Dingo vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison

Dingo vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed ComparisonBoth Dingo and Australian Red Heeler are originated from Australia. Dingo may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Australian Red Heeler. Dingo may weigh 16 kg / 36 pounds more than Australian Red Heeler. Dingo may live 5 years more than Australian Red Heeler. Both Dingo and Australian Red Heeler has almost same litter size. Both Dingo and Australian Red Heeler requires Moderate maintenance.

History

dingo - historyThe Dingo dog was in all probability, introduced to Australia thousands of years ago. He isn’t your usual domesticated dog and in fact it is a feral dog native to Australia.There are stories that suggest that while they may have once been pets, they were abandoned so that they reverted back to their wild state.

They became pests for Australian farmers, going for their livestock, and huge fences were erected. The different climates in Australia have meant different kinds of Dingo developing, so while the desert ones are like the desert sands - golden yellow to red the alpine ones are rarer and are cream colored.

These wild canines were also introduced to Southeast Asia some 3,500 years ago, however the dog’s exact origin is debatable. There are any number of groups of people who could have brought the dingo to Australia, and among some of these are Indian mariners or maritime hunters.

The dog has been found in many parts of mainland Australia but never became established in Tasmania.There has also been an effort to remove the Dingo from farming areas. It is interesting to note that the first Dingo, referred to as the Australian dog, was registered at the London Zoo in 1828.

australian red heeler - historyWhen George Hall arrived in the New South Wales Colony in 1802 he set about ‘creating’ a tough working- or herding dog. By crossing Australia’s native Dingoes with Collies as well as with other herding dogs, the robust Red Heeler, also known as the Australian Cattle Dog came into being. Today he is a thick-set dog, ideally suited to working livestock.

Ranchers, particularly, were impressed with the breed’s toughness and they were sought after on cattle stations. The name actually comes from them when the dogs are herding animals, they nip at their heels to get them moving.

The Blue Heeler and the Red Heeler breed are the exact same dog, but just different colors. These Australian cattle dogs originated in Australia in the mid-1800s and adapted well to the harsh desert environment of the outback.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
Australia
Australia
Height Male:
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
23 - 32 kg
50 - 71 pounds
15 - 16 kg
33 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 32 kg
50 - 71 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
15 - 20 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
3 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Joogong, Mirigung, Noggum
Australian Cattle dog, Queensland Heelers
Colors Available:
White, Tan, Sandy, Black, Cream
Red and blue mostly. Other varieties include chocolate, cream, blue mottled, brindle and some with white markings
Coat:
Shortish and dense
short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

Description

dingo puppy - descriptionAn interesting fact with these fascinating feral dogs, is that like humans, they’ve got rotating wrists. This characteristic of theirs allows them to use their paws much like the human hand to catch their prey. A domesticated Dingo can therefore learn how to open doors.

The Dingo is a medium sized dog standing at roughly 52 – 60cm in height, measuring up to 1.2 meters in length and weighing roughly between 23 to 32kg.

He has long canine teeth, a long muzzle, upright ears and a long, thick tail. The coat is essentially one color, sandy, white, cream, tan or black and sometimes there are white markings on the chest, the paws and around the muzzle.

The fur is typically shortish and thick — though the hair's thickness and length will depend on the climate of the area. The Dingo is a moderate shedder and a good brushing of the coat twice a week will keep the thick coat shiny and healthy.

Temperament:

These wild canines are social animals, and in the wild they live in packs. There are some that opt to live on their own.

They’e territorial, but they are able to share their living space with humans. They’re generally shy around humans, but a Dingo that is trained and socialized can get along well with children and pets in the home.

The Muscular Body

australian red heeler puppy - descriptionThe Red Heeler or Australian Cattle Dog is a sturdy, muscular dog with ears that are pricked and with dark, alert eyes. The tail is long. The neck, shoulders and legs of the Red Heeler are strong and muscular. The dog is longer than tall – the length of the body is greater than the height at the withers. A well fed, well exercised, well cared for Red Heeler will weight roughly 15–22 kilograms.

The Coat

There are 2 coat colours of the Reeler – red and blue, but there are are lesser varieties such as chocolate, cream, blue mottled, brindle and some with white markings. It is interesting to note that with both the Red- and the Blue Heeler, puppies are generally born white, with the coat turning to red as they mature.

These Australian Cattle Dogs display patches of solid colour, and you might well find masks over one or both eyes and a white tip to the tail. Both the Red and Blue Heeler can have a white star on the forehead which is referred to as the Bentley Mark. The Heelers have a double coat - short, straight outer hairs while the undercoat is short, fine and dense. Despite their short coat, they shed a lot.

Characteristics

dingo dog - characteristicsDingoes have been domesticated successfully. Some people swear by them as making a fantastic pet. However, they’re wild dogs and can be unpredictable.

There are others who have tried to keep the Dingo as a pet but who have discarded them when they proved to be a danger in the home.

