PekePoo vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

As a cross between a Peingese and a Poodle, your cute Peekapoo as he is also known, isn't a purebred dog. They first started making their appearance in the 1900s, in fact it was believed to be developed in the 1950s, being one of the oldest designer dog breeds.

He was bred to be a a low-shedding, hypoallergenic companion dog. Both the parent dogs have their own unique, long histories. Dog experts aren’t too sure where the Pekepoo originated from.

This dog breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, because it is a hybrid breed, but it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

In 1840, George Elliott made a match with Australian Dingo and Collie and got a clever and very active dog breed – Australian Blue Heeler. Soon, he showed his good herding instincts and protective nature and got really popular among the cattlemen and ranchers. Soon, as the USA soldiers arrived in Australia, they decided that it will be a great dog to bring home.

Australian Blue Heeler has short, double coat. The coat is water resistant and helps them when the temperature is too high as well. Their coat is rough to the touch, naturally. They can be found in blue or red coat colour mix. The Blue Heeler isn’t actually blue, but their black coat has a bluish tint. Red Heelers have red fur instead of black. They have long tails, strong legs, Dingo-like heads with pointy ears and muscular necks and balanced and athletic bodies.

People love these little dogs because of their lack of shedding and it having a hypoallergenic coat. The coat is soft and can be wavy to curly with some feathering around the ears and tail.

It is medium length and comes in a variety of colors such as fawn, cream, white, black, apricot or chocolate. The coat can have a mix of some of these colors too. This is a small dog that stands at between 23–26cm and weighs in the region of 4 to 9kg. He has floppy, low set ears and bright brown eyes.

Temperament:

They're such cute little dogs, loving and loyal to their human family. However, there is another side to them and they can be independent, aloof and stubborn. They’re very intelligent little dogs and will require both mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom.

Because’s he’s so smart, you won’t have any trouble training him new skills. He’ll do well with children in the home as well as with pets, especially once he’s been trained and socialized.

He is able to settle into life in the city or the countryside. Even though he is a small dog, he will have to have his share of exercise if he is to remain healthy and content. They are dogs that love to be cuddled and petted ad he gets along well with everyone in the family.

Even though he is a true family pet, loving and loyal, he becomes a good watchdog too as he wants to protect all those he loves.

This breed is somehow designed for an outdoor life and outdoor activity. This implies that Blue Heelers have nature made of the high dose of energy. They are always ready to go anywhere you go, and they will be a loyal friend. They are actually very clever, intelligent and ready to help.

If you are a type of the person who prefers being indoors and having minimal physical activity, Blue heelers are not the type of a furry companion for you. They have a high daily need for the activity, and they love having lots of space to run and explore. Sometimes, you will realize that having a leash is a must because they will get so playful that they will forget about you!

If you start teaching them to be friendly with other dogs while they are still pups, they will accept that kind of lifestyle. But, if your Blue Heeler is raised as the only dog on the ranch, note that they won’t be very friendly toward other dogs.

Since most of the herd dogs usually respond to only one person, most of the Blue Heelers can follow this old instinct. They can be very independent, as well, and they are usually not the type of the dog that will always be around your leg waiting for a cuddle or ear scratch. But, they build the respect towards humans depending on how they treat him so they can be very lovable and friendly pets.

If you are still confused about their name, you must know that the Blue Heelers can actually lightly nip your heel for attention. They are not aggressive, but they tend to be very protective of the family, humans around them and their property.

Your Pekepoo is such a gentle, sweet dog, making the perfect family pet. He is gentle, loving and amicable with his human family and wants to be involved in all their activities.

Coming from the Poodle and the Pekingese, he will have inherited some personality from each of these two popular dog breeds.

He is coming into your home ready to make you a splendid pet and companion and he asks nothing more than good care from you as a responsible dog owner.

Children friendliness

They are generally good with children, but you must be aware of their inherent desire to herd. Always supervise when your Blue Heeler is around small children.

