Greek Harehound vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison

Greek Harehound vs Blue Healer - Breed ComparisonGreek Harehound is originated from Greece but Blue Healer is originated from Australia. Both Greek Harehound and Blue Healer are having almost same height. Both Greek Harehound and Blue Healer are having almost same weight. Greek Harehound may live 3 years less than Blue Healer. Both Greek Harehound and Blue Healer has almost same litter size. Both Greek Harehound and Blue Healer requires Low maintenance.

History

greek harehound - historyKnown also as the Hellenic Hound, the Greek Harehound is an ancient breed, and it is a dog which has come down through the ages with very little change to the way he looks.

The ancestors of the Greek Harehound go back thousands of years and are believed to be the ancient ‘Laconikoi’ dogs of the Peloponnese.

In was in 1996 that the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the Hellenic Hound. The Greek Harehound was also recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.

blue healer - historyIt was in 1802 that George Hall arrived in New South Wales, establishing 2 cattle stations. He had a problem – getting his thousands of cattle to the Sydney markets. He began looking at the prospect of a droving dog and imported a number of dogs of which a blue mottled dog emerged.

The dogs were crossed with dingoes and by 1840 the Halls Heelers were used by the Halls. However with the death of one of the Halls, their cattle stations went to action and the dogs, the Halls Heelers became available.

The dogs attracted attention, and the term ‘Australian Cattle Dog’ was adopted. The name referred to those dogs coming from Thomas Hall's ‘Heelers’. There have been many arguments about the origin of the breed, but the red or blue offspring known as Hall's Heelers were proven cattle drovers, and with further breeding experiments which included the Australian Kelpie, dingoes and the Dalmation, by 1893, the tough, robust working breed known as the Blue Heeler or the Australian Cattle Dog came about.

Description

greek harehound puppy - descriptionThese dogs have a short, dense coat which is black and tan in color. He is a medium sized, well proportioned, deep chested dog standing at roughly 47 – 55cm in height and weighing between 17–20kg.

His legs are straight, well boned and strong. The skull of the dog is fairly flat, the eyes are brown while the ears are set high and are floppy. The tail is long, tapering down to a tip.

Temperament:

Lively and outgoing, the Greek Harehound is a skilled, brave hunter. These are active dogs and will require quite a bit of exercise if you get one as a pet. He becomes devoted to his owner, making a good, all-round family pet.

He has always been used in the past to hunt in packs so he gets on well with any other dogs in the family.

As a scenthound, the Greek Harehound is an independent, stubborn, strong-willed dog that will respond well to a firm, strong owner. His stubborn, strong-willed nature means it will be important to have him trained and socialized so that he becomes a well-rounded, obedient pet.

If you're looking for a true around-the-house family pet, this isn't the ideal choice as he is essentially a hunting dog, wanting to be running off on a hunt as opposed to lying quietly indoors. He is therefore better suited to life in the country than being cooped up in a small city property.

blue healer puppy - descriptionBlue Heelers are medium-sized, sturdy, compact dogs who are somewhat longer than tall. The female Blue Heeler measures roughly 43–48cm at the withers, while the male measures about 46–51cm. If your Blue Heeler is in tip top condition, he’ll weigh about 15 to 22 kilograms. They are muscular with pointed, erect ears, dark eyes and long tails which are mostly hanging downwards. Their dense coats are blue- or red speckled and sometimes with tan markings.

The Blue Heeler is a ball of energy and he is clever too. You won’t find him sitting around for too long, and if there is sign of a walk or a ball game, he’s in! He is an independent dog, and although he makes a wonderful family pet, he tends to attach himself to that one special person in his life. He is a natural watchdog and protector of his human family.

Characteristics

greek harehound dog - characteristicsFast, courageous, smart, playful, independent and strong willed, the Greek Harehound is a slow maturing breed and he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and not so stubborn.

Once trained he becomes a truly wonderful companion, being affectionate, loyal and outgoing. He makes a good friend of children too.

He is friendly and non-aggressive, though he still makes a good watchdog. He is a low maintenance pet too, and even though he is essentially a hunting dog, he can make anyone a splendid pet.

blue healer dog - characteristicsTraining and socializing of your Blue Heeler will ensure that your dog does what you want him to. The Blue Heeler is an intelligent, responsive dog and training can benefit him, turning him into an outstanding family pet, good with children and other pets in the home.

He is a playful, affectionate pet who doesn’t take easily to strangers, and this is what makes him such an excellent guard dog.

Your Blue Heeler is not an apartment dog as he requires a lot of exercise, and cooping him indoors for too long with nothing to do can lead to destructive behavior.

Head-strong, independent and robust, your Blue Heeler will need a firm owner who is boss. Add to the firm owner a lot of love and care, and you’ll have a devoted friend.

