Depression Recovery

Question:

I just got a Blue heeler. Can anyone tell me anything about them. I researched some into their background. But I wondered what everyone that has owned one really thinks about them. She’s 8 weeks old now. My daugther named her Millennia (Millie for short). She’s smart as can be and just loads of fun. Thanks for any info Angie Woods

Response:

: I just got a Blue heeler. Can anyone tell me anything about them. I researched some into their background. But I wondered what everyone that has owned one really thinks about them. She’s 8 weeks old now. My daugther named her Millennia (Millie for short). She’s smart as can be and just loads of fun. You might want to look around at www.cattledog.com. Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but it sounds like you got the dog before you researched the breed? I have had an ACD to run sheep and goats and they are not what I would call a beginner dog. They are great dogs and they are smart as a whip, but they need a determined owner who won’t be pushed around, lots of quality exercise time, and real good socialization with both people and other animals. You’re going to have your hands full, and you’re going to have put in the time and effort to avoid having problems down the road. Good luck with Millie. JoAnne

Response:

>I just got a Blue heeler. Can anyone tell me anything about >them.

http://www.cattledog.com/index.html — –Matt.  Rocky’s a Dog.

Response:

A friend of mine has a blue healer.  She is very smart!  And has a ton of energy!  You can throw a ball all day for that dog and she will not get tired. She is great around kids though.  But beware they are smart.  She knows how to open up cabinets and much much more.  All and all I think they are good dogs. But they will keep you on your feet.  So if you don’t feel that you have the energy for this dog.  Then you might not have made a wise decision.  Keep reading up on them.  And enjoy.

Response:

Keep her busy or she’ll keep you busy – cleaning up after the messes she creates trying to keep herself entertained. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just got a Blue heeler. Can anyone tell me anything about them. I researched some into their background. But I wondered what everyone that has owned one really thinks about them. She’s 8 weeks old now. My daugther named her Millennia (Millie for short). She’s smart as can be and just loads of fun. > Thanks for any info > Angie Woods

Response:

Hi Angie ! First off, visit http://www.cattledog.com. I’m sure at 8 weeks of age you have a little angel…..BUT get ready for lotsa training and exercise….that will be repaid with lotsa love from Millie. You may want to join us on our email list, ACD-L (the other name for Blue heelers is Australian Cattle Dog) where we discuss the ins and outs of daily life with these dogs.  A "virtual" support group as it were ! In the BODY of the message type: SUBSCRIBE ACD-L Angie Woods (or insert your real first name for others reading this). Come join us ! Best, Kathy & the Katwala Cattle Dog Crew

Response:

> Hi Angie ! > First off, visit http://www.cattledog.com. > I’m sure at 8 weeks of age you have a little angel…..BUT get ready > for lotsa training and exercise….that will be repaid with lotsa love > from Millie.

