The average Texas Heeler lives 12 to 16 years, and these mixed-breed pups have a lifespan similar to their parent breeds.

Texas Heelers typically reach full maturity between 18 and 24 months of age. While they may reach full physical maturity at that age, their playful and energetic personalities often persist throughout their lives.

Yes, Texas Heelers are moderate shedders, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Texas Heelers are a double-coated breed with short, dense undercoats and weatherproof outer coats with straight, hard hairs that lie flat.

Texas Heelers come in a number of different colors, including white, gray, blue, black, brown, and blue merle. A solid-colored coat is possible but rare. They get their colorful coats from their parent breeds: Australian Cattle Dogs and Australian Shepherds. Both are colorful dogs with coat colors that range from red speckle, red merle, and blue merle to black and blue with distinct markings from their nose to their toes.

Texas Heelers can weigh between 31 and 66 pounds and stand 17 and 22 inches tall when fully grown. Although Australian Cattle Dogs and Australian Shepherds are almost the same height, there is a dramatic weight range within the breeds. Knowing where the parents fall within that range will help determine the full-grown size of a Texas Heeler.

Yes, Texas Heelers can coexist with cats. Of course, each dog (and cat) has their own preferences and temperaments, but if introduced early, and both pets have compatible temperaments and are properly socialized, they should get along fine. Thanks to their strong herding tendencies, training might also be needed to teach a Texas Heeler not to chase or herd their four-legged friends.

Yes, Texas Heelers are good dogs. These are working dogs who love nothing more than having jobs to do and will happily work from sunrise to sunset. 

No livestock to herd? Make sure Texas Heelers get lots of exercise. Embrace long walks (or runs), trips to the dog park, swimming, hiking, or other activities that let Texas Heelers show off their stamina. The mixed breed has stamina to spare and excels in dog sports, such as treibball, herding, agility, and competitive obedience.

Although Texas Heelers are serious about their work, these dogs also make good-natured companions for active pet parents. They are intelligent, exuberant, and playful and will happily tag along on all high-energy activities.

No, Texas Heelers don’t bark much. They are excellent watch dogs because they tend to bark only when there is a reason. Most will bark only at strangers or loud noises and not just to hear the sound of their own voices.

However, without adequate exercise and mental stimulation, Texas Heelers can become bored, and that could lead to behaviors such as barking, digging, and chewing. The dogs will thrive in an environment that understands working breeds and is committed to providing lots (and lots) of exercise and activities that challenge their minds.

Texas Heelers can be great family dogs in the right environment. Their strong herding tendencies could lead them to chase cars, corral children, or herd other pets, so their ideal environment is a home with older children, a securely fenced yard, no small animals, and lots and lots of exercise.

Yes, Texas Heelers are high-energy dogs. They need parents who are committed to providing near-constant physical and mental stimulation. Without jobs to do, the dogs will get bored and could become destructive. High-energy playtime, puzzle toys, and learning new tricks can help keep Texas Heelers entertained.

Yes, Texas Heelers are relatively easy to train. These are super smart dogs who excel at mastering commands and learning new tricks — but their intelligence also means that Texas Heelers are easily bored.  Keep training activities short and fun — but not repetitive — and you will keep them interested. Just keep in mind that even if they are known to be easy to train, teaching a dog requires a long-term commitment.

Yes, Texas Heelers need grooming. A quick brushing a few times a week removes excess hair and keeps their coats looking great. During semi-annual shedding seasons, Texas Heelers will need daily brushings with an undercoat rake.

Texas Heelers can inherit some of the health issues that are prevalent in their parent breeds, including ACL injuries, obesity, epilepsy, and progressive retinal atrophy. Other potential health problems to discuss with your vet include the following:

• Distichiasis: Texas Heelers may be prone to this common inherited condition, which causes eyelashes to grow in the wrong place on their lids. 

• Hip dysplasia: Texas Heelers have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, a common skeletal disease in dogs where the joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen, resulting in pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis.

Yes, Texas Heelers are generally healthy. It’s important to remember that even though this breed might have an increased risk for certain health conditions, that doesn’t mean they will develop them. Mixed-breed dogs are often healthier than purebred dogs because of greater genetic diversity. Your veterinarian can help you watch for health problems with regular check-ups.

No, Texas Heelers aren’t considered a hypoallergenic breed. These pups are typically not good matches for people with allergies.

Texas Heelers, as the name suggests, originated in Texas. They began to gain more recognition in the mid-20th century, but they are not officially recognized by major kennel clubs like the American Kennel Club (AKC).

There are many differences between a Texas Heeler and a Blue Heeler, but the biggest difference is that the Blue Heeler (another name for an Australian Cattle Dog) is a purebred dog. Because Texas Heelers are a mixed-dog breed, their fur coat, appearance, and size will vary depending on their parents’ genetics. 

These two “Heelers” have similar temperaments, but Texas Heelers are taller, leaner, and have more variety in their fur color and markings than a Blue Heeler. Both breeds have traits such as pointy, upright ears and speckled markings. Some Texas Heelers might appear to look more like an Australian Shepherd dog, while others are more Heeler.