Doxiepoo vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison

During the 19th century, in the New South Wales, lived a cattle farmer Thomas Hall. He wanted to have a perfect cattle dog so he mixed two breeds: dogs used by stockman with the dingo. The new breed was given an interesting name - Halls Heelers. Heelers was a part of the dog breed because this new breed of the dog inherited the nipping instinct. As time passed, one breed was developing in two breeds: the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog.

The Australian Cattle dog can be found in two available colours: red and blue. This is how they got their nicknames: Red Heeler and Blue Heeler.

The Doxiepoo is a designer dog breed - a combination of the Dachshund who was used to hunt for Badgers and the Poodle, a dog bred in France to essentially be a lap dog. There is however some dispute as to whether the Poodle descends from Germany or from the French Barbet.

Wherever the parents hail from, the Doxiepoo hails from the United States of America.

With both the Poodle and the Dachshund being intelligent, fun and loving type of canines, the two of them together have brought out a wonderful hybrid pet in the Doxiepoo. Today, the Doxiepoo is bred with other Doxiepoos.

The Australian Cattle Dog originally mixed with Australian herding dog that was kept near the cattle to guide them. Medium-sized, with the short coat, this dog is generally easy to groom and maintain. It does require more brushing during the shedding period, but it is still not an everyday need. He is easy to train because he likes challenging games and activities which are. It gets very attached to its owner, and he is always protective of them and their possessions. The most common health problems happen with their ears and eyes, but they are usually very healthy and they have a long life – up to 15 years.

The Doxiepoo can range from being a small to medium sized dog, standing at anything between 20cm to 25cm in size and weighing between 3kg and 7kg, depending much on whether a standard, miniature or toy sized poodle was used in the breeding.

The Doxiepoo could look like either one of the two breeds, but he will have a strong, sturdy body with a curly or wavy coat of varying lengths and various colors - cream, black, tan, apricot, grey or white. The poodle side of him ensures he is a hypoallergenic dog.

Temperament:

Between the Dachshund and the Poodle, you’re going to get a wonderful array of characteristics as they both come with their strong points. Certainly you will be well entertained and amused by your pet, while he can also be useful as a watchdog.

Being a small dog, he will fit well into life in the city or in the countryside. He is as bright as a button and learns tricks and new skills quickly. With training and socialization he becomes obedient and well behaved wherever he is, getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with all children and adults.

The Doxiepoo is a lively, alert, energetic dog and will require being exercised – lots of ball games and a walk will keep him lean, muscular and content.

Around children

Children and Australian Cattle Dogs can grow up together in harmony. They will have a loyal and protective companion. After you properly train your dog and teach your child how to play with the dog, you will bring the friendship on the safe side. Some of them will have the instinct to nip at heels, so you should pay attention to this while training your pet.

Special talents: cattle dog, service dog, therapy dog, police dogs, drug detection dogs.

Adaptability

Australian Cattle Dogs can survive cool, hot and temperate conditions. They can live in a shelter outdoors, and they do well living indoors. But, be aware – without enough physical activity, this dog will end up being frustrated and unhappy.

Learning ability

They will absorb every new trick so quick that you will be amazed. They love to learn, and if you start with some good trick you will raise a great friend and maybe a great competitor in fetch, swim, bring-a-stick, or run-the-show dog sports.

The Doxiepoo is a sweet, loyal, loving dog, making an excellent family pet.

Every dog, even the little ones like this, will require some kind of input from you if you want to get the best from him. Every puppy bought as a gift when they’re cute and cuddly turns into an adult, and often the very person who received him as a gift, loses interest and neglects him. Then they wonder why the dog becomes irritating and destructive.

A dog is a long term investment and if you commit to your sweet Doxiepoo, you’ll get years and years of devoted friendship.

Health Problems: are mostly inherited. You can avoid this by searching for a good breeder that can clear out the hereditary diseases.

Eyes

The Australian Cattle Dog is one of the breeds that can be born with progressive retinal atrophy. Progressive rod-cone degeneration is a disease that causes the rods and cones in the retina of the eye to degenerate. It might lead to blindness.

Ears

The Australian Cattle Dog is one of the rare breeds with recessive piebald alleles. This gene is the reason why they have white colour on their coat. But, unfortunately, this gene can be the reason why congenital hereditary deafness develops.

The life expectancy of the Doxiepoo is around 12-15 years of age if he is well looked after. He is a robust dog, but he can still face some health issues that both his parents contend with.

Just some of the diseases that the Doxiepoo might face while in your care are ear- and skin infections, dental disease, digestive tract problems, heart conditions and epilepsy. If you think your pet has any kind of illness, it is imperative to get him to the vet for a checkup.

Poodles, particularly are prone to skin disorders. They can be allergic to grass, parasites and food. If your Doxiepoo chews or licks his paws or some other area a lot, and the skin is red, he could have a skin allergy.

The vet will be able to diagnose your dog’s allergies with some skin- or blood testing. For instance, sebaceous adenitis is an inherited allergy that affects the lubrication of the skin and hair follicles. Symptoms of the disease include scaly skin, sore and even hair loss.

Feeding the puppy and adult

Herding dog have a history of the joint diseases. That’s why some of the pet suggest feeding a herding dog with meat like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and fish. Dry dog food, even premium quality, may not be enough for this energetic dogs and their bone structure. But it depends on the dog. The best advice is to always take an advice from your breeder or your wet.

Grooming

You won’t be very busy with grooming your Australian cattle dog. You don’t have to take everyday care of it. Occasional brushing will be more than enough. Bath the dog only when you notice odour problem.

Points for Good Health

The Australian Cattle Dog needs a high level of activity. Like many other herding dog breeds, they love walks, spending time with people, running or doing any athletic sports with them, teaching them tricks since they have above average intelligence. Fetching will be super fun for everyone, agility, competitions or any other challenging activity. They love water and they swim very well so you can take the dog with you to the nearest pool and have a great time.

Grooming:

You can’t be sure what kind of coat your Doxiepoo will have but he will certainly require brushing at least twice a week. In some instances it may be wise to seek out the services of a professional groomer who does an excellent job of trimming the hair, cleaning the teeth, checking the ears and clipping the nails.

Training:

The Doxiepoo, just like any other dog, will need to be trained and socialized early as he is a stubborn dog and will need to be trained to be obedient. With this training and socialization, he becomes amicable around children and pets in the home. He learns easily too and this is what makes him a great pet for first time dog owners.

Exercise:

The Doxiepoo is a moderate energy dog, so he will do well on a walk every day. You can also make use of ropes, balls and frisbees to give him a bit of a workout in the garden.

He loves water too and will enjoy a run on the beach and cooling off in the ocean. He adapts easily to life in the city or in the country, so long as he is with his human companions.

Diet:

The Doxiepoo will eat dry kibble, particularly if it is from the highest quality brands and chosen according to the dog’s size, age and activity levels.

Now and then you can add in a little bit of cooked rice, vegetables and chicken for variety. Some raw meat can play an important role in keeping the skin healthy and free from dryness and itchiness. Make sure that he always has fresh, cool water available to him.