It must be a wonderful thing for you that the Aussie farmers decided the English breeds werent up to it in Australia and basically crossed until they came up with the heelers. They are a funny dog as in sense of humour and whacky look they give you sometimes. They arent the breed I chose as I love Chows and will never be without one but I have known many cattle dogs over my time and my father was a drover from outback Qld during the depression, as a child and teenager before he joined the army in the 40s. Dad has some stories about them that would really amaze you. I know a lot of them but one funny one (and there were a lot of sad ones, too) was one red called Tex. Tex was not just a dog and he knew it. Dad was riding home from the end of a drove one day and one of the local cockies (farm owners who were rich) was about to shoot Tex, a disobedient yet BEAUTIFUL animal. Dad has had to put down dogs for various reasons back then but he didnt like it and didnt do it unnecessarily and he wasnt about to have that happen now so he told the guy not to do it and he would take it. The guy picked Tex up and THREW him at Dad on his horse. Fortunately Dad caught him and could see Tex was sore from being beaten so carried him home. After a while of recovery back to full health, Dad decided to see what Tex was like, working and had to gather a few strays for another cocky with a few mates so took Tex who loved to run alongside Dad on his horse. Dad found a stray and gave Tex the command to go out and stop it from straying further. He was amazed to see the dog did it and kept doing it so he thought the original owner an idiot and kept Tex as he was proving worthwhile. Dad took him on the first drove he had since getting him and told Tex to go up back and he did but he tried to tell him HOW to do it and Tex stopped and gave him the filthiest look so Dad just left him to it and the dog did EVERYTHING without being told. Occasionally Dad would want him to gather in a stray and thus take him off what he was doing then and there and he would yell "TEX!" and out of the middle of a herd would jump Tex to see what he wanted. He would tell Tex and off would go Tex to get that stray and any other he found and bring them ALL back. The dog was THAT good. After a few droves like this, word got around. Wages were measured in shilling back then and pounds. 1 poun was $2 Australian. Dad was offered 1500 pounds for Tex but wouldnt sell him. One drove, Dad broke his arm badly mid drove and fortuantely was on the way back in but couldnt go out for the next one due in a week after they got back so his father took Tex. About 80 miles out from town, his father tried once too many times to tell Tex not only WHAT to do but HOW to do it so Tex up and "downed tools" and walked off the job, quitting. Dad didnt know this of course. Some days later, a thin tex with bloody paws made it back to Dad. Tex had quit the job and walked back home, effectively doing the first dog walkout ever known! ;-} Dad nursed him again and Tex was soon OK. To cut the story short, years later Dad joined the Army and went to Japan in 46 with the occupation forces and didnt come back till 48. Tex had been living with Dad’s parents, working fine now that Dad had taught HIS Dad how to get along with the stubborn boy and when Dad walked back in the door in Army uniform, Tex, some 10 years old by Dad’s guess by then fairly hurled HIMSELF at Dad, who caught him and copped the best face washing he ever remembered. Dad was convinced that Tex knew that Dad had saved his life and for the whole of their time together, he never forgot it and always was close to Dad. It’s some 50 or so years roughly since Tex died and Dad still grieves for his mate when he thinks about him. If you have ever doubted that a dog can be intelligent, dont doubt any longer. Tex burned his lip trying to get the billy off the fire once and Dad didnt understand why the hell he would do that. Wasnt much of a burn but it made him yelp. Dad put a cloth in his mouth to clear anything that might have been there away and Tex grabbed it, walked back to the billy and pushed the handle between the cloth in his mouth and got it off and brought the billy full of tea to Dad. No-one had taught him that. Dad knew the dog had seen him do that many times, though. tex just thought this action up for himself. Good on ya, Tex! You were my Dad’s best mate during a time that was very hard to live in and I bet you are waiting with a billy for him when he joins you again. — Remove the anti-spammer stuff.

Response:

