red Heeler might not be a good option for you because if they don’t get the necessary amount of exercise, these dogs will start to misbehave in the form of digging, barking, chewing, and others…
In addition to that, Red Heelers are highly intelligent and they love having a job or work to do. So running or jogging with these dogs is great…
But things like playing games of fetch or even getting them into doggie sports such as Frisbee or Flyball can be a great way to exercise both the body and mind of a Red Heeler…
Last, Red Heelers are also excellent swimmers, and they love having lots of chew toys and toys that are interactive, such as puzzles.
Ensure Your Dog Has Proper Training…
Australian Cattle Dogs are both clever and loyal. Therefore, you’ll find that they love learning new things and tend to learn very quickly…
Also, because they’re so intelligent, Australian Cattle Dogs need structure. They will start to misbehave in many different ways without it, and that’s when you start to encounter a lot of the typical Red Heeler behavior problems…
There are a lot of great training programs out there, but the one I recommend is Brain Training For Dogs…
I like it because it’s very effective, it’s simple and easy to follow, and you can access the program from the comfort of your own home…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you eliminate behavior problems in your dog, click the link below…
>> Click Here To Learn More About Brain Training For Dogs!
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Final Thoughts…
Red Heelers can be wonderful pets when they are properly cared for. Just remember that these dogs, who were bred to herd cattle, need a lot of exercise and stimulation…
They also need a healthy diet that is high in protein, and proper training to give them the structure to live in a world in which they don’t need to nip at the heels of cattle…
If you’re not an active person, the Red Heeler is probably not the breed for you, but if you can keep up with these active little workers…
You’ll find them to be wonderful pets who are very smart, protective, loyal, and who love to have fun with you.