blue heeler

plural blue heelers

1. AustraliaA blue-coated variety of the Australian Cattle Dog breed.

   He always has his blue heeler dog in his office tucked away under his feet or near the door.

   2007, Graham Greenwood, A Truckie's Dream: The Allan Scott Story : His Official Biography, page 113

   2 more examples

   Shorty the Sixth, as he was sometimes called, had been a very winning puppy, and they had kept him at home until he began to exhibit the same tendencies that Duane's blue heelers always exhibited, that is, a tendency to herd children in the same way they would have herded cattle or sheep: they nipped their heels.

   2003, Larry McMurtry, Duane's Depressed, page 75

   For some time, Dan and Pat had been at me to get a dog so we took a trip to the Yagoona RSPCA and came back with a blue heeler pup.

   2008, Elizabeth Bruce, A Show Off, Just Like Your Father, page 92

2. AustraliaslangA police officer.

   “Take a gander son, but be quick about it,” he said lighting a cigarette. “The blue heelers come by here and start snoopin about.”

   2008, Deborah N. David, The Janus Project, page 382