LINEBACKER(the dog)

cabe · #1 04/24/05, 05:14 PM

Friday I was traveling to work and we have a very long driveway. My oldest dog is the boss dog , and he and only he gets to run beside my truck to the end of the drive. A huge Blackbear was standing on the edge of the road, and I saw movement from the corner of my eye as Ace(OUR DOG) shot out from beside me at that bear and dove straight into the chest of that bear.The bear had just enough time to stand and catch my dog, but he lost his footing becuase my dog had hit him so hard he fell over the bank of the road with Ace in hot pursuit. My other two had heard Aces bark and were on that bear before he could gain his wits, and I was too - no confound bear is going to mess with my family. So he beat it and I managed to call in the furious dogs. I asked one of my buddies that hunts bear , how my dog was so brave, and he said my dog knew what to do becuase he had experience. This cuased me to think about 2 years ago when when Ace had been torn up so bad by somethig he was cut to the bone in several spots, very deep claws the vet. sewed him together. It was probably this bear, as he has been seen around here for years. Last year he wrecked some beehives of our neighbors. I live on the edge of a huge wilderness area, and we have benifits as well as troubles. My dogs keep many things from hurting our Christmas trees, and I have never seen anything on this earth brave enough to even look at our girls when Ace escorts them home from the Bus stop. But all the girls can tug his ears and just play with him like a tiny pup. I have to say of all the farm dogs I have owned and loved --Mr. Ace is the "Boss".Marty.

4nTN · #2 04/24/05, 05:33 PM

Do you mind telling me what breed Ace is?I lost my 16 year old Border Collie at the beginning of the winter.And my Aussie shep is 15...so we will be keeping our eyes open for a dog (dosen`t matter if it`s purebred).
If a dog can even HALFWAY fill their place,it would be an exceptional dog.
My hubby and I are thinking about an Australian Cattle dog.Anybody reading this have one?I know some about the breed..how are they as home guardian`s?

muggin_girl · #3 04/24/05, 06:40 PM

Ozzie Cattle Dog? Do they also go by Blue Heeler? That is what we call them in Canada. If it is the same dog they are great animals BUT they tend to be a one person dog and don't have the best rep with kids. Have to be firm from the very beginning. Teak was a good dog and was good with the family but really hated strangers, use to have to tie her up or she would pee on their shoes :haha:

iowahopefuls · #4 04/24/05, 08:32 PM

We have had a bear up in our area as well. I live up in the SoCal mountains. We have a Plott Hound. I can not say enough about our Lucius!!! A little history on the breed. They were mainly used to hunt bears, boars and tree racoons in the southern states. I had never seen one or even heard of one!! When I saw him on the shelter website I fell in love with him. He is brindle and is gorgeous. He is not all looks though. Smart, as a whip. Most of all patient. We adopted Lucius in Oct. when he was about 2 months now he is about 9 months and a good size dog, my 3yr old likes to use him as a horse and Lucius lets him. Ok sorry for the bragging, back to the bear. We had a bear visit us one early morning, Lucius barked some but since it was early and a saturday I wasnt getting up. Two weeks ago our oldest daughter was coming back from the bus stop when she saw the bear up the road. She came inside the yard (fenced) and got me. Lucius was the first one out the door. I dont know what he had in mind but it wasnt friendly. The bear didnt come much further down the road after he heard all the noise. It was more then likely a young bear. I dont know what someone was thinking when they brought these dogs to the shelter but I wish I had adopted more. I emailed a gentleman in N. Carolina recently to buy some of his Plott Hounds, I asked him about natural instinct. He said they didnt so much need to be trained to go after a bear that was natural, they need training so they can handle the bear. They are trained to hunt with 4-6 other dogs. I cant recommend this breed enough!! Good luck with the bears in your area.

Danielle

4nTN · #5 04/25/05, 08:24 AM

[QUOTE=muggin_girl]Ozzie Cattle Dog? Do they also go by Blue Heeler?

Yes,Blue and Red Heelers are actually Australian Cattle Dogs or Queensland Heelers..the "nickname" is referring to the coloring of the breed and the fact that they love to nip the heels of anything that moves...a useful trait when trying to move ornery cattle..not so useful when it`s your kids,or your neighbor`s riding past on bicycle`s.

cabe · #6 04/25/05, 09:47 AM

I have always been a firm believer in Muts.That Is all I have ever owned, except my wife and her Golden Lab.Ace mother was a ferocious half Plot Hound half Bull dog.His Father was a large and working Border Collie .He is almost 8 years old now and very active.When he was about 3 he attacked a very large black snake that was across the road while the kids were walking(and ate it), and he has delivered to our door many groundhogs,bobcats, and once I pulled him off a poor deer he had just gotten a neck hold on.We found the fawn, and kept it safe , while we put Ace in his pen, and then re-uninted the mom and fawn that nite. They both were fine. I have hunted all my life , and I have never seen a dog that is so game, yet so loving to the family. Do not expect him to be nice to strangers, and once he foiled a theif from digging all my Ginseng. Tracks to prove it . I want to continue his line, and I am thinking of a Red-Bone hound female if I can find someone who knows Aces history(good catch dogs for them also).Red -Bones are good all around hounds and one owners also.I am a little concerned about his latest conquest , we had a very large Gray fox he killed, and he must have dug for days getting to it, but he has had all his shots. That fox was huge and he had it on the porch for all to see. My neighbors are happy(CHICKENS)but it was a female and I have tried to find her kits to no avail. I keep him penned up after that one and the bear.It hurts me to see this, he is used to a free life.He is only out now when we are here, and his dark brown eyes reflect the disgrace. He is my buddy , and its for his own good.Marty.

