australian cattle dog

chuck machinist · Oct 20, 2018

I spoke with a fellow on the forum a period back, complimenting him on his choice of dogs. I am seeking to bring an Australian Cattle dog , or a mix into the family. I appreciate any contacts on this. CM

Rollie NE PA · Oct 20, 2018

My daughter just adopted a rescue dog Puppy that is part German Sheppard and Australian cattle dog. He is a cute little fellow but looks like it will be a large dog when fully grown. The vet said it will require a lot of obedience training.

bgoathill · Oct 20, 2018

Best dogs ever! My two girls each had a litter a day apart three weeks ago. They're too young to sell now, but they'll be on puppyfind.com in a couple weeks.

Janicholson · Oct 20, 2018

They are very intelligent. AS any working dog, they try to please. A golden retriever will fetch a Frisbee. an Australian cattle dog will bring your machine shed into NEC compliance in two days. They will find things to do if you do not work with them to mind your commands and follow verbal directions. Single word commands and hand motion signals (repeated carefully) can create a cooperative and working friend for life. They are way not a "pet". I have had Shepherds from before I was born. (Shep was alive when I arrived in 49) My last was an Australian Shepherd named Beryllium. Jim

David G · Oct 20, 2018

As an owner of a border collie, the herding breeds need a lot of room and things to do.

44 massey · Oct 20, 2018

I have a miniature Aussie, what a great companion!!! They are very intelligent, easy to train and very obedient!!! Granted he isn?t a ?working dog? but he sure does take a lot of interest in everything going on around him!!!

Dean · Oct 20, 2018

My neighbor has one.

I'm not a dog person but he likes his.

Dean

db4600 · Oct 20, 2018

I grew up with German Shepherds. We had a Border Collie when we had young kids and animals to herd. We have a retread Australian Shepherd now. The Sherperd would get the cows from the lower pasture by himself, watch any and every open gate in the yard interrogate every salesman who pulled into our yard with his smile. The Collie would baby sit the kids, herd the chickens, and keep every sheep in check. After our kids got big she moved to another family to raise their kids, and herd their cows, and won farmer Bob over as his right hand after their Lab passed. Our Aussie was a citiot who came to the country and is very loyal to us and walks his boundaries very dedicated. He?s a fairly mellow guy and has ma more trained than he is.

Olliejunkie · Oct 20, 2018

(quoted from post at 16:36:26 10/20/18) I spoke with a fellow on the forum a period back, complimenting him on his choice of dogs. I am seeking to bring an Australian Cattle dog , or a mix into the family. I appreciate any contacts on this. CM

Cinch is a little over a year now. He is way to smart for me and I have been very lucky that is pretty well behaved although sometimes he finds things that interest him more than coming to me. I would keep an eye on Craigslist. Alot of people get livestock dogs that get over their head. There are many heelers around here but I'm a long ways from you.

pat sublett · Oct 20, 2018

I have owned lots of dogs in my 83 years. The best overall dog that I ever owned was a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

pat sublett · Oct 20, 2018

JD Seller · Oct 20, 2018

A couple of things to think about.

1) IF you do not have a lot of room a working dog will be trouble. They are smart and need to be active. They will find something to keep busy with if you do not work with them. Any working dog is NOT a good choice for a dog if your going to be gone all day and they have to be tied or in a kennel. On an acreage or farm they are fine. They need to be active.

2) I have only been dog bit twice in my life. Both times it was dogs I had been around before and never had any issue with. They both where heelers. The one was getting older and nipped my hand really hard when I was petting him. I needed 20 stiches on that one. The other bit me as I walked passed some shrubbery on a side walk. He was under the bush and snip my pants/leg as I walked passed.

So I keep an eye on any heeler type of cattle dogs. They are active and very family loyal. Not the best if you have lots of strange people around.

ArleninOr · Oct 20, 2018

Chuck, I have had numerous cattle dogs in my life. Have an Australian shepherd/border collie at my feet right now. This dog is the most well behaved dog anyone could ask for. Got him as an 8 week old puppy and did all the training myself. Loyal family dog who would not let anyone mess with the family but is nice to almost everyone. If he doesn't like someone, he will let you know. Also have a border collie who will sit by the fence all day watching the horses. He is great with the family and anyone who will throw a stick or ball. Find a pup and start from there. They can be a lot of fun if trained right. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Olliejunkie · Oct 20, 2018

I'm on my second heeler and second border collie. They have all done fine in the house. Sometimes I'm gone 12 hours at a time. Cinch so far has not been left alone much but seems to be ok. I keep hearing how livestock dogs need something to do. Guess I have just been lucky.

Texasmark1 · Oct 21, 2018

Both your Shepherds and Healers are popular here. I find the bond between the workhorse and master is amazing. In particular the truck riding helper that may lie on the steel flatbed in the heat of summer and be totally content while master is having lunch at the cafe.....or how they maintain their grip and balance riding back there.