What wonderful stories!  Thanks for telling us about Tex! Paula – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Angie ! > First off, visit http://www.cattledog.com. > I’m sure at 8 weeks of age you have a little angel…..BUT get ready > for lotsa training and exercise….that will be repaid with lotsa love > from Millie. > It must be a wonderful thing for you that the Aussie farmers decided the > English breeds werent up to it in Australia and basically crossed until they > came up with the heelers. They are a funny dog as in sense of humour and > whacky look they give you sometimes. They arent the breed I chose as I love > Chows and will never be without one but I have known many cattle dogs over > my time and my father was a drover from outback Qld during the depression, > as a child and teenager before he joined the army in the 40s. Dad has some > stories about them that would really amaze you. I know a lot of them but one > funny one (and there were a lot of sad ones, too) was one red called Tex. > Tex was not just a dog and he knew it. Dad was riding home from the end of a > drove one day and one of the local cockies (farm owners who were rich) was > about to shoot Tex, a disobedient yet BEAUTIFUL animal. Dad has had to put > down dogs for various reasons back then but he didnt like it and didnt do it > unnecessarily and he wasnt about to have that happen now so he told the guy > not to do it and he would take it. The guy picked Tex up and THREW him at > Dad on his horse. Fortunately Dad caught him and could see Tex was sore from > being beaten so carried him home. After a while of recovery back to full > health, Dad decided to see what Tex was like, working and had to gather a > few strays for another cocky with a few mates so took Tex who loved to run > alongside Dad on his horse. Dad found a stray and gave Tex the command to go > out and stop it from straying further. He was amazed to see the dog did it > and kept doing it so he thought the original owner an idiot and kept Tex as > he was proving worthwhile. Dad took him on the first drove he had since > getting him and told Tex to go up back and he did but he tried to tell him > HOW to do it and Tex stopped and gave him the filthiest look so Dad just > left him to it and the dog did EVERYTHING without being told. Occasionally > Dad would want him to gather in a stray and thus take him off what he was > doing then and there and he would yell "TEX!" and out of the middle of a > herd would jump Tex to see what he wanted. He would tell Tex and off would > go Tex to get that stray and any other he found and bring them ALL back. The > dog was THAT good. After a few droves like this, word got around. Wages were > measured in shilling back then and pounds. 1 poun was $2 Australian. Dad was > offered 1500 pounds for Tex but wouldnt sell him. One drove, Dad broke his > arm badly mid drove and fortuantely was on the way back in but couldnt go > out for the next one due in a week after they got back so his father took > Tex. About 80 miles out from town, his father tried once too many times to > tell Tex not only WHAT to do but HOW to do it so Tex up and "downed tools" > and walked off the job, quitting. Dad didnt know this of course. Some days > later, a thin tex with bloody paws made it back to Dad. Tex had quit the job > and walked back home, effectively doing the first dog walkout ever known! > ;-} Dad nursed him again and Tex was soon OK. To cut the story short, years > later Dad joined the Army and went to Japan in 46 with the occupation forces > and didnt come back till 48. Tex had been living with Dad’s parents, working > fine now that Dad had taught HIS Dad how to get along with the stubborn boy > and when Dad walked back in the door in Army uniform, Tex, some 10 years old > by Dad’s guess by then fairly hurled HIMSELF at Dad, who caught him and > copped the best face washing he ever remembered. Dad was convinced that Tex > knew that Dad had saved his life and for the whole of their time together, > he never forgot it and always was close to Dad. It’s some 50 or so years > roughly since Tex died and Dad still grieves for his mate when he thinks > about him. > If you have ever doubted that a dog can be intelligent, dont doubt any > longer. Tex burned his lip trying to get the billy off the fire once and Dad > didnt understand why the hell he would do that. Wasnt much of a burn but it > made him yelp. Dad put a cloth in his mouth to clear anything that might > have been there away and Tex grabbed it, walked back to the billy and pushed > the handle between the cloth in his mouth and got it off and brought the > billy full of tea to Dad. No-one had taught him that. Dad knew the dog had > seen him do that many times, though. tex just thought this action up for > himself. > Good on ya, Tex! You were my Dad’s best mate during a time that was very > hard to live in and I bet you are waiting with a billy for him when he joins > you again. > — > Remove the anti-spammer stuff.

Response:

> What wonderful stories!  Thanks for telling us about Tex!

No probs. Glad you enjoyed it. It wasnt the only story in the life of my father and Tex though. Dad had a really WICKED sense of humour and Tex enjoyed helping him carry out his practical jokes now and then and I an tell you, the story of Dad and his dog Tex at Guyra is not too bad at all. You have to understand Dad a bit, too. So tough that he wouldnt complain of broken ribs and would go to work to support his family labouring all day long and then working a bar job at night for extra money lifting kegs and other things still with broken ribs yet a dog and Dad? Back in the 80s, one of his favourite pet dogs died and he did all he could to save it and he stood there resolute as a rock but I still saw a tear on his cheek as he told me she had died. Dad was a larrikin alright but he was also a dog lover. — Remove the anti-spammer stuff.

Response:

Please send me info re: the MacNab – I keep hearing references to it but specific info seems to elude me . . . . Please try to e-mail me directly as I think my reader may be at fault?

Response:

 I would love to hear (read) any info/experiences others have with this breed.   I have one, he’s about 2.  I think they are they greatest breed, for a true dog lover. Anyone who’s idea of a pet dog, involves a back yard to be ignored in, should probably not try this active, inteligent breed.  They are so damn smart that they can be a real challenge. Please drop me a line or post a message re heelers, I look forward to conversing with other heeler lover/owners.. Peace

Response: