I'm looking at getting a Blue Heeler, my old dog, English shepherd cross passed away in October. So I’ve been looking. Wanting to know what people experiences with them, weather they liked them or not? I know they are good cattle dogs, but so was my shepherd. Just looking for some other opinions? Maybe just open up a can of worms!! LOL!! Thanks! RR
- Thread starter RamRanch
- Start date
We have had both red & Blue heelers ahn Australian Shepards. Right know we have are own line of cowdogs developed over the years. They have been selected for temperment, working ability and what we want in a dog. The present dogs are our fith generation. We have two young dogs and the mother workin cattle for us. They know when something is out of place within half mile and let us know. yet are stay at home dogs,
gitrib
gitrib
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
You should give the Catahoula Hound a looksee.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
get another english sheperd or australian sheperd. Otherwisw, you'll always be wishing and comparing.
6 aussies here but was looking for an english sheperd when Iwe found the first aussie.
Dave
6 aussies here but was looking for an english sheperd when Iwe found the first aussie.
Dave
john in la
Well-known Member
I would recommend the Catahoula Cur also but you better know what you are getting into before getting one. They are not for everyone.
John in MD
Member
- Location
- Md
Don"t know about the sheperd, but if you want a hardheaded, tough, loyal companion that will know what"s happening before you do try one. I"ve had better luck with bitches than dogs, just seem to take orders quicker but will get sulky and moody. If you want a working dog buy from working dog owners, most show dogs have their brains bread out of them. I"ve had a few and they are more possessive than a first wife and they want to be involved in everything you do, and I do mean everything.
I agree with everything you said. Especially with the hard headed and tough part. Pound for pound the blue heeler we had was the scrappiest dog thats ever been on the place. That fool dog would fly head first into anything and take his licks and not back down. He was a great companion and I miss him.
Blue heelers are a nipping type of herding dog. If you are using them on smaller stock they can get pretty rough. I have only been dog bit once in my life and it was a neighbor"s blue heeler. I was petting him and he nipped me. Then came back over in a few minutes and head butted me to pet him again. I would not have one around smaller children because of the nipping. They are NOT mean but they are rough and tumble type of dog.
They are not even close in temperament to your English shepherds. Shepperd"s are a herding type of dog. They work around the edges and work the stock easy. Heelers are just what their name says. They work from behind and nip at the heel to get the stock to go. They are more of an aggressive type of herding. Heelers are better for cattle and hogs. Shepherds are better for sheep and goats.
They are not even close in temperament to your English shepherds. Shepperd"s are a herding type of dog. They work around the edges and work the stock easy. Heelers are just what their name says. They work from behind and nip at the heel to get the stock to go. They are more of an aggressive type of herding. Heelers are better for cattle and hogs. Shepherds are better for sheep and goats.
Growing up, we had collies. Just before I went on to college my parents got a blue heeler to replace an old collie, but they were never happy with it. Very hard to train and rough on the cattle. Should have been shot more than once in my opinion. Died of old age, and parents have not had a dog since. I have two chocolate lab cross breds now, and though they aren't useful for cattle per say, they are great around kids and they don't bother livestock or cats at all. Very mild and laid back.
Tx Jim
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coyote Flats, Texas
Over the last 20 yrs I had 3 heelers. 2 were blue and 1 red. All were very loyal but also very territorial. They are hard headed but when trained will mind very well. As stated they are very tough and getting kicked by a calf only makes them more determined.
When the last one passed away I told myself no more dogs as it's gotten to difficult to bury them
IMHO Australian Shepards are too hyper and yap too much.
Get what you want, we had to put our black Chow to sleep from stomach cancer back in Sept. I wasn't going to get another Chow since I would be comparing it to her. The black Chow was very smart and would shake hands with you, could open the sliding glass door, open the chain
link gate I had to put a safety rope on it so she couldn't get out. She used that right paw to open the lower kitchen cabinet doors looking for her chewy bones. We thought about it and bought a Chow pup in July when we received the news from the ultrasound that she wouldnt survive. We had her cremated. Here's some pics of the silver gray Chow pup. Hal
link gate I had to put a safety rope on it so she couldn't get out. She used that right paw to open the lower kitchen cabinet doors looking for her chewy bones. We thought about it and bought a Chow pup in July when we received the news from the ultrasound that she wouldnt survive. We had her cremated. Here's some pics of the silver gray Chow pup. Hal
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
The owners were probably hyper and yapped a lot. You can't see one dog and be an expert on the breed.
Dave
Mel in SW Iowa
Member
Lot of excellent information here, especially JDSeller's advice on using for cattle and hogs, not smaller or weaker animals. Hard headed? Their instinct is strong telling them what to do, so the owner/handler needs solid basic obedience to refine that instinct for useful purposes. Start them on basic obedience at seven weeks with a leash. As soon as they are 100% on a leash, start working at liberty, back to the leash when they refuse a command. Praise them when they do something right, "no" when its not. Don't start on livestock until the dog is close to 100% on obedience. Most of the individuals in the bloodlines I have worked with are capable of 100% obedience at liberty once they learn their job, if their owner is willing to put the time in. Some heelers aren't fast or agile enough to survive being used on horses. A lot of courage in a compact package.
glennster
Well-known Member
heres my neighbors catahoula, yuma. the dog is an absolute riot to be around. loves riding in the golf cart, hangs out with the mother in law, great mouser, always busy doing something. you dont own a catahoula, you are part of HIS family!!!
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Erik Ks farmer
Well-known Member
Our blue heeler was one of the best dogs we"ve ever had. He was a great companion and had was good around the animals...excpet the cats...lol
As the others have said, if you're going to have a heeler, you'd better be a pretty good dog trainer, or you'll be diappointed. We had one for a very short time- full grown when we got it, and a handful- spent most of its time herding the horses back into their stalls, and wouldn't let them into their runs. When wife was leading a horse up from the barn and dog was swinging back and forth on horse's tail, we decided it was time to move on. Found another home for it, never got any feedback.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Erik is right. They hate CATS...
Tx Jim
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coyote Flats, Texas
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Tx Jim
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coyote Flats, Texas
I agree on the people statement. Take me for example my mom's parents came from Germany. Her maiden name was Ueckert and my G-mothers maiden name was Pfieffer(sp)
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