Special Talents

Ball tricks, frisbee fun, running companion, herding cattle.

Adaptability

It is best to buy a puppy. These dogs get attached to one human and to the territory.

Learning ability

They are generally quick learners. If you teach them to be playful, friendly and loving, they will learn it in no time. So be aware of the decisions that can cost you when the dog grows up.

As with any dog, there are certain common dog ailments that you want to watch out for in your Pekepoo. Brachycephalic airway syndrome is one as well as dental disease and obesity.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome:

Because your Pekepoo has a somewhat squashed face, he may have abnormalities in the upper airways. Dogs with this syndrome have heavier breathing than other dogs and he might even have a cough. The troublesome part is that these breathing difficulties can put pressure on the cardiovascular system.

Obesity:

Small breed dogs are always at an increased risk of being obese and being obese can mean your dog possibly developing osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure as well as other diseases.

Eye problems

Progressive Retinal Atrophy usually causes slow and painless loss of sight. This process takes years, but there are cases where this disease took only months before the dog ended up completely blind. It is advisable to take your Blue Heeler to the vet for a test that can tell you if your dog is carrying the gene for this disease.

Lens luxation is a disease where the lens of dog’s eye separates partially or completely. Good news is that this disease can be treated.

Joint diseases

Most common is the hip or elbow dysplasia. This is the disease where hip joints do not develop properly and begin to grind. This condition can sometimes be treated with physiotherapy, but there is a chance that your Blue Heeler will need a surgery. If you have a habit of regular vet checks and keeping your dog slim and fed with quality food, you can a make a big difference.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) causes the dog to have excess cartilage and deficient bone, where cartilage does not get replaced by bone during fetal development. This disease usually requires surgery and prescribed medicines.

Deafness

Congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness – CHSD is a common form of deafness.

Bilateral deafness can be identified when the dog is still a puppy, more-less at six weeks of age. A puppy with deafness in only one ear is harder to identify, but it can happen.

Portosystemic shunt means that the blood flow is getting back into the bloodstream instead of passing through the liver. That means that liver can’t clear out the toxins, and the organ itself fails to grow properly. This inherited type of shunt can be treated with surgery if the diagnose is set on time.

Diet:

Your small designer Peekapoo will do well on a high quality kibble diet. Always check out the packaging and see how much to feed a small dog like this. It is better to give a dog 2 smaller meals a day as composed to one because with one they tend to gobble it up which can lead to a serious condition known as bloat.

Dogs love simplicity and consistency with their food, but it is always to your dog’s benefit to feed him some home-made food too. Some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato added into the kibble occasionally will do him the world of good. Every now and again a little bit of raw meat can also be given.

Never leave your pet without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Lively and energetic, your Peekapoo is going to need daily exercise. He will love the chance to sniff around and explore on your daily walks but he is ready to become more involved than that and will join you with hikes and swimming too. He is happiest when spending activity times with his human family. As with any dog, just make sure he doesn’t overdo it, especially on a hot day.

Grooming:

To keep your Pekepoo’s hair tangle-free, you’ll need to brush it twice a week. If you feel that his hair is getting too unruly, you can take him to the doggy parlor and have it trimmed into a shorter style. They’ll clip his nails at the same time, check inside his mouth for any signs of dental disease and check inside his ears too for dental infection.

Feeding the puppy

Choose a dog food that will provide nutrients that will help in the bone developing. Since they are more likely to suffer from joint diseases, you must take this advice seriously. It would be great if you speak about this with your vet before you choose food on your own.

Feeding the adult

The best food for Blue Heeler is a high-quality food which supplies them with premium nutrition to fuel their activity.

They also drink a lot of water, so be sure that they always have a fresh water available.

Points for Good Health

Lots and lots of the outdoor activity and a quality food. You must be very cautious because this kind of dogs gets overweight easily because they just love the treats and extra food portion.

Games and Exercises

Any outdoor activity that is mentally challenging and interesting enough to keep them from running in the field trying to catch anything that moves.