blue heelers

[katessky]

I just took in a blue heeler, 9 months old, for an ill friend who has no time for him. He is very smart. I do not know how to train a heeler. I do help some local ranchers with cattle gathering and sorting. How can I train my dog to be a help, and not a hinderance in the process? Know of any good books, or are their often local ranchers that would train such a dog?

Kate

[gcreekrch]

I'm going to say this pretty blunt as I am very passionate about this issue.

If you are asked to help at a ranch the best thing you can do with an untrained dog is leave it at home or locked in the truck. There is nothing more maddening to a cowman to have a dog in the wrong place at the right time and screw up the days works.
If you have a friend who is a dog trainer and will help you out on a one on one basis that is the direction I would take. If not, and you don't have your own stock to train your dog on, keep it as a pet.

[per]

Good advice, I had a Boarder Collie that was a pretty good cow dog but every once in a while it freelanced for the neighbor. Not good for relationships. Not quite the same but bringing a less than perfect dog could have the same results.

[cowpuncher76]

I know guys who'll rope your dog and drag him a couple miles (all in the interest of teaching him to lead, of course) if he starts trying to "help" uninvited........

[WyomingRancher]

Herding Dogs Progressive Training by Vergil Holland is a pretty good reference. It's geared mostly towards Border Collies, but mentions how to work with other breeds as well.

Good luck, and I agree with GCreek, better leave the dog home unless invited. I work my cattle with dogs, but they will get on the fight with strange dogs FWIW .

[tta stockdogs]

Another book that may help ya a bit....Training and Working Dogs by Scott Lithgow. Before ever try to train/work stock be sure to have a a good solid recall, down., and that'll do or you mite as well tie your dog up at the house and work the stock by yourself.

[Kato]

My advice? Before you do anything. Do this.

Take your dog, and sign up for an obedience class. It will put you light years ahead when you decide he's ready to do cow work. Heelers are bold strong dogs, and you need to have total control over him from the get go. Some good basic obedience gives you a super foundation to start from. I've been through a few classes with my German Shepherds, and I can guarantee that when you're done the course you will have a dog that has social skills, and respect, most important of all, who listens to you. If he won't listen to you, don't even think of working cattle with him. It's a recipe for disaster.

I'm a firm believer in the power of obedience training. Even when my dog didn't pass the course first time (they hardly ever do), she was a new dog when we were done.

That's my rant for the day.

[Faster horses]

I agree with the others here. For one thing, it's amazing what a
dog can screw up and it's also very dangerous to take a dog
around cows that are not 'dog broke.'

Good for you for taking the dog in. Good luck with him.
Blue Heelers, while they are among my favorite dogs, can
be pretty hard-headed. Especially the males.

[Pertnear]

A dog is like a good piece of equpment .find the brake and know how it works ,also the park brake. If you don't. Have um leave him home. You got to have some kind of an ideal of what you want it to do. It also helps if you are a little smarter then the dog !!!!!!

[OldDog/NewTricks]

[Tap Duncan]

I've had 3 blue heelers, they have a mind all their own, which needs to be focused. They are as smart as a 5 year old child upon maturity, and they once held the Guiness Book of World Records for longest living dog, at 35 years. It's not a pet, per say, it's a long commitment. They need a job. Period. Anything. If it's just walking to the mailbox, well, that's ok with them. I also would take my pups out into the pasture, and run away from them, that seemed to instill the heeling/herding instinct in them early on. I love these dogs. Also, if it doesn't have a Bentley mark, it's a cross breed, and you can expect problems in behaviour and performence, like obedience and focus. Hope it all works out.