Dingoes can be trained but they’re high energy dogs and require a lot of exercise. How do you feel about owning a Dingo as a pet? Many people feel that its not fair to bring an essentially wild animal into your home. They feel that there are plenty of rescue dogs dying for a home without human beings searching in the wilds for an unusual pet, and regretting it later on.

australian red heeler dog - characteristicsYour Australian Red Heeler needs plenty of exercise but also plenty of companionship too from his human family. He is an affectionate, playful pet but is reserved with people he doesn’t know. When socialized he is patient with children in the home but he does still have the tendency to herd them and nip at their heels. The dog builds up a strong bond with his human family, and is protective toward them, being happy to be close to his owner’s side.

Take Time out to Play

Red Heelers need activities and lots of room to play, and they therefore won’t adapt to apartment living. If you don’t live on a farm, don’t neglect your working dog as he will need lots of rough and tumble games and activities to keep him from boredom. Treat your Australian Red Heeler with the love, patience and kindness and you’ll bring out the very best from this active, loyal fur-friend of yours.

Health Problems

dingo puppies - health problemsThe Dingo is a long-lived dog and you can expect your Dingo to live till anything between 15 and 20 years.

When it comes to health issues, they are robust and resilient, having less medical problems to contend with than your regular dog.

However if you see that your Dingo is not his usual robust, energetic self, get him to the vet as soon as you can.

Eye Problems

australian red heeler puppies - health problemsThe Australian Cattle Dog is quite often affected by progressive retinal atrophy, an eye condition where the rods and cones in the retina of the eye deteriorate later in life, and it could lead to blindness. This eye illness is an autosomal recessive trait, and even if the dog doesn’t develop the condition himself, he can be a carrier of the affected gene.

Fractures

The Heeler is just bursting with personality and energy and a study of dogs diagnosed at veterinary colleges described fractures and ligament tears as one of the most common conditions treated with the Australian Red Heeler.

General Health

You love your Australian Red Heeler and you want to take good care of him. Check with your vet because at 8 weeks he should be starting with his first puppy vaccinations.

To keep your best friend healthy and happy, watch his diet, ensure he gets plenty of exercise, brush his teeth regularly to remove plaque build-up, and always call your veterinarian when you see he is ill and isn’t his usual boisterous self.

Caring The Pet

dingo dogs - caringCaring for your Dingo will be different to caring for your usual pet dog. You have to remember the Dingo is an ancient, wild species with some unique characteristics. Having a Dingo as a pet and companion may not be an easy task, and it is why many people selfishly dump their Dingoes – they didn’t quite live up to what they had in mind.

Training:

Your Dingo, just like any other dog you’d have, will require training and socialization, and the earlier the better. No training will simply mean you having an unruly pet in the home.

Diet:

Your Dingo can be fed just like you would with your other dogs. You can feed him quality dog kibble as his main diet, but you can also add in cooked rice, vegetables and chicken. Your Dingo is essentially a wild dog, so you will definitely want to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as well.

Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water available.

Excercise:

A Dingo is used to running free so he will require plenty of outdoor exercise. He can also be put on a leash and taken for a walk. He’ll love joining you in your activities such as running alongside you as you jog or cycle. He can adapt to life in the city if he is well exercised but he isn’t suited to a small home or garden.

Grooming

australian red heeler dogs - caringThe Australian Red Heeler is a low maintenance dog. He does shed quite a bit so you’ll need to brush his coat at least twice a week to remove loose hairs and to keep his coat lustrous. When your dog has been in a particularly dusty area, you you wipe his coat down with a damp cloth. As with all dogs, you’ll want to check his teeth, ears, eyes and nails regularly to avoid health problems.

Training

If you care for your working- and herding dog you’ll train him to that he becomes a good family dog and companion. The Red Heeler has plenty of energy and stamina and if he grows up untrained and un-socialized, you could see him becoming aggressive towards other animals and even your own children. He certainly becomes over-protective of his territory if not socialized. Train him as he is an intelligent breed and responds well to training.

Diet

Any vet will tell you of the critical importance of a proper diet and exercise routine for your dog. He’s an active, smart dog with loads of energy and you want to keep his diet consistent with this energy. Speak to your vet about what food would suit your pet best, because a high quality diet appropriate to his age, his body size and his energy levels will be important. Along with high quality foods which include a good intake of raw meat, your dog must always have access to a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  2. Australian Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  3. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  4. Australian Cattle Dog vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  5. Bearded Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  6. Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  7. Dutch Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. Blue Healer vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  9. English Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  10. Australian Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  11. Catahoula Cur vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  12. Australian Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  13. Catalan Sheepdog vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  15. Bergamasco vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  16. Berger Picard vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  17. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  18. Queensland Heeler vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  19. German Coolie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. Bohemian Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  21. Croatian Sheepdog vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  22. Red Heeler vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  23. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. Blue Lacy vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  25. New Zealand Huntaway vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  26. Other vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  27. Olde English Bulldogge vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  28. Indian Pariah Dog vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  29. Dingo vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison
  30. Dingo vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  31. Dingo vs Carolina Dog - Breed Comparison
  32. Sapsali vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  33. Peruvian Hairless vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  34. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  35. Lottatore Brindisino vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  36. Mountain Feist vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  37. Spitz vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  38. Jonangi vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  39. Kuri vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  40. Perro de Presa Mallorquin vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  41. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  42. Golden Doodle vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  43. Pomsky vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  44. Sakhalin Husky vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  45. English Springer Spaniel vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  46. Old English Bulldog vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  47. Schnauzer vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  48. Puggle vs Dingo - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds