Red Heeler vs Maltese - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Red Heeler vs Maltese - Breed ComparisonRed Heeler is originated from Australia but Maltese is originated from Italy. Red Heeler may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Maltese. Red Heeler may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Maltese. Both Red Heeler and Maltese has same life span. Red Heeler may have more litter size than Maltese. Red Heeler requires Low maintenance. But Maltese requires Moderate maintenance

History

red heeler - historyKnown also as the Australian Cattle Dog, the Red Heeler is also known as the Blue Heeler. This is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia.

These dogs are known for their stamina and resilience with driving cattle over long distances in hot weather and across rough terrain.

It was George Eliott who developed the Red Heeler – crossing native Dingoes with Collies and other herding dogs.

In America, the breed was fully recognised in September 1980.

maltese - historyThe Maltese dog hardly needs any introduction as this is an ancient breed which is still as popular as ever. Some people refer to it as the "Maltese Lion Dog," or "Melita" which was Malta’s previous name.

It was in the 19th century, that the Kennel Club settled on the name of Maltese for the dog breed. The dog has been selectively bred to keep its small size. The exact origin of the dog is unknown and there are various stories surrounding where its origins are, thought to be Italy.

It is believed that dogs such as spaniels and poodles have been used to bring about the Maltese. The American Kennel Club, a registry for pure bred dogs, recognized the breed in 1888.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Toy dog
Origin:
Australia
Italy
Height Male:
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
20 - 25 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
20 - 25 cm
7 - 10 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
1 - 5 kg
2 - 12 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
1 - 5 kg
2 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
1 - 3
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Australian Cattle Dog, ACD
Melita, Maltese Lion Dog
Colors Available:
Reddish, Blue-grey
White
Coat:
Shortish and dense
Long and silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, 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, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

red heeler puppy - descriptionThe Red Heeler is a medium-sized dog standing at between 43 to 51 cm in height and weighing in the region of 14 – 16 kg.

He is muscular, with a sturdy build. The coat of this robust dog is shortish and thick and quite often you’ll find a white star marking on he forehead. The coat is a blue-grey color or reddish. The tail of this dog is long and the ears are erect.

Temperament:

The Red Heeler has always been a working dog so he is energetic and lively, being independent and strong-willed.

He is super intelligent too and can be easily trained and socialized. He is a dog that simply loves the outdoors and if you don’t live on a farm, he is going to need lots of exercise.

He gets on well with kids and other pets, but children should be taught to respect him and be kind towards him, otherwise he might not tolerate them. He is a loyal, protective dog, wanting to ensure the safety of his human family.

maltese puppy - descriptionThe Maltese is looked upon as a toy dog. Both male and female stand roughly between 20-25cm in height and weigh between 1 and 4kg.

He is as cute as a button with a rounded skull, a pitch black nose, brown eyes and medium length floppy ears. The tail is feathery and is curled. He has a long, silky coat without an undercoat.

The color of his coat is pure white, and because he doesn’t shed he is looked upon as being hypoallergenic. Most people who own a Maltese like having the coat short to one length all round.

Temperament:

These little dogs have been bred to be companion dogs. They may be little, but it is a good idea to have him trained and socialized as they are inclined to be a bit snappy, especially with children.

He is intelligent, so training him won’t be difficult. Brought up the right way though, he can be good with children as well as pets in the home. They love their human families and want to be constantly with them. He is an energetic little dog too, and will just love ball games both inside and outside.

His very temperament and smallness make it that he fits perfectly into life in the city or the countryside. He is sweet and gentle but he makes a good watchdog, alerting you with his barking to strangers coming close by. Don’t leave him for long period of time as he hates being on his own and then he may start barking from sheer boredom and frustration.

Characteristics

red heeler dog - characteristicsWhen you bring a Red Heeler into your home, you must know that you’re never going to have a dull moment. They’re not content to lie around with nothing to do. These popular dogs literally coax you to come out and to be active.

Red Heelers need lots of activities and lots of room, so they aren’t particularly suited to life in the city. Large properties and plenty to do is what they ask for.

Your Red Heeler is going to make a splendid pet, loyal and devoted, the perfect example of man’s best friend.

maltese dog - characteristicsThe Maltese is a popular dog no doubt, and his smallness is a draw-card as he adapts easily to life in the city or the countryside.

He is loving, loyal, intelligent and responsive, making him a good family dog and being an excellent playmate for children. Teach your children how to respect animals because raucous, disrespectful kids might produce a nip from an agitated Maltese.

Being a light shedder is another draw-card, with him being looked upon as a hypoallergenic breed. He has got so many good things going for him that he is guaranteed to make you an ideal pet.

Health Problems

red heeler puppies - health problemsYour Red Heeler can live to be 15 years of age with good care. Every dog however, can fall prey to some of the many common dog diseases there are, some of which can be -

Musculosceletal Problems:

There are quite a lot of congenital and inherited musculoskeletal disorders in dogs, with some of the more common ones being hip dysplasia and muscular dystrophy for instance.

There are some of these musculosceletal problems which can be fatal. Some of the typical symptoms you’ll see with these problems are difficulty climbing stairs or jumping, loss of muscle mass in the hind limbs, arthritis and lameness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

The retina of the eye is that light-sensitive part and which is part of the central nervous system. With retinal degeneration, the cells decline, leading to impaired vision and sometimes even blindness.

Some symptoms to look out for include dilated pupils, night blindness and the inability to see clearly in bright light. The disease worsens over times with sudden blindness being quite common with older dogs. Your vet will want a thorough history of your dog’s health.

Other dog diseases to be very aware of are cancer, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

maltese puppies - health problemsYour Maltese is a feisty little thing who, with good care, can live for a good few years – up to 15 or even longer. As with any other dog, he can become ill. One or two illnesses to look out for include -

Skin Problems:

Sebaceous adenitis is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands and is an uncommon skin disease found in some breeds of dog.

There are two types - one for long coated breeds and one for short coated breeds. For long or double-coated dogs, you’ll notice a white/silvery kind of dandruff on the coat as well as hair loss. There can also be skin lesions along the back and ears. It can make your pet miserable and he will need to see a vet.

Thyroid Problems:

A common hormonal problem is canine hypothyroidism, brought on by inadequate levels of thyroid hormones. Symptoms include hair loss, weight gain, coldness and a weakened immune system.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

red heeler dogs - caringThe Red Heeler is an active dog, and apart from walks which will give him the chance to sniff around, he will need lots of other forms of exercise. Rope pulling games he’ll love and running after a ball will please him because it takes him back to days when he used to run around and herd livestock.

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person who loves hiking in the wilds and swimming in rivers, you can count this dog in.

Grooming:

You can look at the Red Heeler as a low maintenance dog. He does shed, but a good brush of the coat twice a week will be excellent for him. If he doesn’t wear his nails down naturally, you will need to trim them. Also, while you are brushing him, check his ears and eyes and inside his mouth to make sure he is clear of all infections.

Diet:

Red Heelers rely on good food for their resilience and stamina, and for convenience it is good to have commercially manufactured dog food as a backup. The best is home-made food which is easy to prepare and totally uncomplicated.

Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pet's dry kibble once or twice a week. Simple and tasty, your Red Heeler will love it and thrive on it too.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Diet:

maltese dogs - caringYour Maltese is going to require quality food, water, exercise and shelter to enjoy a good life. The type of food you feed any dog has a direct impact on his health.

You need to provide him with quality food, and if its commercially manufactured food, you need to read the labels carefully so that the food is appropriate to your Maltese. For instance, you can’t mistakenly pull a ‘large-breed’ packet of food off the shelves and expect your Maltese to be able to stomach it.

If you do buy him this kibble, make sure the ingredients are wholesome. To break the monotony of eating kibble every day, give him some boiled chicken, brown rice and some raw or cooked vegetables chopped up finely into his kibble. He will love you for this as it makes a tasty meal for him and will keep him healthy.

Try to keep his diet nice and simple to avoid digestive problems.

Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Make sure your Maltese dog has a nice warm, dry place to sleep.

Get him to the vet if you notice that he is ill.

Brush his hair twice a week and take him to have it professionally cut if you prefer.

Clip his nails when they become too long and check around his eyes and inside his ears for any kind of infection.

These little dogs are prone to dental problems and he will need to have his teeth brushed 2 or 3 times a week.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Red Heeler vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Red Heeler vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Red Heeler vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. Red Heeler vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Red Heeler vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Red Heeler vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. Red Heeler vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. Red Heeler vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Red Heeler vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. Red Heeler vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Red Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. Red Heeler vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. Red Heeler vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. Red Heeler vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Red Heeler vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Red Heeler vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. Red Heeler vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. Red Heeler vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Red Heeler vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. Red Heeler vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. Red Heeler vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Red Heeler vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. Red Heeler vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  24. Red Heeler vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  25. Red Heeler vs New Zealand Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. Maltese vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltese vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  30. Maltese vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  31. Maltese vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  32. Maltese vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  33. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Maltese vs Jug - Breed Comparison
  35. Maltese vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Maltese vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  37. Maltese vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  38. Maltese vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Maltese vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  40. Maltese vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  41. Maltese vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  42. Maltese vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  43. Maltese vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  44. Maltese vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  45. Maltese vs Lowchen - Breed Comparison
  46. Maltese vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  47. Maltese vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  48. Pug vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  49. Maltipoo vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  50. Papillon vs Maltese - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds