Working Dog (?)

[OldDog/NewTricks]

What kind of a working dog do you want?
Header or a Healer

Why?

[Heel Fly]

I voted for a ? because with a border they will work both ends. I have been around heelers, aussies and kelpies but for an all around, won't chew the arm off the mailman dog, I love the borders.

[theHiredMansWife]

"won't chew off the mailman's arm..."

Yeah, that's kind of my philosophy, too. Blue heelers, for example, are probably the best cattle dogs I've ever watched. But I've known far too many that simply could not be trusted around kids.

So we make the trade-off for a possibly softer cattle dog, but one that fits into the family better.

[katrina]

Lab-dalmation......The best cow dog you could ask for..

[kolanuraven]

I've got one of each right now....and they each have their pros and cons but I'd not give one of them away for anything!!

They know their jobs without me even having to say a word usually and they work great together as a team!

[Ranchy]

Around here, the cattle tend to be a little ringier, ya really don't want anything that will make them go more........ya need more of a head dog, to stop and hold them, while you catch up again.

We have a Cur, two half Curs that just turned a year old, and now, the baby.....half Cur, half Blue-Lacy. Hope he'll work out......don't know much at all bout the Lacys.

[Turkey Track Bar]

A Corgi....



Actually, I'm with Heel Fly, and say Border Collie...by the way HF, that pup of yours is darn cute.

I've actually never met a dog I didn't like, it's just that I like some better than others!!!

The only dog who has ever bitten me is my Mom's spoiled brat half Red Heeler, half Cocker Spaniel, 100% Spoiled Rotten and mean dog. But it's good she's protective because my Dad is gone quite a bit (for cattlemen's meetings and fighting water wars) and Sassy would kill someone before letting them in the house!!!

Cheers---

TTB

[Faster horses]

We prefer heelers because that is how we know to work with the dogs.

We had a part Catahoula once that we loved dearly, but she was a head dog and the other two were heel dogs. They would get so mad at the Catahoula at times. The only time she was a real help, is if the cattle were going uphill into the timber. She'd go up and bring them back. She minded real good and was super tough, so mostly we got by. She was a real hoot. I just have to get a scanner and post some pictures of her.
She had gobs of personality. She wasn't very big either. My husband always said I heard it wrong and that she was Chiauaua instead of Catahoula. The rest was Blue Heeler. Whatever she was, she was a great friend and a laugh a minute.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Ranchy,
found this for ya.


History of the Southern Cur Dog
The "cur" dog is one of the few working breeds that originates right here in the United States. They come from different lines, and of different types. While all have a common origination from the southern part of the US, they have similar but distinctively different hunting styles, traits, and separate regional originations. Most of the breeds of cur dogs date back to pioneer times, and were used to help put food on the families table, as well as to be a guardian to alert their families to the approach of strangers. the worth of a good hunting dog back then should not be underestimated. A families Cur dogs played a huge role in producing game for the family food, both hunting and rounding up semi-wild livestock that were "free ranging". A dogs working ability was of paramount importance. A dog had to provide above and beyond what he cost his family in feed. There are many short references to this type of dog in American literature but the exact history and make up of most of these "Cur Dogs" is vague due to the fact that most of it is verbal, and was not recorded on paper...
Different Types of Cur Dogs
Here is a short list of the different types of cur dogs commonly used for hunting today, in alphabetical order. Click on the each type to learn more about them. Although not a Cur dog, we will list Plott hound because they play a large role in hunting hogs with dogs, and specifically they are in our stock of Cur dogs.

"Blue Lacy" or "Texas Blue Lacy"
Catahoula Cur Dog
Kemmer Cur Dog
Leopard Cur Dog
Mountain Cur Dog
Southern Black Mouth Cur Dog
Yellow Blackmouth Cur Dog

Not a Cur, but the breed bears mentioning due to it's place in Hog Hunting history in the U.S.

Plott Hound

Blue Lacy or "Texas Blue Lacy"
This dog originates from the "hill country" region of Texas, to the "Lacy Brothers" - (Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry Lacy) from the marble falls area. Dating back to the late 1800's, the Lacy family history notes the breed to be the result of Greyhound or Whippet / Scent Hound/ Coyote cross with the emphasis on the herding/ droving characteristics. Their are various theories regarding the scenthound used. Some believe it was a Red Bone Hound, or Italian Gray Hound, others believe it was a July Hound. They are medium sized dogs, ranging from 35-55lbs.

Here's another one:

http://www.stateanimals.com/txstatedog.html

and another: this one has lots of info

http://www.lacydog.com/

[Ranchy]

Thanks, Lilly! TheHiredMan'sWife had posted the TLGA site, when I posted Rebel's pic the other day, but that other was great, too! I appreciate you taking the time to help further my education!

[OldDog/NewTricks]

[OldDog/NewTricks]

Heelers = Drive Dogs - - Drive dog do just that - On one ranch we would use (Head Dogs = Herders = Fetch Dogs) - to gather all the cattle into the Catch Pen - - it was about 1.5/2 steep brush covered miles down hill to the home working corrals - - we'd open the Catch Pen Gate and let the Drive Dog take Herd home. When we'd get there every last cow would be in the W/Corral and the Heelers/Drive Dog would be laying in the Gate opening.

Heelers/Drive Dogs work great in Crowding Alleys/Chutes/Corrals where you can set the gates and let the dog move the Livestock

98% of Heelers can NOT be taught to Head and learn to take FAR LESS commands than Heard Dogs - - All Head dog can be taught to Heel and learn to take Many Many commands

Head Dogs/Herd Dogs/Fetch Dogs tend to go to the head and Stop/Turn/Fetch animals - - Fetch Dogs Instink is to bring aminals to you.

I sold a dog to a local Rancher and got an angrey phone call - That the He77 did you sell me?

When I got there - He was trying to use a Head Dog as a Drive Dog - and I taught HIM a few things - - soon we were riding along talking and the Head dogs were ring the cattle along behind us by them selves.

Pig hunter buy my Head Dogs - they are much faster than their fight dogs and get in frount of pigs and stop them until fight dogs catch-up.

Deer hunter tell me stories about head dog that have almost made deer run then over Fetching Deer

I would not let my Livestock dog run deer but she would Reteive Ducks and Point Birds (in her way) - - "I" had to learn to Read Her