RESLLS · Oct 21, 2018

CM, where are you? I know an Amish family that breeds them in Clare Michigan. He has the reds. Also Elk Hounds. Left his # with a buddy, but can get it if you want. Had him and his son do some work for me a couple years ago.

MarkB_MI · Oct 21, 2018

I have not owned a "blue heeler", but know a few people back in Colorado who have. They're certainly great at herding cattle, but I don't think I would want one for a family pet.

A friend of mine had one and it became very aggressive. The family was gone for the house for several hours, and when they returned neither my friend or his father could get near the dog. Only his mother could approach the dog, and it took several days before the men could handle the dog. They assumed that somebody came to the house while they were gone and teased the dog somehow. At any rate the dog remained aggressive towards strange men for a long time. One day I was helping at the farm and had been around the dog all day. I absent-mindedly reached down to pet him with my gloved hand and he bit it hard, biting through the leather glove and breaking the skin.

I realize one can't judge a breed based on experience with a single dog, but this has made me very leery of this breed.

Tx Jim · Oct 21, 2018

Heeler's are very faithful & very territorial. I've had several over the yrs. The last one bit holes in 3 different car tires. He was killed biting at the tires of a car that turned around in my driveway when I lived very close to a farm to market highway.

Mike M · Oct 21, 2018

I had a blue heeler mix. She was a very good dog. Put up an in ground wire fence to keep her in the yard about 2 acres worth. Kept all the riff raff and rodents away. When little she liked playing ball with the kids and would go fetch the ball and then proceed to chase them around all the bases. Died about a year and a half ago from old age.

BobReeves · Oct 21, 2018

Posted this earlier but for some reason it didn't take.

Go for it, great dogs. We adopted a 2 year old rescue 3 months ago and have already taught her to sit, stay and shake, still working on "come". She loves to run, sometimes puts me on ignore and I have to get the golf cart to chase her down. Going to fence in an acre so I can let her out without worrying if she might go visit a neighbor or get out on the road.

If you want to see an amazing Cattle Dog search for Skidboot on YouTube.

BobReeves · Oct 21, 2018

Lets see if I can post a photo.
This is Ginny our rescue.

Grandpa's Fords · Oct 21, 2018

(quoted from post at 09:05:06 10/21/18) Posted this earlier but for some reason it didn't take.

Go for it, great dogs. We adopted a 2 year old rescue 3 months ago and have already taught her to sit, stay and shake, still working on "come". She loves to run, sometimes puts me on ignore and I have to get the golf cart to chase her down. Going to fence in an acre so I can let her out without worrying if she might go visit a neighbor or get out on the road.

If you want to see an amazing Cattle Dog search for Skidboot on YouTube.

Bob, Had a shepherd that was hard at first to keep on the property.
Very quick to learn, very afraid to disappoint. I got a training collar I believe it was good for 600 yrds. Over 2 weeks only corrected him twice after that he never left the boundaries on his own. I learned as much as I could about training and found that I had the best dog ever for me and my family.
Fiercely loyal and energetic. He knew what I was going to do at all times and I knew what he was going to do. I never enjoyed a dog as much.
I learned that the dog was easy to teach, me and the family were harder to teach how to properly treat a good friend.
To OP My uncle has had several austrailian cattle dogs there were awesome especially on the farm. Very protective they
knew their jobs well. They did like to prescreen the visitors but were able to call off easily. I am glad I learned more about good training techniques it was rewarding to have such a fine animal and friend.
Lost him a couple weeks ago to kidney failure as a result of Lyme disease at only a little over over 5 yrs. old. I still hear him and think he is right next to me as he always was.

Fordy20 · Oct 21, 2018

Alice is my best friend and just a wonderful dog. Very smart and always wants to please. Very athletic - can jump on my deck over trailer easy and needs lots of exercise. She's about 10 years old and weighs 43 pounds. I take her to see my wife in memory care and she has to greet all the other residents and let them pet her.

chuck machinist · Oct 21, 2018

First , I want to thank you all for your input, and you have given me much to think about. Certainly this is a decision that is not to be taken lightly. Linda and I live in Chesapeake Va. You all are, and have been blessed with good pals. Thank you again. CM.

hd6gtom · Oct 21, 2018

My good friend raised Australian Shepperds. Male was the meanest dog I ever saw. He would sneak up behind you and rip up your leg, or legs if he could get ahold of both of them. Females were OK.

buickanddeere · Oct 22, 2018

They need something to do. We have had two of the breed or a mixture .
The first dog when she wasn’t working or riding the tractor, she wa scratching ground hogs .
The 2nd dog herds my chickens and geese a few times a day .
They have the intelligence somewhere between an 4-8 year old child. Be careful who is training who.

Texasmark1 · Oct 23, 2018

I had neighbors tell me about theirs "practicing herding" his cows when he was away. The attention requirement is the problem as I see it. If you aren't a BTO and have enough to keep them busy
they will drive you nuts. My dingo does and she isn't one of the cattle working breeds......but I was warned before I bought her.

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