armybass
US Veteran
I am getting my boys a puppy next month and have picked out an ACD that was born Monday. I am really looking forward to getting my boys their first dog. I grew up with dogs but this will be their first.
Anyone have an Australian Cattle Dog?
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armybass
US Veteran
I am getting my boys a puppy next month and have picked out an ACD that was born Monday. I am really looking forward to getting my boys their first dog. I grew up with dogs but this will be their first.
mississippi revolverman
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Always wanted an Australian but not yet. I watch the real one's work while I worked in Melbourne Austraila for a year. Very good breed.
I settled on a Cathoula Cattle dog
I settled on a Cathoula Cattle dog
A friend has one, makes a great companion dog. Somewhat protective and territorial, and likes to "herd" visitors. The dog will position itself around you and bark/growl to get you to move in a desired direction until you sit down, when it lays down. Get up, and it's right back at you, a couple feet away, barking and growling, trying to get you to move around. It's never attacked or bitten, but does look and sound "nasty," showing teeth, etc. When I visit over there, I do a Cesar Milan act and ignore the dog, and it soon gets the message that I don't consider it to be significant and it cannot intimidate me, then it calms down. Others that act scared, it will keep up the barking and "herding" incessantly until the owner puts it in another room.
That's just one dog.
Noah
That's just one dog.
Noah
I have an Australian Shepherd, which I think is very close to the ACD in a lot of ways. Aussies of all types are extremely smart and trainable, they're great with kids, and they need daily exercise.
My wife arranged for several sessions with a professional trainer while this dog was a pup. The trainer trained the dog, and showed my wife how to continue training her. Our Aussie is now better behaved than a lot of people I know, except that she will go on full alert if she hears a sheep on TV.
Okie John
My wife arranged for several sessions with a professional trainer while this dog was a pup. The trainer trained the dog, and showed my wife how to continue training her. Our Aussie is now better behaved than a lot of people I know, except that she will go on full alert if she hears a sheep on TV.
Okie John
I have a friend with an Australian Shepherd, and it has been a great family dog for him. These dogs are high energy and need a lot of activity. They are not ideal in-the-house all day, low maintenance, sedentary dogs however.
rburg
Member
Don't have one, but I did hit one with a drive shaft one day. It was at a jeep parts swap meet, and the dog kept trying to herd me and others. The problem was most people want to walk around and see what other sellers have, or get back to their pile of junk. About the third time the dog nipped me on the butt, I hit it with a spare front drive shaft. Not hard enough to kill it, but hard enough it lost interest in me. I spent the next few hours walking the show, as planned. But with a chunk of steel in my hand. It did come at me a few more times, but always changed its mind when I began my swing.
The dog belonged to a friend. He's not real responsible, but then I'm not sure anything he could have done, short of the right thing, would have helped. My impression was its not the breed of dog you can have on the loose around people. If you can tie it up, or won't let it run free, ever, then it might be for you.
Had I not known the owner, I'd have really walloped the dog when it nipped me. It still managed to nip about a dozen people that day. Some had a better sense of humor than I had.
The dog belonged to a friend. He's not real responsible, but then I'm not sure anything he could have done, short of the right thing, would have helped. My impression was its not the breed of dog you can have on the loose around people. If you can tie it up, or won't let it run free, ever, then it might be for you.
Had I not known the owner, I'd have really walloped the dog when it nipped me. It still managed to nip about a dozen people that day. Some had a better sense of humor than I had.
29aholic
Member
You hit it on the head. We have two Australians and they are both wound like a 10day clock all of the time. I have heard they dont lose the "puppy" until they are about 5 (god help me)
If correct, the ACD is what we call a Queenland's Heeler, or Blue Heeler. I don't recommend that breed for a pet, mostly for the aforementioned reasons, especially the back nipping. Not good with young children. A good dog for what they were bred for, working livestock. I have had them, and got rid of them. The Australian Shepperd is a great family dog, as well as a working dog. Very trainable, get along with other animals, and good with children. Like most breeds, they are quite active until around three when they settle down, but quite intelligent. Border Collies, which I presently have, are also quite good, but do require a bit more room to run, except my old 12 year old, which is quite complacement at being a house dog now. She earned her keep when I had cattle, but is "retired" now.
godlessgael
Member
i agree with everything that has been said. Cattle dogs are significantly smaller than the shephards. like shepards, they are smarter than most high school graduates. because of that, they seem to go one of two ways: highly trained, great family pets or trouble making, nipping turds. the "alpha dog" in the house really has to keep them in line.
godlessgael
Member
that being said, if you train them properly, you will probably never buy another type of dog in your life. they are amazing creatures.
