What is the difference between a Queensland Heeler and an Australian Cattle Dog?
Queensland Heelers are not an AKC recognized breed, so they cannot be registered. Australian Cattle Dogs, which are essentially Queensland Heelers with long tails, are AKC recognized. They are Queensland Heelers that can be traced to a specific lineage in Australia. People often confuse the two breeds because they used to be one breed. Queensland Heelers are also known as Blue Heelers or Red Heelers. Heelers only come in ‘blue’ (all blue, or blue with brown legs) or ‘red’. Blue really isn’t blue, but are hairs with gray, black and silver on each hair. These colors in each hair give a ‘blue’ look. Queensland Heelers can also have face and/or body patches. Blues have black patches, and reds have brown patches. Pretty much every dog has different markings, but most Queensland Heelers have the small white patch on the top of their head.
