How Much Exercise Does a Blue Heeler Need?
There are some dog breeds that require a little more attention and exercise than the others. If you are a couch potato by nature, having an active breed might not be the best idea. Keeping these breeds stimulated keeps them healthy but also prevents destructive behavior.
For the blue heeler, you need to ensure that they are active. With a minimum of two hours of activity per day, you can keep your blue heeler healthy and happy. But there is more than that, so here is what you need to know about keeping your heeler happy.
How Fast Can a Blue Heeler Run?
When considering how much exercise does a blue heeler need, one of the most commonly asked questions can revolve around just how fast they can run. They are high-activity dogs, meaning they run quite a bit.
The average speed is around 25 mph. This is pretty fast on its surface but consider that they can get over 30 mph when they are really booking it. Most of the time, your blue heeler won’t hit full speed but rather run casually while participating in certain activities.
Blue Heeler Top Speed
At their best speed, the blue heeler can get to around 35 mph. That said, these are rarer. On average, they will hover around 20-25 mph. Compared to some of the other fast animals out there, it really isn’t as fast as it sounds.
Consider that the cheetah gets up to 70 mph top speeds. The gazelle can hit 50 mph, the quarter horse just under that mark, the kangaroo at 44 mph, and more. So while the blue heeler is pretty fast, it isn’t exactly the fastest animal on the block.
How to Tire Out an Australian Cattle Dog?
Now that we know that the blue heeler needs a minimum of 2 hours per day of exercise, it becomes more about how to go about keeping them busy. When they get ample exercise, they won’t be likely to cause trouble or become destructive.
Like just about any other type of cattle dog breed, the blue heeler has higher than average needs for exercise. The good news is that there are plenty of things that you can do to keep your blue heeler active and moving.
For instance, if you go for a bike ride or rollerblade, they can run alongside you. This is much better than a typical walk because the pace is faster and they will burn off far more energy than they would otherwise. You don’t need to go high-intensity for all of their activity but it can be helpful for keeping those energy levels controlled.
If you don’t have a bike or don’t really want to do more than a regular walk, that’s fine too. You can balance things out by loading them up with a ballast or backpack that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 20 percent of their body weight. This way, it is more strenuous than the average walk without needing you to go the extra mile as well.
There are also organized sports that your heeler can participate in. Things such as agility, herding, flyball, or rally obedience trials make for a great setting. Not only do you get to give them the proper exercise, but you can work on obedience training as well.
There are a ton of things where you can keep your heeler active and healthy. Moreover, if you are able to implement a little bit of training along the way, it can help make your dog a more balanced listener.
Blue Heeler Behavior Problems
Blue heelers are generally very well-behaved and take direction quite well. Of course, that is under the assumption that they have proper training and are getting the adequate level of exercise each and every day.
When you start to leave them with their boredom, that is where the problematic behavior can arise. Because of their higher energy levels, they can become prone to boredom without enough exercise time. When they get bored, they begin acting out.
One of the ways in which they can act out is through disobedience. They might not follow direction as well or can directly challenge your direction. They can also become quite destructive, particularly if they are bored and left to their own devices.
Make sure that you keep your blue heeler properly exercised. If you are going to leave them at home for longer periods of time, make sure that they are either crated or have plenty of stimulation.
The stimulation goes well past physical stimulation. Because they are one of the smarter breeds around, they need to be mentally challenged as well. Puzzle toys can be a great way of stimulating them both physically and mentally. If you are leaving the house for a few hours, leaving them with those stimulating toys can help to keep them properly entertained.
Other than that, blue heelers are quite loyal and well-behaved. They will go to great lengths to get your approval and will follow direction as well when they have received proper training. They are a great family dog that will offer protection and loyalty like few other dog breeds out there.
Conclusion
The blue heeler is a loyal, protective, active breed of dog. They are great for families and for owners who are a bit more active. Being able to get out with them on a regular basis can keep them healthy and happy on a regular basis.
With a couple of hours of activity per day, you can do just that. Your heeler can also be trained to respond to direction better, allowing you and your heeler to develop a better relationship over time.