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My last wife used to raise goats, and had a few billys that had a mind of their own. A good buddy of mine gave me a Blue Heeler. By the time he was 6 mos. old, he had about 4 dozen goats doing whatever my wife wanted. An amazing dog, but would also try to herd my wife's visitors!
Wickahoney
US Veteran
We have 23. They go too work every morning and move cows and earn their keep. We also have Lovely Livy, my son Ian's ACD. She is a red and was the runt of one of the litters.
She is one of the house dogs and one that goes with either Ian or I everywhere.
She will gaurd the pickup or any place she decides is ours, thus hers. If you have SMALL children they will heard them and nip at their heals. They are after all called "healers".
If your kids are older, grade school at least and want to throw a frisbee or ball, play tag or keep away or pull on a rope and have a buddy that will never wear out and stay tight, then an ACD is great.
We laugh about it but think overactive fireplug/beer keg with legs and you'll just about have it. Yes, they are really smart. They need to be engaged and socialized early.
They do best when busy doing something, work is good. If you don't happen to have 900 cows, have the kids do those agility trials and such with theirs. They and the dog will enjoy it.
A lady that is a friend of the family but not "dog people" once asked why her dog hearded all the kids into a corner and wouldn't let them out? I had her describe the dog as she wasn't sure what she had. Sure enough, ACD. "Because, that is what they do and were bred for". Blue, Blue Healer with 2 blue eyes, came to live with us and she got something better suited to small children and an owner with zero dog experience.
Ross W Thomas
Great Basin Ranch
Owyhee County, ID
ACDs don't get cockle burrs and they eventually settle down. Shepards get burrs and NEVER setttle down. ;-)
She is one of the house dogs and one that goes with either Ian or I everywhere.
She will gaurd the pickup or any place she decides is ours, thus hers. If you have SMALL children they will heard them and nip at their heals. They are after all called "healers".
If your kids are older, grade school at least and want to throw a frisbee or ball, play tag or keep away or pull on a rope and have a buddy that will never wear out and stay tight, then an ACD is great.
We laugh about it but think overactive fireplug/beer keg with legs and you'll just about have it. Yes, they are really smart. They need to be engaged and socialized early.
They do best when busy doing something, work is good. If you don't happen to have 900 cows, have the kids do those agility trials and such with theirs. They and the dog will enjoy it.
A lady that is a friend of the family but not "dog people" once asked why her dog hearded all the kids into a corner and wouldn't let them out? I had her describe the dog as she wasn't sure what she had. Sure enough, ACD. "Because, that is what they do and were bred for". Blue, Blue Healer with 2 blue eyes, came to live with us and she got something better suited to small children and an owner with zero dog experience.
Ross W Thomas
Great Basin Ranch
Owyhee County, ID
ACDs don't get cockle burrs and they eventually settle down. Shepards get burrs and NEVER setttle down. ;-)
jaysouth
US Veteran
My daughter had a 'blue heeler'. The dog nipped me several times when my back was turned or not making eye contact with the dog. She would not act aggressive if I was making eye contact.
After she nipped the year old grandson, I took her and a shovel for a one drive in the country.
After she nipped the year old grandson, I took her and a shovel for a one drive in the country.
cincinnatijim
Member
We picked up an Australian Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler variety, at the pound. He was about 5 months old, very energetic, and nipped people. We broke him from that, but he is still very energetic. He loves to play fight with our female Rottweiler until she gets angry, at which time he runs for his life. Then he's right back and it starts over again. She can chase him down early in their play, but he has greater stamina and can literally run circles around her after a few minutes. We love him, but I don't think I would get another one.
