If you’re on the hunt for an active, go-anywhere dog who’s also a quick study, consider one of the many types of heelers and related herding breeds. These small and medium-sized pups never seem to run out of battery, but after getting in some exercise or a training session, they’ll gladly snuggle with you on the sofa or take a snooze in a sunbeam. These loyal, hard-working dogs make great companion animals for active families.
If you think one of these pups might mesh well with your crew, here are 12 types of heelers and similar dog breeds.
Heeler Breed Characteristics
All dogs are individuals, with their own distinctive personalities. But, generally speaking, heelers and related breeds tend to have a few traits in common. For starters, they’re usually highly intelligent and can master new tricks and commands in a flash. They’re also energetic and need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and well-behaved. These pooches are also loyal, affectionate, and devoted to their humans.
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Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog)
Marco Victervo / Getty Images
Blue heelers are loyal, high-energy, herding dogs who were originally developed in Australia during the 19th century to help out around farms and ranches. These days, some Australian cattle dogs still have jobs—but others are enjoying life as family pets. Because of their tireless work ethic, blue heelers thrive in households that can give them lots of outlets for exercise—daily walks and playtime at a minimum but, ideally, also running, hiking, canine sports, and other activities that let them burn off their nearly boundless energy.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 17 to 20 inches
WEIGHT: 35 to 50 pounds
COAT: Dense double coat
COAT COLOR: Blue or red in mottled or speckled patterns
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 16 years
TEMPERAMENT: Loyal, active, intelligent
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Australia
02 of 12Texas Heeler
Pimmimemom / Adobe Stock
Developed in the Lone Star State in the 1970s, Texas heelers are a cross between an Australian shepherd and an Australian cattle dog. Like its two parent breeds, the Texas heeler, is highly energetic and intelligent. This pup thrives when she has a specific job to do—even if it’s something simply like keeping tabs on the household cats. Texas heelers are relatively easy to train, but their herding and watchdog instincts are strong. If you have kids at home, keep an eye out for herding and nipping. Use positive reinforcement training techniques to promote good behaviors.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Working
HEIGHT: 17-22 inches
WEIGHT: 25-50 pounds
COAT: Short to medium-length coat, smooth and soft fur
COAT COLOR: Colors include black, blue merle, or blue ticked, with the possibility for white or tan trim on feet and legs
LIFE SPAN: 12-15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, loyal, bold, active, playful, bright, fearless
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: United States
03 of 12Lancashire Heeler
Sheryl Bradbury
Lancashire heelers are the new kids on the block: This petite-but-hardy breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in January 2024. These dapper, short-legged pups are the smallest heeler breed available, typically weighing less than 20 pounds. Their go-go-go, up-for-anything personalities make them a winning choice for active families. Lancashire heelers also love participating in dog sports, from dock diving and agility to obedience and herding. After a day of adventuring, they’ll happily curl up on the couch next to you at night.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 10 to 12 inches
WEIGHT: 9 to 17 pounds
COAT: Short double coat
COAT COLOR: Black and tan or liver and tan
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Affectionate, loyal, intelligent, playful
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: England
04 of 12Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog (Stumpy)
Profile of an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Getty Images/phramedau
Australian stumpy tail cattle dogs may look like blue heelers who had their tails docked. But these pups—affectionately nicknamed “stumpies”—are actually a separate breed. Australian stumpy tail cattle dogs are typically born with their short tails, and they tend to have longer legs. They are, however, similar to their blue heeler cousins in terms of temperament: They have tons of energy, they’re super smart, and they like to have jobs.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 17-20 inches
WEIGHT: 32-45 pounds
COAT: Short
COAT COLORS: Blue or red, with mottling or speckling
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Energetic, loyal, independent
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Australia
Continue to 5 of 12 below05 of 12Labraheeler
Travis Modisette
Labraheelers are hybrid dogs that combine the best traits of the Labrador retriever and the Australian cattle dog. They’re goofy and good-natured like labs, while also being active and brainy like blue heelers. You might have a tough time finding a labraheeler to bring home, as this designer breed is relatively new and there aren’t many breeders out there. But keep an eye out for one to adopt at your local animal shelter—you may get lucky.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Designer
HEIGHT: 41 to 65 inches
WEIGHT: 18 to 20 pounds
COAT: Thick, medium length
COAT COLOR: Any and all
LIFE SPAN: 10 to 12 years
TEMPERAMENT: Sweet, energetic, happy, playful
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Unknown
06 of 12Norwegian Buhund
Anwar Sumar / 500px
Hailing from Norway, the Norwegian Buhund is a spunky, medium-sized herding dog with thick fur that can withstand cold and snow. These dogs are busy bees who need lots of physical and mental stimulation, such as daily jogs, food puzzles, canine sports, and games like hide and seek. They’re fairly low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, but they do blow their coats twice a year—so prepare to invest in a pet-friendly vacuum cleaner.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 16 to 18.5 inches
