Australian Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, do you know anything about them?

Question

I have a 20 week Blue Heeler male dog. He is fine with my two other dogs and my family, he doesnt like other dogs and chases them and isnt too good meeting new people, I know this is in their breeding but he is also very destructive. I own 10 horses and if I take him down yard he trys to herd and chase them, this needs to stop for obvious reasons, how do i train this type of dog?

Answer 1

Your 5 mo old male is interesting to read about. It makes me smile.

My dog is 1/2 Blue Heeler and 1/2 Aus Shepherd.

Blue Heelers are one-family dogs. They may accept a few other people but that will be more the exception than the rule. They get this way more and more as they get older and well established in the family (The Pack). Don't expect him to be good at meeting new people. Don't encourage any to pet hiim. Encourage them to leave him alone, and he'll accept a FEW and allow those few ONLY to pet him.

Blue Heelers are very close to and protective of the Pack (the family) and other dogs are run off as they are intuders who might harm the Pack members. YOUR dogs are a member of your pack, so they are his friends and he'll protect them as well as you and your children.

Do NOT try to untrain those two traits! They are an important part of who and what he is.

NOW... to the horses...
It sounds like you bought a dog from a farm breeder and he's got strong herding tendencies. He's not chasing them... he's working them and herding them.
BUT
The nature of the Blue Heeler (unlike my pyrs) is that he's supposed to work WITH his handler, and if he's doing it independently, that's because:
#1- he's too young to be trained for herding. and as a pup, he is doing it right now for FUN! You need to stop him.

#2- You need to teach him a few commands: Come, SIT, STAY, Lay Down, "OFF" or "Leave It"
Work on these EVERY DAY... ESP: Come, Sit, and Off or Leave It

#3- You need to be a good strong Alpha Pack Leader
Go to the websites below and make sure you know how.

Your horses are adults and he's a pup. I know he's trying to herd and work them because that's instinctual but Blue Heelers generally are raised to about age 1 1/2 before they are trained to work the animals from what I was told. But you can teach him Off or Leave It as a command to stop herding the horses. Also, your horses will probably kick at him and they may discipline him.

My problem was a lack of any trainer in my area other than a BC trainer who looks down on all non-BC dogs, and I won't ALLOW someone who looks down on my dog to train me and my dog. Also I couldn't afford to go out of state to attend classes.

Google "herding dog training videos" to see if you can buy some videos that will teach you how to train your dog as he gets older.

One other factor you didn't mention, is your other dogs. You didn't say what breed they are. My male pyr chases my cows to protect ME from injury, and when he's out there, my Aussie listens to the pyr rather than to me, so when you're having problems, if the other dogs are involved, your Blue Heeler may be listening to THEM!

There are some Blue Heeler groups at Yahoo you can join and that would get you more answers faster about your pup.
OH...
Don't forget to neuter him. He'll still be a good herding dog... and when he learns to work WITH YOU and follow your direction, he can be a really helpful asset in controlling your horses.

As someone said, if you don't want him to herd, raise him as a house dog, and train him in agility or fly ball (frizbee).

Answer 2

We tend to think of dog training as a series of steps for teaching particular behaviors. To teach a dog to stay in a particular position, you reward her as she remains in place for gradually longer times, at gradually greater distances, with gradually increasing degrees of distraction. Read more https://tr.im/XCvCx

Now, this is fine, training does involve teaching dogs specific behaviors with a step-by-step approach. This week, though, I’m going to discuss three mental habits that will not only enable you train more effectively but also make life pleasant for both you and your dog.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Nedra gave you a really good answer. Your dog was bred to herd, and that is what he is doing-whether you want him to or not. Sounds like he has a very intense herding instinct, and that cannot be trrained out of the dog. It can be controlled by training the dog, but if your dog is this intense at this age, you need to find him a job he can do for the rest of his life.
ACDs are not really good family dogs-they would much rather be working 12 hour days until they drop-that may be contributing to the destructive behavior. He is probably frustrated with his slow life so far. As far as not really liking other people-also completely normal for an ACD and you can't change that either. They are natually suspicious of any stranger and not the friendly tail-wagging type overall.
I suggest some serious obedience training, as ACDs will challenge your authority as well if they feel you are not the boss.

Yahoo Groups has a cattledog group made up of owners, breeders, etc of cattledogs and mixes. Great site to get ideas and info on your dog. It works very well for me-I appreciate the knowledge in that group!

Answer 5

Australian Cattle Dogs take very careful handling & I would suggest you take an obedience course immediatlely but find a trainer who UNDERSTANDS ACD's!!!!! VERY important. Not all training methods will work with them & may be detrimental.

I have a pack of 5 ACD's that I use for working cattle as well as rounding up the furniture lol & for the most part there is harmony but I am the ULTIMATE boss here. If you ever have more questions please email me at [e-mail]. Your pup is not one of my grandpups but as a breeder & lover + momma to this breed I am always here for questions.

Sorry I don't have more of an answer for you but I think Nedra E & now Ann B. have said the best & I'd just be repeating what they said which is why they got thumbs up lol.

Answer 6

You have said it, AUSTRALIA CATTLE DOG, He will try and herd your horses, that's what they are meant to do, My Brother had a blue heeler in Australia, wonderful house pet, everything you could ask for, but if I took him out,and if he saw Cattle, he was off, herding them, it was his nature, keep him away from the horses, and bring him up as a domestic pet.

Answer 7

You got a herding dog and now you dont' want it to herd?

Hey, I'm thinking about buying a Pointer and stopping it from pointing.

Your dog can be trained well enough that he only herd on command, but this will require professional training with a herding dog trainer. And you'll have to keep up that training at home.

He's destructive because he's not getting the proper care that he needs. Herding dogs often need 1-2 hours of active work a day. Frisbee, chase, running with other dogs, herding animals, etc.

I wish you nothing but luck with your dog, and ask that next time you get a dog you use a better breeder who can tell you what to expect.

Answer 8

These are the sort of questions you should be asking your dog's breeder. It sounds as if he needs to go to training classes not just f or obedience but also to get him socialised with other dogs and people - it needs to be done while he's still young. ACDs are very intelligent and quick to learn. Trouble is, they can learn the wrong things just as quickly!
Get in touch with the breed club if your breeder can't help
http://www.acdsocietyofgb.com/

Answer 9

He's destructive because he's bored. He herds because that's what he's bred to do. Obedience training would be the first step but also think about enrolling him in agility or flyball, something to stimulate his mind and give him lots of exercise. Heelers are high-energy and extremely smart, they need something to keep their mind and body occupied or else they'll tear your house to bits.

Answer 10

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Cheers.