Blue heelers start to calm down when they reach the age of 2. Around 3-4 years of age is when they reach full maturity but remember that this will vary dramatically from dog to dog. They will start to relax naturally as they reach senior dog age and there are things you can do to help them calm down.
Is your Australian cattle dog bouncing off the walls and you’re wondering how long this will last? Is your blue heeler still very hyper even though he or she is getting older? Many pet parents wonder, “when do blue heelers calm down”?
Many Blue Heeler owners are learning to control their energetic behavior by practicing consistent obedience training, routine exercise, and other helpful methods to reduce their energy.
Blue Heelers have a history of being a high-energy breed. The Blue Heeler breed originated in Australia in the late 1800s, and they were used as herding dogs. One of the main reasons the Blue Heeler was a great herding dog is because of their resilience and high energy.
How Do You Get Your Blue Heeler to Calm Down?
It is important to know how and when do Blue Heelers calm down.
Attention
When your Australian Cattle Dog is acting calm, give your dog extra attention. When you give your dog love, attention, and affection while acting calm, it helps reinforce the calm behavior.
Your dog will eventually learn that you like it when they act calm, and they will realize you reward that behavior. It is important to remember that if you begin rewarding calm behavior as a puppy, your dog might be more likely to be a calm adult dog.
Routine Exercise
Implementing a basic exercise routine into your Blue Heeler’s daily life is a great way to help your dog be less hyperactive. You can typically allow your dog to exercise for five minutes every month, twice a day. So if you have a six-month-old puppy, they can exercise for thirty minutes twice a day.
If you have a two-year-old dog, he or she can exercise for 120 minutes twice a day. Although exercise is helpful for most dogs to maintain a calmer mentality, you should always consult your dog’s vet first to ensure it is healthy for your dog. To help your dog let out some energy, you can do exercises like hiking, fetch, jogging, running, flirt poles, and chasing your dog.
Jogging and running are only safe for adult dogs and not puppies. If you are looking for ways to exercise your dog indoors, you can have your dog run on a treadmill, walk up and down the stairs, set up an obstacle course, or play hide and seek.
Calming Aid
Another great way to help your dog calm down is by giving them a calming aid, like Harmony. Harmony is a non-drowsy calming supplement that helps promote a sense of calm for your dog. Your dog should feel calmer, less stressed, and more relaxed in less than 90 minutes. Harmony is made from nootropics, adaptogens, and other clinically proven ingredients.
It comes in packages for one-time use and is excellent to bring with you when you are on the go. You should only give your dog this calming aid if your pup is over one year old. You can purchase Harmony in three different sizes. You can buy one box with 30 packs, two boxes with 60 packs, or three with 90 packs.
Mental Stimulation
When you keep your dog’s mind stimulated, you can help reduce the excess energy. Certain playtime activities like fetch, running through an obstacle course, or having your dog look for a hidden toy are excellent ways to stimulate your pup’s mind and release excess energy.
The great thing about mental stimulation activities is that you control movements. If your dog starts getting too hyper throughout the activity, you can end the game. This is a gentle way to reinforce calm behavior in your dog. Your Blue Heeler will eventually realize that when they calm down, the game can continue. If they get carried away, the game ends.
Consistent Obedience Training Early
Consistent obedience training early on in your Australian Cattle Dog’s life is essential when controlling your dog’s hyperactivity. When beginning obedience training for your dog, you will need to have a few items on hand. These items include a leash, collar or harness, and training treats.
Most dogs, Blue Heelers included, typically respond positively to praise and treats. Training sessions with your dog should last between 10 and 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times per day.
This is especially important if you are training a puppy since they are more hyper than adult dogs and have a shorter attention span. Longer training sessions might cause adult dogs to become bored or uninterested.
Timeline of Typical Australian Cattle Dog Development
Birth to Two Weeks
When Blue Heelers enter the world, they cannot care for themselves. They cannot see or hear, relying on their mother for nourishment and warmth. You can expect a lot of sleep at this age.
Three to Twelve Weeks
Your Australian Cattle Dog will begin to develop stronger muscles at this age. This stage in your Australian Cattle Dog’s life will likely be fun for you since this is when your puppy will be super playful.
Your pup will begin to explore its surroundings and learn to empty both its bladder and bowels. You can expect lots of mischief from your puppy at this stage in their life. Your puppy will weigh somewhere between 12 and 15 pounds at this point.
Four to Six Months
This is when your Blue Heeler will begin to gain more weight and muscle, as they are growing quickly during this time. This is an excellent time for you to start training your puppy, as it becomes more challenging to do once they get older.
You will need to establish yourself as the leading authority in its life to train your dog correctly. You can still expect a lot of energy from your dog at this age, and they will weigh between 15 and 26 pounds.
Seven to Nine Months
At this age in your Australian Cattle Dog’s life, they will begin showing early signs of puberty. Female dogs will start to experience a heat cycle, and male dogs will be able to produce viable sperm.
You will need to monitor your dog closely during this time, as they might wander off to search for a mating partner. Your dog will have high energy at this stage, but it can be controlled through daily exercise and obedience training.
Your pup will weigh between 25 and 31 pounds. Their final height should be reached by this point, which is 18 to 20 inches high for males and 17 to 19 inches tall for females.
Ten to Twelve Months
Between ten to twelve months is when the introduction of sexual hormones in your dog’s body can affect their growth, especially for male dogs. You might notice that your Blue Heeler’s growth becomes disrupted.
The growth disruption is because of the hormones in your dog and if they are neutered or spayed during this time. Since Australian Cattle Dogs are a medium-sized dog breed, their pace of growth naturally slows down at this point; During this age, your Blue Heeler will weigh somewhere between 28 and 35 pounds.
Adult
What age does a Blue Heeler calm down? They should begin to start calming down at this age. When your Blue Heeler reaches adulthood, they will likely be compact, muscular, and have a well-balanced physique. Most Australian cattle dogs are still growing at this age and can gain muscle until they are about two years of age.
As long as you keep up with the daily exercise routine, consistent obedience training, and promote positive behavior, your dog’s behavior will be acceptable. Your adult Blue Heeler will weigh between 30 and 45 pounds on average.
How Hyper Are Blue Heelers Compared to Other Dog Breeds?
Are Australian Cattle Dogs hyper compared to other dogs? Yes. However, the Blue Heeler breed is about even with hyperactivity with many other breeds. Labrador Retrievers are energetic dogs and need about an hour of exercise daily.
Both Blue Heelers and Labs are intelligent and require lots of activity and positive reinforcement to achieve a calm mentality. Some other breeds that are similar to the Blue Heeler’s hyperactivity are:
- Border Collies
- Australian Shepherds
- Basenji Dogs
- Dalmatians
- Siberian Huskies,
- German Shepherds,
- Jack Russel Terriers
- Labrador Retrievers
- Chihuahuas
- Miniature Pinschers
- Beagles
- Poodles
- Vizsla Dogs
- Labradoodles
- Boston Terriers
- Maltese
- Boxers
- Brittany Spaniels
- Belgian Malinois
- German Shorthaired Pointers
Do Australian Cattle Dogs Get Calmer With Age?
Blue Heelers typically become calmer when they reach about 18 months of age. However, it is natural to be high energy as an adult dog due to their breed. Even when your Australian Cattle Dog gets older, you should still do activities with your dog to direct their energy toward exercise and games.
Do Cattle Dogs Calm Down After Being Neutered/Spayed?
Blue Heelers typically become a little calmer after being neutered or spayed. You can expect age-appropriate behavior in your dog after they have this surgery. Since the Blue Heeler is already a high-energy dog breed, you can still expect your dog to have lots of energy, but not as much as before the surgery.
Why Does My Blue Heeler Puppy Whine So Much?
Blue Heeler puppies typically whine a lot if they don’t get enough exercise. If your Blue Heeler puppy doesn’t get enough exercise, they have excess energy to let out. A build-up of extra energy will cause your Blue Heeler puppy to be destructive and whine.
Why Do Blue Heelers Have Anxiety?
Blue Heelers tend to have anxiety because of separation anxiety. They love to bond with their owners and might become sad when left alone. Other reasons your Blue Heeler can have anxiety include health issues, lack of exercise, and stress due to an environmental change.
Can Blue Heelers Be Left Alone?
Blue Heelers can certainly be left alone for a few hours. However, you should not leave them alone for an extended period. Blue Heelers often experience separation anxiety when they are away from their owners for a long time and will crave attention. If your Blue Heeler is away from you for too long, they might become unhappy and destructive.
Are Blue Heelers Easy to Train?
Blue Heelers are easy to train because they are brilliant and are usually eager to please their owners. If you consistently train your dog with positive reinforcements, your Blue Heeler will quickly be able to learn simple commands.
Housetraining can be difficult with this breed since they are typically very attached to their owners. However, housetraining can be done if you stay consistent.
Do Blue Heelers Ever Stop Biting?
It is common for Blue Heelers to bite due to their ancestry. Your Blue Heeler will eventually learn to stop biting if you are determined to teach them and have patience.
This breed is brilliant, so you need to outsmart them. You can train your puppy to mouth gently by practicing caution when biting toys or your hand. Reward your dog by giving him a treat when they practice gentle biting.
Is Your Blue Heeler Still Very Hyper Even at an Old Age?
Blue Heelers, also known as Australian Cattle Dogs, typically calm down by the time they are between four and six years old. However, you can help your blue heeler achieve a more mature mentality by implementing regular exercise into their life and staying consistent with obedience training.
Blue Heelers are one of the most energetic dog breeds but are also one of the most intelligent. Many Blue Heelers still act like puppies even though they have reached full maturity, mostly because of their history. Blue Heelers were originally bred to move livestock over long distances, which contributes to their natural energetic energy.
Blue Heelers are a cross between domestic dogs, like the Collie, and the wild Dingo which isn’t close to being domesticated. If your Blue Heeler is still hyperactive at an old age, try incorporating a regular exercise routine and training program into its life to help your dog become calmer and better behaved.
Conclusion
When do blue heelers calm down? Blue Heelers typically calm down by the time they are an adult but will always be a high-energy breed.
As long as you practice consistent obedience training, daily exercise, mental stimulation and consider giving calming aids to your dog, you should notice a difference in their energetic behavior over time. Even though Blue Heelers have a high amount of energy, they are loving and friendly pets that anyone would be lucky to have.
