Blue heeler removing horse's tails and injuring goats- help?

[EJ]

I know what you mean Soapweed and I was at that point once too. I finally learned how to make them work with me. Heck I know dogs aren`t for everyone. Who knows someday I may even own an atv. As for right now HECK NO.

[TXTibbs]

I know people down here that if it wasn't for dogs they wouldn't get their pastures gathered. To much brush to maneauvor or gather in, but them dogs can get the job done. You have to have some well trained dedicated dogs tho.....you can't just throw any poodle out there and expect it to do what you want it to.

kelpies
borders
Blue Heelers
some use curs/lepords

those are the main breeds used

[Faster horses]

In all these years, we never have had a dog problem. My husband loves them and works extensively with them. He uses them to work cattle and for companionship.

For whatever reason, now we have a dog problem. I think it might be because, even though they are both spayed and neutered, one is a male and one is a female. As I mentioned before, we have not had a male dog in 37 years. The problem is, my husband says the male dog is not the culprit. So I guess Dixie has to go.

What I found was a vet clinic in Miles City that will take her. WE pay $55 and they keep her until they place her for adoption. Unless she is a problem and then they will do something different. I hate to take this way out, but I think it is best under the circumstances. She is a very attractive dog and minds well. It is just that she gets in trouble and it is hard to stay a step ahead of her. We have never confined our dogs or tied them up, so I need to train the hubby if that is what the answer is; and he doesn't want to have to tie them. We have no kennel, so that means we shut them up when we leave. He was gone for just a bit yesterday and she killed a kitten. That is 2 that we know of. We just can't have that.

I am going to tell the vet clinic the problems she has. I would hope that someone with kids would take her and play with her A LOT. She will work cattle, too, but the family deal would be the best for MY PEACE OF MIND.

[theHiredMansWife]

I have a somewhat similar philosophy about "cow dogs". I won't have them because they just tend to be too hard-headed for my taste. And I've met too many that were unpredictable.

Give me a border collie. They're just dying to please you and you can trust them around your kids...

They're not as good of a cow dog as a heeler to be sure, but for my family's purposes they work better.

[Turkey Track Bar]

[Nicky]

FH - sorry to hear about Dixie, it's always hard to get rid of a dog. I'm sure they'll find her a good home.

[Faster horses]

Thanks. Saying it and doing it are two different things. So, we'll see.

[greg]

Faster....how old is she? Border collie? Husband use commands on her?How far from Alberta border are you?

[Faster horses]

We aren't real far from the Canadian Border. And she is NOT border collie. This is the second dog we have gotten from these people and the first one was the best dog we ever had. You can see her as a pup on my avatar and I put a picture of her in the "Dogs" catagory of the photo contest. She is the last picture, the red pup; she is a year old now.

She obeys commands, "Go Back", "Sit", etc and she comes from a long line of working dogs. She will work already, but she needs some guidance. She needs to be on a leash when working cattle up the chute. She does okay, then she gets excited and will heel the cattle that come out of the chute. We dont' like her doing that, but we are usually short of help, so this doesn't get addressed like it should. If she were on a leash, she couldn't do that. It isn't her fault, she just needs worked with. My husband usually works with them right there in that particular spot, but he has been bringing the cattle up to the A-pen and the dog is along the alley. And he has never had to put a leash on a dog. So therein lies the problem.

She is starting to bark when people drive up, and I like that. The other dog won't say a word.


Did you ask because you might be interested in her?

[Mrs.Greg]

I'm sure Greg asked because we are looking for a stock dog and are having a terrible trying to get a started dog...he doesn't want to start from scratch and train one...the only problam being hes VERY stuck on it being a border collie,last stock dog we had was border and hes the best hand we ever had!Our summer pastures thick river land and dog needs to get into trees and bring cows out.Thank-you for the info and if Greg is interested he'll let you know.

[greg]

THX,guess didn't pay attention.Wifes right want started Border collie.Can get lots of pups don't want the work and need the dog started for the summer like you don't have hands avaiable and really need dog for down at pasture,Thx anyway

[Faster horses]

I will pm you a phone number of someone that might have some started Border Collies.