WEIGHT: 26 to 40 pounds
COAT: Double coat with a thick outer coat and a soft undercoat
COAT COLOR: Wheaten or black
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, confident, friendly, affectionate, courageous
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Norway
07 of 12Appenzeller Sennenhund
Vincent Scherer / Getty Images
The origins of this breed are a bit murky—and they remain fairly rare around the world to this day. But, around the mid-1800s, Appenzeller Sennenhunds started helping out around farms in Switzerland. These hard-working pooches have a muscular, medium-sized build with tri-color fur (black, white, and brown) that grows in a similar pattern to Greater Swiss mountain dogs and Bernese mountain dogs. Because of their watchdog tendencies and their high exercise needs, they’re not well-suited for life in an apartment or condo.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 19 to 22 inches
WEIGHT: 48 to 70 pounds
COAT: Short, smooth double coat
COAT COLOR: Black, brown, and white
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Bright, loyal, lively
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Switzerland
08 of 12Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Daniel Stockman/Wikimedia Commons
Beloved by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Pembroke Welsh Corgis—or just corgis, for short—are instantly recognized pups. These short, stock pups have long bodies, pointy ears, and stubby tails—and they nearly always look like they’re smiling. Corgis may look demure, but these confident dogs can be a bit of a handful, so they need an owner who’s willing to put in the time required to train, socialize, and exercise them. If you’re considering adding a corgi to your family, start your research with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 10 to 12 inches
WEIGHT: 24 to 30 pounds
COAT: Medium-length double coat
COAT COLOR: Black and tan, red, sable, or fawn, often with white markings
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 13 years
TEMPERAMENT: Playful, active, social, protective
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Wales
Continue to 9 of 12 below09 of 12Bohemian Shepherd
Zdenek and Susanne Rokos
Originally developed in the Czech Republic, Bohemian shepherds are still fairly uncommon in the United States. (And if you do get lucky enough to spot one, you might just mistake her for a German shepherd, as they have a similar aesthetic.) These smart, industrious pups, also known as the Chodský Pes, benefit from consistent training sessions, lots of mental stimulation, and regular exercise. If you need a long-distance hiking buddy, this dog is for you.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 10 to 22 inches
WEIGHT: 37 to 60 pounds
COAT: Straight or wavy, medium-length double coat
COAT COLOR: Black and tan
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Brainy, calm, active, brave
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Czech Republic
10 of 12Australian Kelpie
Tara Gregg EyeEm / Getty Images
Bred to help round up sheep and cattle in the Land Down Under, Australian kelpies are eager beavers who love to be active. These alert, intelligent, pups are devoted to their human family members and will work tirelessly on their behalf, whether that’s managing livestock, pulling sleds, or performing search and rescue missions. Australian kelpies are gentle and good with kids, but they need lots of exercise to keep from becoming bored (and potentially destructive).
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder
WEIGHT: 30 to 45 pounds
COAT: Short, straight, weather-resistant
COAT COLOR: Black; black and tan; blue (gray); blue and tan; red; red and tan; tan
LIFE SPAN: 10 to 13 years
TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, eager, energetic, loyal, alert, friendly
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Australia
11 of 12Australian Shepherd (Aussie)
Tara Gregg / EyeEm / Getty Images
Australian shepherds—or Aussies for short—are tough, clever dogs who won’t shy away from a challenge. Beloved by cowboys in the American West, Australian shepherds are charismatic rodeo performers who can charm a crowd. At home, these exuberant pups make ideal companions for active families who love to run, hike, throw a frisbee around, and play in the backyard. These medium-sized pooches also excel at canine sports, search and rescue work, and even drug detection.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 18 to 23 inches
WEIGHT: 40 to 65 pounds
COAT: Medium double coat
COAT COLOR: Blue merle, red merle, black, or red, often with white and tan markings
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Energetic, bright, outgoing
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: United States
12 of 12Border Collie
Pixabay/mandarinblues
The border collie is an iconic herding dog who comes from Scotland. These speedy, whip-smart dogs are loyal companions who thrive when they have plenty of room to roam—a ranch or single-family home with some acreage, versus a condo or an apartment. And, like other herding dogs, they need to stay busy or they may develop some less-than-desirable habits (like barking, chasing cars, or chewing). Since they’re so brainy, border collies pick up new skills quickly and easily—and you can likely work up to some pretty complicated tricks.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Herding
HEIGHT: 18 to 22 inches
WEIGHT: 28 to 48 pounds
COAT: Medium-length double coat, with a coarse outer coat and soft undercoat
COAT COLOR: Black, blue, blue merle, brindle, gold, lilac, red, or red merle, often with white markings
LIFE SPAN: 10 to 17 years
TEMPERAMENT: Keen, active, smart, agile, alert, athletic
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: Scotland
By Diana
