Experience with Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler

[Thursday007]

Originally Posted by rural lady

She is so cute, I'm glad you have her, I used to have a Heeler/BC cross, smartest dog I ever had and protective.

I'm wondering if she will lay her paw on your foot when you sit down.

She puts it on my thigh or on my lap, but I'm really promoting her bonding with the other dog more than myself. I also have this rolling art/lap top computer table I use in the bedroom when I want and she'll rest her chin on my left arm while I'm typing or on the table itself and just watch.

[misfitz]

I don't have time to read all of the replies, but I'll give my experience. My parents have a red heeler. They got her from the humane society, she had lived on a farm previously and was about 5 years old. Sidney is a great dog, but she's quirky. ACD's are really, really smart, but not in a Border Collie, "what can I do to please you?" way. They were bred to work independently, so they tend to question you a lot. We like to joke that when you ask Sidney to do something, she first takes it to committee. They can also be hardheaded, as they are bred to work cattle, which are more stubborn than sheep. (Not to mention bigger.)

I love them, but I wouldn't call them easy dogs. Sid is also very prey-driven, and chases cats, squirrels, anything small and furry that runs. Skunks...twice, actually. Did I mention they're hardheaded? LOL.

She's a very sweet dog, though, loves my parents to death is great with kids. She's also very territorial about the house and the property and prone to alert/guarding type barking. She tolerates Sienna (my BC-type mix) but snaps to correct her if she gets too hyper, or otherwise offends Sidney. ACD's can be mouthy, they herd cattle by nipping at their heels (the 'heeler' part of their name), so it's an instinctive reaction to nip at things. Great bite inhibition, though.

They get very attached to their people, but don't necessarily like a lot of physical affection. Sometimes called "shadow dogs" because they like to be near you, but not on top of you all of the time.

My aunt has a blue heeler / border collie mix as well. Her dog is also really smart, independent, stubborn, territorial, and has personality plus but the BC part softens her up a bit. She gets along with cats and is smaller and has a 'softer' personality than Sidney.

Anyway, that's my experience. They are neat dogs, but not for everyone. Good luck with her, she's adorable!

[Ftuckr]

Ok, here goes. My first Blue heeler was a female from working stock. We went everywhere together. She was jelious if other women, didn’t like any to talk to me, would growl if one hugged me. Wouldn’t allow anyone to take my coat or anything she associated as mine. For kisses she numbed my lips with hers. At a construction site on the highway a biker waved at her, she showed her teeth to him. Some travels, I’d make it to a rest stop, she would sit up and growl if anyone walked close to the truck. When we were all alone, I’d howl, she would join in and for 10 to 20 minutes we did this. We would sing Jesus Loves me and she knew the song. She slept in the bed with me and never allowed anyone to sneak up on me. She would climb a ladder 40’ to a roof top to be with me. I always put her across my shoulder to come down. Once a young Mother popped her child’s leg for going wrong and she went after the Mother. Was protective of children. I never had a problem with her snapping over her food. One reason I always made sure I could take their food or toys away. Older dogs that did Snapple’s, I went for the bol or bone, if the dog snapped, I would grab by the back legs and snatch them up side down. Didn’t physically hurt them but usually once was enough to stop this activity for ever. That was my first ACD and I miss still to this day. I just received my second one, female, mask and she was a fear biter. 3 days later she is piled up in bed with me or in my chair. I hope I get to have her for 12 to 14 years.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Ftuckr

I went for the bol or bone, if the dog snapped, I would grab by the back legs and snatch them up side down. Didn’t physically hurt them but usually once was enough to stop this activity for ever.

Well, that's a good example of physical abuse/intimidation. Teaching a dog not to do something because its afraid of you isn't OK in my book. You don't need to take such measures with an intelligent dog. According to you, your new dog is already a fear biter. Just how badly do you want to ingrain that behavior? When it does end up biting you what will you do then? Blame the dog?