Health Problems

greek harehound puppies - health problemsThe Greek Harehound is a healthy dog breed with no particular genetic defects. But like other dogs with floppy ears, they are more prone to infections and the insides of the ears will need to be cleaned frequently. Always do this with the utmost care to avoid damaging your pet's ears.

He is a deep chested dog and this puts him at risk of gastric dilation and volvulus which is commonly referred to as bloat. Its a life threatening health issue where the stomach can twist. The stomach is sealed off as a result and gas builds up. The dog can go into organ failure.

blue healer puppies - health problemsAustralian cattle dogs are healthy and can live up to 15 years of age, but even so there are some genetic conditions that you will need to be aware of following

Eye issues which includes progressive retinal atrophy – this disease is an inherited disease of the retina of the eye where the rod cells are destined to die. Fortunately it is not painful for the dog. There are different types of inherited retinal degenerative diseases in dogs but going into detail with them is beyond the scope of this article. For more information you can chat to your vet.

Recessive piebald elleles - the Blue Heeler has recessive piebald alleles which can produce white in the skin and coat and which is linked to congenital hereditary deafness.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

greek harehound dogs - caringThe Greek Harehound is happiest when he senses he is free to follow scents and run. This is why this particular dog breed isn’t suited for life in the city where he has a small garden. He requires large pieces of ground to run free. If you own one of these dogs, he should be taken on daily walks and be involved in lots of sporting activities and games. If you’re a jogger or cyclist, this dog will be thrilled to join you.

Grooming:

Dog owners love that this dog is a low maintenance breed. The short coat simply requires a brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to also keep his coat shiny and healthy.

Vaccinations:

Every new puppy will require a series of vaccinations in his first year to make sure he doesn't develop some of the serious dog diseases there are such as distemper, parvo-virus and rabies among others.

Diet:

Dogs are carnivores and without human interference have always eaten fresh meat in the wilds. For convenience many people feed their dogs commercially manufactured food.

There are some excellent brands. Choose the best one for your pet and mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked rice, chicken and vegetables.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide Plenty of Exercise

blue healer dogs - caringRemember that your Blue Heeler was once a full time cattle dog where he used to become totally and utterly exhausted from herding cattle. This is what he loved – the activity. If you have a Blue Heeler, you will need to provide him with plenty of exercise.

If you live on a farm, your Blue Heeler will be in his element because he can run, walk and swim to his heart’s content. If you keep your Blue Heeler in your back garden, you will need to provide him with ball games, rope games, long walks, running on a leash as you cycle and other activities.

Grooming

Your Blue Heeler has a short, weather-resistant double coat. He’s not a heavy shedder, but he will have his share of seasonal shedding, so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of brushing him at least twice a week. This will get rid of all those loose hairs and keep his skin healthy by getting the blood flowing and distributing his natural oils.

Feeding

Giving the best dog food for your Blue Heeler will come from either your home made food or a top quality commercially manufactured dog food. He is such a high energy dog, that your veterinarian can advise you on a dog food specially designed for high energy breeds.

These foods are well balanced and are enriched with amino acids and vitamins, promoting healthy bones and joints. Remember to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet and to ensure a constant source of cool, fresh water.

General care

Ensure your Blue Heeler’s ongoing health by paying attention to ears, nails and teeth.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Greece
Australia
Height Male:
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
15 - 22 kg
33 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
47 - 20 kg
103 - 45 pounds
13 - 22 kg
28 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
1 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Hellenic Hound
ACD, Cattle Dog, Red Heeler, Queensland Heeler
Colors Available:
Black with tan markings
Blue mottled, Red mottled
Coat:
Short and smooth
short and dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  2. Collie vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  3. Dutch Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  4. Blue Healer vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  5. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  6. Blue Healer vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Blue Healer vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  8. Blue Healer vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  9. Blue Healer vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  10. Blue Healer vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  11. Blue Healer vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  12. Blue Healer vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  13. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  14. Blue Healer vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  16. English Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  17. Catahoula Cur vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  18. Catalan Sheepdog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  19. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  20. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  21. Queensland Heeler vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  22. German Coolie vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  23. Bohemian Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  24. Croatian Sheepdog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  25. Red Heeler vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  26. Sakhalin Husky vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Water Dog vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  28. Puli vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  29. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  30. McNab vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  31. Porcelaine vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  32. Griffon Nivernais vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  33. Hokkaido vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  34. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  35. Pumi vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  36. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  37. Istrian Sheepdog vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  38. Jamthund vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  39. Karelian Bear Dog vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  40. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  41. Kintamani vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  42. Osterreichischer Kurzhaariger Pinscher vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  43. Russo-European Laika vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  44. Ryukyu Inu vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison
  45. Greek Harehound vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Greek Harehound vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  47. Greek Harehound vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  48. Greek Harehound vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  49. Greek Harehound vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  50. Greek Harehound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds