Those looking for a medium sized dog might want to consider getting Blue Heeler Dogs. These are also known as Australian Cattle Dogs. They can be time consuming to care for, but they can be great companions for active people.

Blue Heeler Dogs are 17 to 20 inches high, and can weigh between 25 and 50 pounds. They are pretty sturdy dogs, with a short coat that is very weather resistant. The most common colors for these dogs are red speckled or blue with or without mottling. If they have black spots then they are usually not considered good for showing in dog shows. They are usually born white and then get darker as they get older, which comes from the fact that Dalmatians were part of the mix that led to their creation. These dogs do shed, but only once or twice a year.

These dogs do not require a lot of complicated grooming. Blue Heeler Dogs should be brushed or combed occasionally to get rid of any dead hair. Bathing should be limited and only done when necessary.

The most time consuming part of caring for Blue Heeler Dogs is the fact that they require a lot of activity and exercise is you do not want them to get bored. When they get bored they can entertain themselves in very destructive ways.
These dogs are therefore not good for those who live in apartments or those who are not willing to spend a lot of time exercising them. A simple daily walk is not enough for these dogs, who are happiest when they have some sort of job that they can do. They also like variety, so you can’t just have a routine set of training exercises that you expect to do with them every day.

Another important aspect in the care of Blue Heelers is training and socialization. These dogs must be consistently taught the same rules in order to get them to obey them, and they must be taught that their owners are the alpha dog; otherwise they will act like they are in charge. These are smart dogs, so they can learn, but they are also stubborn and want to get their own way if they can. They also need to be socialized so that they deal well with children, other animals, and strangers. These dogs like to learn new skills and tricks since it engages them and keeps them from getting bored.