Tiny Texas Heeler Dog Breed

The parent breeds of the Tiny Texas Heeler are ranch and herding dogs whose somewhat small size and other features make them perfect for the hard work they're bred to perform. These tiny hybrid dogs, however, are made more for companionship and less-dangerous tasks. They may be difficult for first-time dog owners as they require a lot of attention, activity, and patience. They'll be fine around kids so long as the kids expect to be literally pushed around at times. Non-canine pets may not be so appreciative of this little Heeler's behavior.

Here are some other facts regarding the Mini Texas Heeler:

This popular mixed breed dog is small, scrappy, and sharp. They are ready to work at a very early age, but these smaller versions of the typical ranch dog may be a bit too small to be allowed to do hard work. In any case, until they are at least one year old, they should not be exercised hard or allowed to do strenuous tasks.

The intelligence of this dog is perfectly suited to the characteristics that the two parent breeds will give the Tiny Texas Heeler. These very small dogs will be lacking in strength, but they are said to be easily trained to understand their "tiny" profile.

One thing that you will notice very early on is this dog's desire to herd anything that moves, appears out of place, or is just there. They are also prone to communicating verbally when herding, so you'll want to manage their barking in a gentle manner and from an early age. While this mini Heeler mix is better off herding gerbils than sheep, you might find them also "nosing" your socks, or dust bunnies, or a sleeping cat into place!

Despite their small size, the average Tiny Texas Heeler will need a lot of carefully supervised activity, both physical and mental, to make sure they don't get anxious, destructive, or loud.

Breeding a Tiny Texas Heeler back to a miniature ACD or Aussie Shepherd will create an even smaller Mini Aussie Blue Heeler mix, so there are the typical generational dogs (formally known as F1, F1b, etc., depending on what dogs were mated) produced.

There is not much in the way of varieties regarding this version save for coat colors and styles. Depending on how much of which parent is inherited, your Tiny Texas Heeler might have either a smooth, short coat, or he could have medium-length, wiry or rough hair. Typical colors range from black, to blue, to tan. There are also various markings and shades such as merle, ticked, and white. The Blue Heeler Mini Aussie mix is often the color variation that is most highly sought.

The Tiny Texas Heeler, which is less a formal name than a "pet" name for this lapdog-sized version of the Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) and Australian Shepherd cross, is itself a sort of variation of the Texas Heeler. Because of this, there tends to be less interest in various sizes even though there is a demand for an ever-smaller Mini Aussie Heeler mix.

There are not too many health concern regarding the Tiny Texas Heeler. This is a small dog, however, and so you must be careful around them as well as make sure they are not over-exerted. Like their Blue Heeler parent (also called the Aussie Cattle Dog), a merle coat means they have a higher chance for deafness. This can lead to injuries if you are not aware of the condition.

Here is a basic list of the health problems that can occur with Tiny Texas Heelers:

• Epilepsy
• Cataracts
• Distichiasis
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
• Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

The average life expectancy of this little hybrid dog is about 13 to 15 years.