Prepare for unexpected vet bills
The Blue Heeler in your Basset Heeler is a born herder. While they are typically used to herd cattle, they are also good at herding chickens, sheep, other dogs, and even children, although that last one is not recommended. In fact, another name for the Blue Heeler is the Australian Cattle Dog so you know herding is going to be pretty natural for your fur buddy. If you start out with gentle training and praise your dog every time a training step goes good, your pooch should be herding in no time. However, do not forget that your Basset Heeler has Basset Hound blood and they are more inclined to hunt than to herd. So, depending on the amount of hunting gene compared to the herding gene in your dog, you may have to spend more time working together to get it right.Â
Although most earthdog trials are done with terriers in mind, the Basset Heeler is also good at this kind of activity because of their ability to both herd and hunt. The Basset Hound genes help your dog find the prey while the Blue Heeler blood gives your dog the ability to bark, dig, and control the prey until you get there.
Although all dogs are good at sniffing things out, the Basset Hound is a born scent dog. With short legs, they are built close to the ground for a reason and that reason is to sniff. Their long pendulous ears are used to stir up the scents from the dirt. So, why does a hound have long ears? The better to smell you with. Scent trailing can include simple things such as hound trailing trials to serious jobs like searching for lost people.