The Blue Heeler Husky Mix: A Remarkably Hardworking Dog

Blue Heelers, or Australian Cattle Dogs, and Siberian Huskies are two dogs known for their hardworking and energetic temper. So some would wonder what a mix between these two breeds would look like.

The Blue Heeler Husky Mix, also known as the Ausky is as energetic and playful as its parent breeds. It inherited the will to work and also has an intelligence high enough to learn new commands. But this dog also has some traits that many owners would avoid.

• The History Of The Blue Heeler Husky Mix
• Appearance – Athletic Dog Built For Work
• Temperament – Intelligent And Lively Dog
• Taking Care Of A Blue Heeler Siberian Husky Mix
• Getting A Blue Heeler Husky Crossbreed Puppy

The History Of The Blue Heeler Husky Mix

Because this is a mixed breed, its history is not long and well known. However, the parent breeds have a broad and interesting history.

The Australian Cattle Dog, or the Blue Heeler, is a breed that originates from Australia. It was created in the 19th century when the British brought a Smithfield Sheepdog and mixed it with the native Dingo. It was used for its excellent herding abilities and it was officially accepted by the AKC in 1980.

The Siberian Husky is an ancient dog breed originating in Siberia, Russia. These dogs were originally used by the Chukchi people as sled dogs. In 1925, a few Siberian Huskies helped carry a lifesaving serum for diphtheria to Nome, Alaska, making them popular. They were officially accepted by the AKC in 1930.

Appearance – Athletic Dog Built For Work

The Husky mixed with Blue Heeler has a muscular, athletic body, built to work and be active. Their heads are large with medium-length snouts and vertical triangular ears with heavy fur on the inside. They have almond-shaped eyes with a blue or brown color and a black or brown nose.

Size

Blue Heelers are medium-sized dogs, and so are Huskies, so you can expect their mixed puppy to also be a medium-sized dog. On average, they can get around 17-25 inches tall, and 35-65 pounds heavy.

Coat And Color

Both the Husky and the Blue Heeler have a double coat, which is why their hybrid pup will also inherit this coat. The length of the coat can be shorter like a Blue Heeler, or longer like a Husky.

When it comes to colors, this dog’s coat can come in many varieties. Huskies come in a variety of colors, which this mix can inherit. Blue Heelers only come in a blue or red color. Auskies can be colored red, blue, black, white, gray, sable, brown, and more. They can also come in merle, agouti, mottled, and speckled patterns.

Temperament – Intelligent And Lively Dog

The main Blue Heeler Husky mix personality traits include intelligence and a hardworking attitude inherited from both parents. Even though they are smart and can learn many commands, they can act stubborn at times and need a persistent owner.

They are affectionate and loyal dogs that love to play with their family members. If left alone for too long, they can develop separation anxiety and become destructive.

Auskies can be friendly with new people due to their Husky parent, but they may also be very vigilant due to their Blue Heeler parent. Either way, they can make for great guard dogs and watchdogs.

Taking Care Of A Blue Heeler Siberian Husky Mix

Taking care of this hybrid breed will be similar to taking care of its parent breeds. You will need to provide proper canine nutrition, grooming, exercise, training techniques, and socialization methods to keep the dog healthy and happy.

Lifespan And Health

Blue Heelers live 12-16 years long, while Huskies live 12-14 years long. The average lifespan of their mixed breed will vary from around 11-15 years. It is a generally healthy dog with a few common diseases inherited from its parent breeds.

• Deafness – There are dogs that can be born deaf, and there are those that can become deaf due to other reasons. Dogs suffering from deafness will have a problem reacting to sounds. They may also have an unusual voice and bark excessively.
• Hip dysplasia – This is a musculoskeletal disease common in both parent breeds. It affects the ball and socket joint causing it to misalign. This leads to problems with walking and puts the dog at risk of developing arthritis in the future.
• Eye problems – Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease where the retina slowly degenerates and loses function. Cataracts is an eye disease where the lens of the eye becomes opaque. Both lead to progressive vision loss and even blindness.

Nutrition Tips

The Husky mixed with Blue Heeler requires around 2-3 cups of dog food daily. This should be split up into more meals throughout the day. Treats should only take up around 10% of the full diet.

Make sure you choose a company that sells high-quality dog food. It should be high in proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fatty acids. It should also be low in carbohydrates and artificial ingredients.

Supplements are also essential to a dog’s diet. Include stuff like fish oil, probiotics, chondroitin, and glucosamine to keep the dog healthy.

Grooming Tips

Because the length of the coat can vary, grooming a Blue Heeler Husky cross will also vary a little for every puppy. Its double coat should be brushed at least once a week to prevent shedding, or more often to prevent matting of the coat. Bathing should be done monthly, as bathing too often damages the skin and coat of the dog.

Besides this, the dog also requires to get its nails trimmed and ears cleaned regularly. It will also need regular teeth brushing to maintain its dental hygiene.

Exercise Requirements And Training Tips

These dogs are bred as working dogs and have a lot of energy to spend. On average, this dog would need around 1-2 hours of exercise every day. This should be split into more sessions during the day. Try to involve different exercises like walking, running, hiking, and playing games. Huskies can get dramatic if they don’t get enough exercise, so you can expect this behavior from the Ausky as well. Mental stimulation is also important.

Training this dog will be fun as it can learn a lot of commands due to its high intelligence. However, its stubborn streaks will require some persistence from the owner. Positive reinforcement and obedience training is also important.

Getting A Blue Heeler Husky Crossbreed Puppy

If you like how this hybrid breed sounds, you can get one by buying it from a breeder or adopting it from an animal rescue shelter.

Where To Buy One

Buying this designer dog will cost you anywhere from $600-$6000. Usually, puppies that have parents that won prizes in dog competitions will cost much more. 

Make sure you find a breeder that is reliable and gives you all the needed information and documentation about the dog. They should also allow you to visit the kennel and see if any genetic diseases are present. There are no specific breeders of Auskies, but you should search for breeders of the parent breeds. 

• Some Blue Heeler breeders include Ironclad Australian Cattle Dogs and Cobalt Kennels.
• Some Husky breeders include Karnovanda Kennels and Loyal Siberian Huskies.

Where To Adopt One

A cheaper way to get a Blue Heeler Husky crossbreed is to adopt it from a rescue organization. This is also a humane thing to do because you are giving a home to a puppy that really needs it. 

There are no rescue shelters that only have Auskies. However, you can usually find mixed breeds in rescue shelters specialized in the parent breeds.

• Some Blue Heeler rescue shelters include the Texas Cattle Dog Rescue and the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association.
• Some Husky rescue shelters include the Delaware Valley Siberian Husky Rescue, Inc. and the Free Spirit Siberian Rescue.

Final Thought About The Blue Heeler Husky Mix

Mixing a Siberian Husky and an Australian Cattle Dog will result in the Ausky. This hybrid breed inherits the muscular and athletic body of both parent breeds. It has the same hardworking attitude and needs to spend a lot of energy, otherwise, it becomes destructive.

Auskies have a double coat that tends to shed and requires regular grooming. They are intelligent dogs that love to learn but can get stubborn at times. It will take some persistence from the owner to properly train this dog.

If you want to have one of these loyal and affectionate dogs for yourself, you can get one by buying one from a breeder or dog adoption.

FAQ

Do Husky heelers shed?

Yes, Auskies will shed all throughout the year due to their double coat. This is because both parent breeds are also notorious shedders. This shedding will only intensify during the “coat-blowing” season.

Does The Blue Heeler Husky mix bark a lot?

Auskies can be considered to be medium-barking dogs. This is because they are a combination of the quiet Australian Cattle Dog and the notoriously loud Husky. But they may lean toward one or the other parent at times.

Can an Ausky be a good family dog?

Auskies can make for great family dogs due to their affectionate and loyal attitude. These dogs are highly energetic and playful which makes them great to play with kids. But they will still need some surveillance.