Dog pics

Sono · Aug 30, 2019

GLyford said:
Some heelers have some black and tan in them (comes from the Kelpie in their ancestry), and the head and body type looks right.

I'm not saying I haven't met a heeler that is a few bricks short, but the one we had was fiercely independent and stubborn as the day is long, which looks a lot like stupid if you are used to retrievers who just want to make you happy.

If we'd give him a job (herd the other dog, fetch the ball for all hours, chase the bunnies and squirrels out of the yard, etc.) he'd be happy as anything. It's not that they don't learn, it's more that they want a justification that makes sense to them about why whatever needs to be done, and then given a little free rein in how it gets done. And there's enough of a jerk in them that "chase that other critter" is a pretty good reason.

Remember, these are heel dogs, they were bred to bite the heels of stubborn cows until they'd move, out-stubborn them in the process, and do whatever it takes to get them where they need to go...not like a border collie who will eye down a sheep or a goat until it decides it is psychologically overmatched and goes the other way. Completely different thought process in how the dog is used and how the dog approaches the work.

Though if you do teach her fetch, use TWO balls, if you use just one she will hold onto it until she catches her breath and you'll not be able to do anything else all day. With two balls in motion, you have a chance of getting her exhausted for a spell.

That's her ! She fetches with no issues, never trained, she just does it and I guess luckily she gives me the ball with some effort to get it. She loves tug o war, again never taught she just does it. She will bring the rope and put it in my lap and nudge me until I take the other end then game on...whether Im ready or not, shes playing ! Outside she will chase moles or gophers, and she will dig to get them ( trying to put a stop to the digging, little divots everywhere sheesh ! But as far as fetch, she will wear my arm out quick, so I try to make it where she has to work to get the ball ( throwing down hills, behind bushes..ect.. ) but she never seems to tire LOL. The only real issue with her is my son, He is super small (9yo wearing 5yo clothes still ) so she seems to bully him kinda like a jealousy thing, she used to nip him ( and anyone else for that matter ) and training classes weren't working but the shock collar stopped that in its track the first day but she still pushes him around , blocks where he is going or squeezes between him and wherever he goes.... Im just glad the nipping stopped. She does have the colored hair tips around the neck that is like the Heeler characteristics in their coats but just odd she looks Rottie / Shephard in the markings and color

Jstpssng · Aug 31, 2019

GLyford said:
Some heelers have some black and tan in them (comes from the Kelpie in their ancestry), and the head and body type looks right.

I'm not saying I haven't met a heeler that is a few bricks short, but the one we had was fiercely independent and stubborn as the day is long, which looks a lot like stupid if you are used to retrievers who just want to make you happy.

If we'd give him a job (herd the other dog, fetch the ball for all hours, chase the bunnies and squirrels out of the yard, etc.) he'd be happy as anything. It's not that they don't learn, it's more that they want a justification that makes sense to them about why whatever needs to be done, and then given a little free rein in how it gets done. And there's enough of a jerk in them that "chase that other critter" is a pretty good reason.

Remember, these are heel dogs, they were bred to bite the heels of stubborn cows until they'd move, out-stubborn them in the process, and do whatever it takes to get them where they need to go...not like a border collie who will eye down a sheep or a goat until it decides it is psychologically overmatched and goes the other way. Completely different thought process in how the dog is used and how the dog approaches the work.

Though if you do teach her fetch, use TWO balls, if you use just one she will hold onto it until she catches her breath and you'll not be able to do anything else all day. With two balls in motion, you have a chance of getting her exhausted for a spell.

It's a lot harder to keep a smart dog out of trouble than a dumb one. Until I just read your post I never really knew what a "Heeler" was. It's always good to learn something. :thumbsup:

GLyford · Aug 31, 2019

A tennis racket or a "chuck it" ball throwing tool will keep you from blowing out your throwing arm, as long as you can keep her from chewing it to bits.
I totally know that "time to play" getting the ball dropped in my lap thing.

Heeler (often blue or red, for the common colors blue merle or red merle) is another name used for Australian Cattledog. Ours was blue merle, so would be called a "Blue Heeler".

One of the cattledog breed clubs has as a slogan "a tired dog is a well behaved dog", a bored dog is an instigator looking for trouble to get into.
That whole pushy and nipping behavior is pretty much what these dogs were bred for, so keeping that redirected will be a lifelong work. It is also a good indication that she has a lot of the breed in her.

Best thing you can do to wear a dog out like that is to subcontract it out, to another dog. Retrievers work well for this. The reverse is also true, a herding dog is a good way to keep a young overly energetic retriever in line. Bonus Akita pic just because, also you can see his version of the black-and-tan in this one.

Also works with other similar headstrong herding breeds like Australian Shepherds.

At 13 years old with arthritis in his hips, spine, and elbows, our cattledog still had the urge to herd so strongly that he would chase the chickens on the other side of the fence from one end to the other. Our vet says the exercise kept his joints from seizing up. He had to run about 30' to herd the chickens about 5, so they weren't overly stressed by this and he got a good workout.

goeduck · Aug 31, 2019

Jstpssng said:
It's a lot harder to keep a smart dog out of trouble than a dumb one. Until I just read your post I never really knew what a "Heeler" was. It's always good to learn something. :thumbsup:

I am not sure of that, my Border Collie is the most disobedient and the most obedient dog I have ever had. Border cOllies are as smart as they come. The things I want her to do, she does very willingly. The things I do not want her to do, she does when I am not looking. There are certain things I cannot break her of.

Jstpssng · Aug 31, 2019

goeduck said:
I am not sure of that, my Border Collie is the most disobedient and the most obedient dog I have ever had. Border cOllies are as smart as they come. The things I want her to do, she does very willingly. The things I do not want her to do, she does when I am not looking. There are certain things I cannot break her of.

That's exactly my point. A smart dog gets bored and looks for things to do. A dog with less smarts is willing to lay around waiting for you to come home.

Sono · Aug 31, 2019

goeduck said:
I am not sure of that, my Border Collie is the most disobedient and the most obedient dog I have ever had. Border cOllies are as smart as they come. The things I want her to do, she does very willingly. The things I do not want her to do, she does when I am not looking. There are certain things I cannot break her of.

That's about the truth, Mine started chewing the post on the deck stairs ( she has a ton of chew toys out there ) so don't know why she chose the deck post. I tried everything from getting on her, throwing the ball instead, shock collar when I did see her doing it ( very few times so wasn't effective ) bitter aid.... so I gave in and rubbed a Ghost pepper on the area where she chews... she came up and sniffed it after I did it while watching me wondering what I was doing, she doesn't chew on the deck anymore , she just sniffed and walked away. so I guess the smell was enough to stop her? as she never touched it since. Now that she is getting bigger some habits have died down, hoping to get her fixed soon, just waiting for an appointment to get her in when they call back as that sometimes calm them down as well from what Im told.

Howling · Aug 31, 2019

This guy decided on the cat bed the other night.

Vet thinks he is beagle, heeler and something else mix. Smart dog with a drive for food. He has determination to open cabinets, trash can reach for stuff on the counter. Used to herd other dog and even children at times. Has slowed down, now is a diabetic (insulin twice a day) and almost blind with cataracts.

JHurt · Sep 1, 2019

We’ve had Winston for almost three years, and just got Waylon about a month ago. Two totally different personalities!

DaveNJ · Sep 1, 2019

Alien, that's a funny looking squirrel

Rock Crawler · Sep 1, 2019

Camping in our new travel trailer, it's a rain day today so me and my son decided to watch a movie. This is how I have to sit and watch... With attention hounds on top of me demanding that I rub.

Jstpssng · Sep 1, 2019

^^^^^
Now that's a dog pic!! :laughing:

Alien · Sep 1, 2019

Our dogs rarely watch TV but if a car blows its' horn in a movie they run to the door going nuts.

JHurt · Sep 2, 2019

This is how we bath our bulldogs now. Neither one of them like water!

Jstpssng · Sep 2, 2019

JHurt said:
View attachment 619494
This is how we bath our bulldogs now. Neither one of them like water!

Both my current and previous Labs love water and swimming, yet getting a bath is like anathema to them. Of course, finding something really smelly to roll in afterward is an antidote.

goeduck · Sep 3, 2019

My neigbor is on vacation and his wifes sister is sitting his 2 dogs and has her own 2 dogs. Between the properties is a gate that my Heeler plays fence aggression with one of my neighbors dogs, harmless and we open the gate so they can play. The sisters two dogs are not getting along with my Border Collie and the Border Collie started joining in on the fence aggression with the other 4 dogs.

Today I let my dogs out and they ran to the gate. I am thinking no big deal but by the time I get to the (closed) gate my Border Collie has my Heeler pinned to the ground by the throat. I break it up and make sure my healer is okay and buttsore the Border Collie. An hour later it is like nothing happened. I know these things happen and are part of the way dogs are but my Heeler is old and not able to defend herself very well. Why a dog turns on its own pack when in this situation, I do not know. I have seen it many times but usually it is just a nip, not like today.

grnspot110 · Sep 3, 2019

Squirrel watcher:

Citydude · Sep 5, 2019

Another squirrel watcher.

wheelbuilder · Sep 5, 2019

This is Truman, a neo mastiff/black lab mix who thinks he's a lap dog. He was busy eating wild blueberries.

wheelbuilder · Sep 5, 2019

goeduck said:
My neigbor is on vacation and his wifes sister is sitting his 2 dogs and has her own 2 dogs. Between the properties is a gate that my Heeler plays fence aggression with one of my neighbors dogs, harmless and we open the gate so they can play. The sisters two dogs are not getting along with my Border Collie and the Border Collie started joining in on the fence aggression with the other 4 dogs.

Today I let my dogs out and they ran to the gate. I am thinking no big deal but by the time I get to the (closed) gate my Border Collie has my Heeler pinned to the ground by the throat. I break it up and make sure my healer is okay and buttsore the Border Collie. An hour later it is like nothing happened. I know these things happen and are part of the way dogs are but my Heeler is old and not able to defend herself very well. Why a dog turns on its own pack when in this situation, I do not know. I have seen it many times but usually it is just a nip, not like today.

Back when I had 2 dogs, my older dog would usually just need to give the younger one a hard look or nudge. There were times when Truman (the younger dog) wouldn't take a hint, and Maggie would put he mouth right around his neck and pin him to the ground. It was pretty gently done, considering Maggie went about 230 and Truman is 120. No yelping from Truman and no marks on him, he'd remember his place.