Related: 17 Cattle Dog Breeds That Can Round Up the Herd in a Flash To be clear, there's no Australian cattle dog vs. blue heeler ... witnesses Heeler tomfoolery. Winnie: Bluey's Lab friend ...

The blue or red speckled coat helps the Blue Heeler blend into the outback. That’s a useful trait when herding, so the cattle don’t get spooked easily. A dog that blends in causes less stress.

The blue heeler, now officially called the Australian cattle dog, was the first successful Australian dog breed. Bred to work cattle, they were much needed. In the 1820s, the existing cattle dogs ...