If you are an avid dog lover and have an exceptional liking for the Australian Cattle Dog and also live alone in the cities of Sydney or Melbourne, then a guaranteed discountenance dilemma may cloud your thoughts.
You are left wondering if you could even consider the thought of adopting a blue heeler in an apartment without causing any disturbances!
You can keep your blue heeler in an apartment if the physical activity needs and mental stimulation of the blue heeler can be achieved. If you cannot commit to this, it’s best not to keep a blue heeler in an apartment.
Let’s discuss some key points to consider about a blue heeler living in an apartment.
Can You Keep a Blue Heeler in an Apartment?
Well, of course, you can!
Blue Heelers can be kept as house dogs or live in an apartment so long as both physical and mental needs are taken care of – by this we mean, stimulation is mandatory.
This also means that the owner will have to ‘really work hard and take time out for the pup. This may be a reason why a lot of people don’t recommend adopting one in their apartments!
However, if you are the type of person who loves a challenge – then here are some tips and tricks to help keep your pup busy in the apartment!
Tips for Keeping a Blue Heeler in Your Apartment
1. Exercise or Walk Your Dog Daily
The biggest question you are left wondering at the end of the day is ‘are blue heelers good apartment dogs?’ – and although they can certainly turn out to be decent apartment pooches, great care needs to be taken to keep them busy, happy, and destructive-free!
One of the best ways to ensure this is to take your pup out on walks on a daily – thus allowing plenty of room for exercise. This not only is a great way to bond, but it also gives your Blue Heeler the chance to get to know the neighborhood better!
Make sure your dog becomes aware of the regular sounds – for example, motorcycles may startle them, so it’s best to get them used to environmental sounds to eliminate any fears.
SEE ALSO: Everything You Need to Know About Training a Blue Heeler: Important Facts about Them
2. Go to the Park or Beach at Least Once Daily
There is an abundance of parks, and beaches – which tend to be dog-friendly. So why not take your pooch for some nice outdoorsy fun?
If you didn’t already know – they love outdoor spaces as their energy builds up and they cannot stay cooped up in an apartment for too long. Unless you don’t mind a few of your proper china plates broken into a million pieces!
Always keep your pup busy and occupied, and take them for outdoor time because they love it! Also, you must be aware that every dog needs leash-off time when they can run about, play ball, catch frisbees, play fetch, and just downright relax!
The best part is that, as the dog parent, you would get first-hand experience without missing out on the fun!
3. Give Your Dog Tons of Toys
Did you know that Blue heelers tend to get bored a little easier? Their attention span is probably not that high either, so they need a lot of toys – so make sure you are picky about your selection keeping this in mind!
Get them the usual chew toys, but add some menu specials like puzzle toys, tug toys, etc.
For the best outcome, spend a few extra bucks and invest in a good toy – because it is a fact that your Blue heeler will be a rough pup but it would be difficult to destroy a durable quality toy.
With that being said, you must remember that this is not an exhaustive list – there are plenty of ways to take care of your heeler and give them all the exercises they need.
Why Is It Important to Exercise Your Heeler?
All dogs need exercise – and your Blue heeler is not an exception.
That’s great but, how many hours of exercise are we looking at? A good 1-2 hours daily is the best exercise time for your pooch.
- Exercising your blue heeler will give them an outlet for their energetic bubble and allow them enough space and time to understand that they just need an outlet.
- A dog that is constantly indoors with little or no exercise is never happy, and it challenges its development adversely in the long run.
- Doing basic things like walking, going on a run, playing fetch, and indoor exercises like stair exercises, treadmill, and indoor tug of war are some stimulators that allow your blue heeler’s energy to have an outlet – thus calming them down in the long run.
- Mental and physical exertion will tire them out, and eventually, they will pipe down, take a nap and have doggie dreams about doggie treats!
- A daily dose of exercise will prevent your heeler from destructive behavior such as nuisance barking and digging.
READ MORE: Queensland Heeler: Important Facts and the Differences vs. Blue Heeler
How to Exercise Your Blue Heeler?
The Australian Cattle dog aka Blue Heeler has been bred to work hard for several eons – and this makes them a rather intelligent dog with high levels of energy.
And just like any other breed, this one requires a lot of exercises – so dog moms, bring your sweat game on because these pups love to exercise!
Some of the main exercises that can prove beneficial for your pooch include:
1. Daily Walks
Daily Walks are a must if you want to consider keeping a blue heeler because these dogs are hardcore workers and they do not take lightly a basic walk in the park.
We’re talking about hiking, a good jog lasting for 15 minutes, and other such higher-level activities. If you are simply going on a walk, make sure that it doesn’t last less than 40 minutes because this is the bare minimum.
It shouldn’t be a problem because these breeds are normally obedient and react to their name being called, or other basic commands.
2. Physical Exertion
Physical exertion is a necessity when you have an energetic pooch like the Blue heeler – so make sure, you take out enough time and give yourselves enough physical exertion!
Some recommended activities include frisbee toss, fetch, jolly ball, and even games like tug of war, swimming, stairs exercise, etc.
You see, it’s not just about releasing their pent-up energy that needs importance, but it’s also the fact that your dog needs enjoyment and enrichment – and what better way to do it than with their owner?
3. Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is another important aspect when considering exercises – this is because these overly energetic pooches need an outlet for their minds just like humans need the same!
The sad thing is that, if you don’t provide them with the opportunity to release stimulation, they might find a way to do it themselves – and it may come with destruction or bad behavior like excessive barking.
Mental exercises like puzzle toys, scenting, nose games, chew toys, learning how to react to simple words, etc. are some healthy ways to mentally stimulate your pooch most positively!
LEARN MORE: Why Does Your Blue Heeler Follow You Everywhere? Here are the Top 10 Reasons!
Final Thoughts
Blue heelers generally have a friendly demeanor – and this makes them decent indoor or apartment pets.
However, as you have understood – professional training is a must for this breed if you want to keep them happy and away from destruction in your house.
Great care is needed for this highly intelligent breed, and with the help of professional training they might understand ‘boundaries’.
If you are considering adoption, do make sure that you have had prior experience with a pet, as blue heelers do not make an ideal ‘first pet’.
Thus, strong leadership skills are needed to train this go-getter breed and give them an enriching life filled with exercises, lots of chew toys, belly rubs, and pup-treats!
Related Questions
Is a Blue Heeler a Good Indoor Dog?
Well to answer your question – yes, blue heelers are good indoor dogs. However, you must note that we don’t mean an indoor dog like your regular Retriever or Beagle that will enjoy watching a dog show on Netflix.
This breed can ‘definitely stay indoors, provided it gets the allotted time outdoors to do outdoorsy stuff otherwise, things may not look very nice.
So if you can take your dog outdoors for an hour daily, then blue heelers certainly prove to be a great indoor dog.
However, if you cannot manage an allotted outdoor time with your pooch, it won’t be fair on your part to adopt in your apartment.
Do Blue Heelers Need a Lot of Space?
Essentially, most dogs need a little space – but with blue heelers that have been bred to work hard and herd cattle, this breed does certainly require quite a large amount of space because a smaller space might make them feel confined.
And thus, they may show their dislike by barking, jumping and occasionally breaking things by accident, disturbing your neighbors, etc.
If you have a kid, it may not be the best idea to adopt a blue heeler until the space allotment is sorted out.
This breed needs a lot of care and attention, just like it needs ample room for leg space – so make sure that you have all this figured out before bringing a puppy into your apartment.
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