Anyone know about "blue heelers" (Australian cattle dogs)? We have one

[karlrschneider]

for 5 months now, it wandered into the driveway as a tiny pup, full of worms and a horrible case of mange. My partner wanted to shoot it, but I said no...now it's healthy and nearly grown (too damn healthy) :D
She herds our other 2 dogs around, bites their tails and nips our heels & grabs our ankles when we're out in the yard with her. I've done a fair amount of googling and know it's their nature but haven't found much any way to stop that behavior...maybe it can't be done. It isn't any huge risk because I don't think she'd ever actually inflict any damage but it's annoying. She has chewed 3 garden hoses into many pieces. I'm planning to get her spayed within a few weeks, will that reduce the aggressiveness? Anybody know anything about these lovable but frustrating canines? :-)

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. My sister's family adopted one from a shelter at my nephew's insistence...

The dog was untrainable. Nothing they ever did stopped that kind of behavior. They lived in an urbanized suburb where the dog is either inside or in a smallish back yard. The dog also nipped at people all the time. Never broke skin, but it was damned annoying.

Sadly, one day the dog ran out the door (a warm summer day but the dog pushed the door open) and into the street and was hit by a truck.

Very difficult dogs.

[AwakeAtLast]

2. Grandpa had one with three legs

It came as a stray that way. We guess she tried to herd the wrong thing and it took her leg. She was a good dog, but she did all of the things you describe. We lived in a farming community. I think they do need the open space.

[mopinko]

3. only bad things

ok, i am exaggerating. i had a blue heeler, german shepherd cross. she was the dumbest dog i have ever owned. we used to say that she had a good heart, it just wasn't pumping enough oxygen to her brain.
in her defense, we got her at about 4 months old, and she seemed very sweet and eager to please. we were very poor at the time, and fed her a couple of bags of cheap dog food. all her hair fell out, and she had diarrhea for 2 weeks. we went back to better food, but she was kinda never the same.
everyone else i ever talked to that owned them loved them. but yes, they are bred to nip. but to nip and nothing more.
good basic obedience will let her know that you are the boss, and she shouldn't worry about anything unless you tell her to.

[Blue-Jay]

4. They're supremely smart and easily bored.

They tend to be at their best when they have some sort of job to do. As with most herding dogs, they are a bit aggressive, and I doubt that a spaying with assuage that too much. Yes, they'll chew a lot of shit up when they get bored. Yours most likely won't stop "herding" the other two dogs, but she probably won't hurt them with her nipping. That's just how they are.

On the plus side, you can teach them to do just about anything and they catch on very quickly. I can't stress enough to let her think that she has a job to do, whatever that turns out to be.

She'll outsmart you every chance she gets, and don't assume that a regular fence will hold her. When she decides that she wants to get out, she most likely will find a way. I doubt that she'll stray very far, though. They don't like to roam too far away from home in most cases. Teach her about traffic.

[Maddy McCall]

5. They are bred to work on farms.

They are excellent herders and very smart dogs. It is their nature to "herd" things, even humans, and that is what those nips on your heels mean. If you ever see one in action in the pasture, that's exactly how they herd cattle.

I doubt she can be retrained. It's genetic--it's her purpose for living. I wish you could find a farm family who needs a heeler to give her to.

They are great, smart dogs, but can become frustrated when they aren't doing what they were intended to do.

[Straight Shooter]

6. I love Blue Heelers

They have the most amazing personalities (doganalities?)

I think it's going to be tough to train the dog not to attempt to herd; it's like trying to teach bush not to lie, if you know what I mean, it's in their nature. A friend of mine has a Malamute that during its first two years would grab at his feet while they were hiking. It was pretty funny, actually, and sometimes he would grab his hand and pull him along. But the dog has outgrown it, after gentle but constant reminders that that sort of behavior is unacceptable.

However, I'm no expert, so maybe you want might to check with ranchers in your area and see if anyone has some pointers. Also be sure to check with your local Humane Society because often they have people on staff or volunteers who can give you pointers. Have you considered looking up a Blue Heeler rescue site on the web, giving them a call, and see what they have to say about them?

Bless you for saving the dog. It came into your life for a reason, whether it's a permanent destination or just a stop along its journey. That's up to you to find out :)

[karlrschneider]

8. Thanks...all 3 of our dogs are adopted, "dropped off" at our lakeside

community. People from Tulsa (I imagine) or where-ever seem to do a lot of pet-dumping around here...almost everyone who lives around here has at least 1 if not several. Sadly, many don't get a chance for a happy life...a lot are run over, die of starvation, or are shot by residents who don't care for packs of strays running around. We do about as much as we can...if I had the $$ and the space, I'd try to salvage them all.
Our county doesn't even have an animal control office (or officer)
:cry:

[karlrschneider]

7. Thanks to all who replied. I meant to mention but forgot, she's deaf

which I've discovered is a common trait...so verbal rebukes don't work.
And that might make it dangerous for her to be outside a fenced yard. But it's not a huge problem, the doggie is actually good for my 2 older ones, keeps them active which I think is a good thing and she's very affectionate if we spend a few minutes with her. I don't regret 'adopting' her. (We named her Max which confused the vet when we took her for shots and de-worming...we thought it was kinda cool though, haha)

[mopinko]

9. got a lot of room?

maybe you could get her a couple of little goats or something.
i heard of someone who got their border collies a gaggle of geese to herd. (very similar personalities.)
seriously, tho, teach her tricks. you can get a grip on bad behaviors by teaching them to do them on cue, or as part of a trick, then they are under your control, and you can say no to them.

[blonndee]

10. You should check out idog.com. There are a lot of trainers who post there

as well as several heeler owners. I have 2 heeler mixes myself, but only one of them acts out on the herding/nipping thing, and he takes it out on one of my other dogs who loves it.

I agree, heelers need some kind of job. Would you be interested in doing agility with her?

Again, I strongly urge you to check out idog. You do have to register but the people there are awesome and will jump at the chance to help you and your dog.

[karlrschneider]

11. Hi, sorry to be so long replying, missed your post last night!

If you see this, Thanks for the link I will check it out.
:D

[Ready4Change]

12. They need a job.

Its a common trait in the herding breeds, and Australian Cattle dogs are extreme examples. If you don't give them a job they'll choose one for themselves, and nothing you can do will turn them from that job except convincing them to take up another.

And no, sitting quietly at your feet while you read the evening paper is not a job. No way, no how.

Getting it some goats or geese to herd is a good idea, if you have the room. Or spending LOTS of time teaching it tricks and discipline might work. But what they really want is to chase things around, keep them bunched into packs, move them through gates, cut one out, and defend them. Tirelessly. All day long. All nighttime too.

Ranchers love them. When they loose one they feel like they've lost an arm. If you can't keep it, contact ranchers.

[woo me with science]

13. maybe guinea pigs if you don't have room for ducks or sheep?

we had a dog and several guinea pigs when i was little. the dog would spend hours in the backyard herding the pigs. we could leave them alone for hours and the pigs would be just fine.