Wickahoney
US Veteran
Cincinnati: I had to laugh. I KNEW he didn't back off. Livey taunts my German Wirehaired Pointers, constantly. Eventually they get tired of it and chase her, she sits down for a second or two, allows them to settle down, and is right back at it. Luckily we have Zelda a year old Draathar who is intellectually the same age as Livey who is 4 years old and they play for hours on end. The others get up on top the pickup camper, out of reach eventually. ;-)
Maybe OLD ACDs slow down, but I wouldn't bet on it. ;-)
RWT
Maybe OLD ACDs slow down, but I wouldn't bet on it. ;-)
RWT
guntownuncle
Member
We had one named Gypsy, but had to give her away. She was great with me, my wife and kids; but we really could'nt have visitors over, especially other kids. For example, because we have a 16acre property all the neices and nephews would come to our house for an Easter egg hunt. She would try to "herd" them by nipping at their heels, sometimes to the point of drawing blood. With other adults she was sometimes more aggressive than that. She was a stray who would hang around the Tractor Supply I worked for at the time. After a few days, nobody claimed her, so I took her home. So, I never really knew her background. Ranchers I have talked to since said they had similar problems with theirs. We eventually gave her to an older couple who could better take care of her.
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Wickahoney
US Veteran
They are great dogs. However, they are working dogs and have a roll and need a job. You can replace it but you absolutely have to replace it with something.
If that happens to be your 3 kids throwing a ball and playing tag and taking the dog for walks, then the kids and the dog benifit. The healing thing is inbred. It however can be trained out, but you actually need to do that.
That is the socialization I spoke of. You need to do it when the dog is a pup and he has to learn what his standing in the pack is and that he/she is not Alpha or even Beta but sub dominate in the pack or they will act at the aggression level they rise to in the pack.
The problem with the stray probably was it was adult and already ALPHA or at least not trained and subserviant.
I don't think they are the best choie for a "pet" but any disadvantages can be trained out/dealt with if caught early.
Livy, doesn't nip anybody and neither do any of our working dogs. They get to nip cows, and goats and sheep and even an occassional goose but NOT PEOPLE!!!
If you don't have the time or aren't willing to take the time I would recomend another breed.
If you have the time and are willing to train, they are great dogs, loyal as can ever be hoped for and smart and funny.
My 2 cents worth.
Ross
If that happens to be your 3 kids throwing a ball and playing tag and taking the dog for walks, then the kids and the dog benifit. The healing thing is inbred. It however can be trained out, but you actually need to do that.
That is the socialization I spoke of. You need to do it when the dog is a pup and he has to learn what his standing in the pack is and that he/she is not Alpha or even Beta but sub dominate in the pack or they will act at the aggression level they rise to in the pack.
The problem with the stray probably was it was adult and already ALPHA or at least not trained and subserviant.
I don't think they are the best choie for a "pet" but any disadvantages can be trained out/dealt with if caught early.
Livy, doesn't nip anybody and neither do any of our working dogs. They get to nip cows, and goats and sheep and even an occassional goose but NOT PEOPLE!!!
If you don't have the time or aren't willing to take the time I would recomend another breed.
If you have the time and are willing to train, they are great dogs, loyal as can ever be hoped for and smart and funny.
My 2 cents worth.
Ross
My sister used to have one, it died at about 13 last year.
Hers may have been a little unique, but it never nipped at anyone. It was very energetic, especially as a puppy. It used to constantly run laps around the room, hurdling the furniture. It loved water, as soon as it saw a lake, it jumped in for a swim.
It was also the friendliest, good natured dog I've ever seen, and also very smart. It knew everyone's name, and it always knew where its toys were and what they were named. She could tell it 'go find your ball', and it would get it and bring it to her.
Hers may have been a little unique, but it never nipped at anyone. It was very energetic, especially as a puppy. It used to constantly run laps around the room, hurdling the furniture. It loved water, as soon as it saw a lake, it jumped in for a swim.
It was also the friendliest, good natured dog I've ever seen, and also very smart. It knew everyone's name, and it always knew where its toys were and what they were named. She could tell it 'go find your ball', and it would get it and bring it to her.
gunsmith11
Member
is this the dog with the wierd blue eyes
