Blue Lacy vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

Aussiepoo is a hybrid breed mix of purebred Poodle and Australian shepherd. If one of the parents is miniature Poodle, the Aussiepoo will be smaller than usual - mini Aussiepoo. We do not know precisely their origin, but we know that this beautiful mix is originating from USA, Australia and Canada.

Breeders can't really know how pups are going to look like until they are born. No one actually can control the combination of the genes. Usually, Aussiepoo is silky-fur playable and friendly dog, and that is always more than enough for Aussiepoo lovers.

The Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

Every Aussiepoo depends on the size of the Poodle that was bred. If the parents are smaller than usual, the puppies will be smaller. Their colour also depends on the colour of the parents, and a litter can have puppies of a different colour. Their bodies are usually very muscled, with strong bones, but if you are not an outdoor type, there is a chance that your Aussiepoo will be obese. They are very active and they need a well-balanced diet.

These dogs are easy to train since they are intelligent and people oriented and you can train them while they are still puppies. Aussiepoo is generally friendly with strangers, always ready to play with children and they get along with other pets and animals. This breed is very affectionate and they like their humans to be close so it’s not recommendable to raise them to be loners.

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

The medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

Children friendliness

Aussiepoo is a friendly kind. They are always ready to run and play with children, and they will tend to keep the children together (genes of the Australian shepherd). They are so playful that they will see no difference between an infant and a five-year-old, so be present if there are small children unstable to walk alone.

Special talent

Except the fact that they love water and that they are great swimmers, they have many agility talents.

Adaptability

Since Aussiepoo is a loving, caring and sweet kind of dog, they will fit in anywhere you take them.

They are super friendly with strangers, and that can be an issue if you don’t keep an eye on them. But, they should never be left alone, or leash free outdoors. They are not so good as a guard dog, so if you tend to keep him inside with stay-at-home family member, this breed if no a good choice.

Learning ability

They generally learn quickly. Therefore, they are easy to train. They respond better to the prize training methods.

Your Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

Risk of: eye cataracts, hip dysplasia (malformation of the ball and socket joint), epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina cusing progressive vision loss culminating in blindness), sebaceous sdenitis (an inflammatory skin disease that affects the skin glands), bloat, nasal solar dermatitis (sun sensitivity).

Pelger - Huet syndrome (abnormalities in blood cells. PHA testing is advised with this dog breed. PHA is inherited and dangerous only if both parents carry this abnormality.)

Von Willebrand's Disease (inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed for blood clotting. It can be detected by buccal mucosal screening.)

The Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

Feeding the puppy

It would be great to establish a feeding routine while the Aussiepoo is still a puppy. The best advice is to feed them three times a day, with the last meal around 5 p.m. After they finish their meal, leave them for a while. Make sure to feed your puppy with high-quality food rich in nutrients, and follow the recommendation of the dosage of the food. Avoid cheap dog food and addition meals.

Feeding the adult

Once you made a healthy feeding habit and your Aussiepoo is 6 months old, they won’t need three meals per a day. Leave the meal set for the morning and the one set for the evening. Avoiding night meals is a must. Don’t start any activity with the dog right after the meal. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.

Points for Good Health

Activity, outdoor games, nutritional and balanced meals are the key for an Aussiepoo.

Games and Exercises

This breed is extremely intelligent. Since they are easy to train, you will be able to take them with you anywhere you go. They love to play in the water, but make sure they are not exposed to the sun for too long. They like smart games, mentally challenging, and they will be very playful with other dogs.

Exercise

Typically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.