Hang Tree Cowdogs?

[Sandhills]

Is anyone familiar with Hangin Tree cowdogs? I'm considering getting one but I've never been around one until recently. I was wondering what kind of temperament they have and if they would be good around young children? I have 2 grandsons that I provide day care for. I also have 2 corgis and a few cats and a handful of chickens that I let free range. I know they are really good with cows and that is why I want one but I don't want a dog that is going to be aggressive with my grandchildren or my smaller animals.

[Brighton]

Their website says they no longer have cattle or sell dogs.

[Sandhills]

I've looked at lots of breeders websites that still carry this line. I'm just hoping to find someone with personal experience with them.

[ErinP]

I've only known a couple, but I thought they were a little too aggressive on stock, personally.

But then, I like basic, cattle-bred border collies for the primary reason that I CAN trust them around kids... And there's just no dog that's smarter and more anxious to please. I can't imagine working cattle with anything else.

[Sandhills]

Our last dog was a Blue Heeler/Aussie cross. He was an awesome dog. We lost him a couple weeks ago. We think he had a heart attack.
Yesterday I heard of a Hangin Tree that may be available for adoption. The folks said they just don't have time for her. But I don't want to get a dog and then find out it won't work for us. I have 2 teenage boys that are very active in a 4-H dog project. My boys are home schooled so they would be able to work with the dog several times a day.

[CIW]

The dogs are a composite of several breeds of working dogs. They haven't been around long enough to develop any kind of consistency in temperament.
The guy who originally started the cross was up in Salmon, Idaho. (Gary something) He's probably passed away now though. His son used to live just south of me. He came over a few times with his dogs to work/train. I really didn't find any redeeming qualities in the dogs unless you were chasing wild cattle out of the brush. They liked to bark and would hold cattle up real well till you brought dogs with some handle on them to drive them home. The breed that they most mimicked was the catahola. Only they were kind of bitey on the cows, jumping at the cattle as they rounded their face.
Gary was a real fan of using a shock collar on his dogs and did a lot of yelling. If that works for you then it may be the kind of animal that you want.
You get what you pay for. If I might suggest. How about a good female Border Collie that is heavy with Wiston Cap in her pedigree. Not AKC registered. ABC registry.

[Sandhills]

This sounds like a dog I would not want. I've watched a few you tube videos and I can see what you mean by bitey. I can't imagine a dog like that around my grandsons. I would prefer a calmer dog that only barks when needed.

[MO_cows]

I saw a Hanging Tree Cowdog demonstration at a cattle show. They put an open trailer in the middle of the arena, turned in about 8 head of yearling Corrientes and 3 dogs loaded them. The rep was on horseback in the arena, off to the side, directing the dogs with verbal commands. It was well done, but Corrientes get hauled all over for roping so they were probably more eager to get on the trailer than a lot of cattle would be. The dogs snapped at the cattle but didn't see an actual bite.

[ErinP]

How about a good female Border Collie that is heavy with Wiston Cap in her pedigree. Not AKC registered. ABC registry.

Or BCSA.
I'm not sure I'd even bother with registries (or pedigrees), though, personally.

If your name is Sandhills because that's where you live, just start asking around the neighborhood. There are several good BC breeders in the Sandhills and they're all bred for cattle, of course. Cow-bred will be more "bitey" than sheep-bred, but they'll still be pretty soft. And they rarely bark. We've been using dogs on cattle for 20 years and I've never had one that barked when working.


And we've had several superb cow-bred BCs, but not a one of them had a pedigree beyond, "You know that little female with the blue eye that Bob Jones had for years? Well she's a full sister to this litter's mama..."


Of course, all of this is applicable to any breed, though I'll assume you probably already know it. I'm betting your last dog, since it was a cross, probably didn't come from a registered breeder either.

[PNP Katahdins]

Originally Posted by ErinP

Or BCSA.

Erin, BCSA (Border Collie Society of America) is the AKC Border Collie parent club, not a registry. ABC (American Border Collie Association) is the registry for working Border Collies. AKC is for show-type dogs, also known as Barbie Collies. Ours have all been working ABC dogs.

Peg

[ErinP]

oops! Slip of the fingers!
I was actually thinking of USBCC, but I don't think they actually register dogs now that I've been thinking about it. Like I said, I've never really cared so it's all Greek to me.
And yes, I know full well the opinion of AKC borders. I remember when we were still fighting the good fight against letting them in in the mid-90s...That was a different issue entirely


But much like in horses, I look for real dogs and if they have papers I like that's fine and if they don't, that's fine, too.

[Sandhills]

Thanks for all the help. We ended up not taking the hangin tree. We recently rescued a young border collie mix. She looks like shes going to be the perfect dog for our family.

[MushCreek]

Sure would be a good name for a band, though!

[MO_cows]

Originally Posted by MushCreek

Sure would be a good name for a band, though!

Good one! Yep, that would make a fine headline at a rock/blues venue:

Friday night only, the Hangin' Tree Cowdogs, opening for Four Fried Chickens and a Coke (a real band by the way).

[NeHomesteader]

We had a hangin tree dog for 15 1/2 years. The BEST dog we ever had. He was not aggressive at all. Very loving. He died 7 years ago and we haven't been able to replace him. He was that special.

[Sandhills]

The hangin tree I was looking at was very aggressive with cats. I would like to keep my cats around as they are good mousers as well as beloved pets. Also I have 2 grandsons that are at my house 5-6 days a week while their mother is working. They are only 2&3 and I don't want an aggressive dog around them. Our new pup has been great with them.
I know what you mean though about having a great dog and losing him. We had a heeler/aussie cross that we lost in January. I doubt if we ever find one like him again.

[NeHomesteader]

I have Grandkids and definately wouldn't want an aggressive dog around either. I guess just beings they are hangin tree bred doesn't always mean they will have the same temperament. I'm glad you found a dog that you like although ,like you said,it will never replace your old dog. That is why we can't get another one. They become part of the family.

[TedH71]

Catahoulas are good family dogs. Their trait to work cattle is to get them bunched up and run around them barking (it actually hypnotizes them to some degree) and if they decide to try to make a run for it..the dogs' job is to bite the nose or bay really hard at the front of the cow making the cow decide that it's easier being back in the herd. They also hunt wild hogs..that is technically their specialty...they have to pick on the meanest boar hog and get the hog to rally up with other hogs and the hogs will charge the dog and so forth. In the old days, only one dog would be sent out to go gather up 100-300 hogs and the dog had to work all day barking and picking on the hogs over and over again and eventually the hogs would follow the dog into a pen then the dog would climb out of the fence and the hog owner would close the gate and decide what to do with the hogs. A catahoula will NOT tolerate strangers on the property and will defend the property by barking and if the stranger decides to test the dog..they will most likely get bit. They're high energy and too smart for their own good as well. I highly recommend getting one. They're NOT like border collies...I really don't like telling a dog to move critters. I like a dog with an independent mindset and that's what a catahoula has. All I want to do is put a cut collar on the dog and tell him go find the hogs and off he goes.

[Little Quacker in OR]

Just a quick word here about The Australian Cattle Dog. They are NOT Blue or Red Heelers! They are just what I named them above. These dogs are good workers and amazing family dogs. Like any good working/herding breed they need to come from a good steady line, and be socialized while youngsters. Then you have a blank slate to write what you wish on it. It does state in their Breed Standard that they can be suspicious of strangers. That is why I have them. Out here in the boonies as I am. Some are: some are not.

I have been in ACD rescue for many years and still am. My current Cattlekid and very good boy is a blue, 6yr old ACD. Benjamin Blue is: a certified therapy dog raised visiting veterans hospitals and childrens hospitals. He adores people of all ages! He is also trained in German as well as English and is provicient in advanced obedience using either hand signals or voice(in 2 languages). So these guys are versatile. He rides in boats, in RV's, Pickups and airplanes, no worries.

ACD's do not do well with wishy-washy people. You as the leader need to lead.

I think we get out of a dog what we put into it. That is the bottom line.

Happy Spring is coming! LOL LQ Home of Cattle Dog Cabin

[ErinP]

In cattle country they're heelers because that's how they work. And they're red or blue, just like roan horses.
I raise wiener dogs. Yeah, they're "dachshunds" on their paperwork, but everyone knows they're wiener dogs