iowahopefuls · #7 04/25/05, 11:56 AM

I was just trying to picture a Plott/Bulldog mix. Nothing personal but it sounds kinda funny. My neighbor raises Bulldogs and I just couldnt imagine the outcome of the two.

. Good luck with Ace.
Danielle

4nTN · #8 04/25/05, 12:36 PM

they didnt so much need to be trained to go after a bear that was natural,

The Plott Hound sounds like a great breed,but I have a question....if they are natural born hunters..would I need to worry leaving one alone with my hens or goats?It sounds like I would..I like the fact that they are great protectors...and they sound like WELL accomplished hunting dogs...but...I don`t think I like them killing and dragging home wild things..if i had one..I`d keep him contained to my property...away from most wildlife.

Freeholder · #9 04/25/05, 01:20 PM

The person who is looking for a dog, might consider the old-fashioned working farm collies. Website at http://www.geocities.com/farmcollie1/assn.html has a lot of information, and there's a yahoo list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AWFA/ . They are really wonderful dogs, trustworthy with stock and children (though some have to be taught to leave poultry alone, many herd poultry), protective, most herd (mine doesn't but he doesn't have anything TO herd, either); generally they learn your rules and routines for the place and enforce them. They can be worth their weight in gold.

Kathleen

tamilee · #10 04/25/05, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabe

Friday I was traveling to work and we have a very long driveway. My oldest dog is the boss dog , and he and only he gets to run beside my truck to the end of the drive. A huge Blackbear was standing on the edge of the road, and I saw movement from the corner of my eye as Ace(OUR DOG) shot out from beside me at that bear and dove straight into the chest of that bear.The bear had just enough time to stand and catch my dog, but he lost his footing becuase my dog had hit him so hard he fell over the bank of the road with Ace in hot pursuit. My other two had heard Aces bark and were on that bear before he could gain his wits, and I was too - no confound bear is going to mess with my family. So he beat it and I managed to call in the furious dogs. I asked one of my buddies that hunts bear , how my dog was so brave, and he said my dog knew what to do becuase he had experience. This cuased me to think about 2 years ago when when Ace had been torn up so bad by somethig he was cut to the bone in several spots, very deep claws the vet. sewed him together. It was probably this bear, as he has been seen around here for years. Last year he wrecked some beehives of our neighbors. I live on the edge of a huge wilderness area, and we have benifits as well as troubles. My dogs keep many things from hurting our Christmas trees, and I have never seen anything on this earth brave enough to even look at our girls when Ace escorts them home from the Bus stop. But all the girls can tug his ears and just play with him like a tiny pup. I have to say of all the farm dogs I have owned and loved --Mr. Ace is the "Boss".Marty.

Hi Marty;
Ace ROCKS!!! What a gutsy and smart dog. He remembered how the bear had attacked him years ago and what had to be done to prevent the bear from getting you or him! Awesome! Y'all must be proud of him
tamilee

cabe · #11 04/25/05, 05:33 PM

Thanks Tamilee, yes Ace is a great dog. We named him that before his eyes even opened it was the color

itch black with a white chest and feet.I really want to try to continue his line, it will need to be done in the next couple of years.Our property is situated sort of like a narrow strip of land between thousands of acres of pristine wilderness and the last outpost of private land, my ten acres.The land we have has thick brush, and many trees. Perfect game habitat, perfect predator hunting.All the game he gets comes from our land, it is almost uncanny how he has this imaginary line around our land , and boy anything besides us and our other dogs gets it.If we are with whomever shows up it is O.K.,but he is not freindly to those without a family member. If I can figure out how to do it , I will post a picture someday. He looks like a very thick and short-haired Border Collie, with Bulldog Jaws. I clock him all the time when he runs down the drive, and he can pass me at 35 mph, very easy.I just love him , and sorry to brag- but he is my dog. Thanks, Marty.

iowahopefuls · #12 04/25/05, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4nTN

they didnt so much need to be trained to go after a bear that was natural,

The Plott Hound sounds like a great breed,but I have a question....if they are natural born hunters..would I need to worry leaving one alone with my hens or goats?It sounds like I would..I like the fact that they are great protectors...and they sound like WELL accomplished hunting dogs...but...I don`t think I like them killing and dragging home wild things..if i had one..I`d keep him contained to my property...away from most wildlife.

I am not sure as I still live in the city. I plan on getting chickens soon and I will let you know. He doesnt go after the cats because he knows he gets in trouble for that, we do have a tom cat "Dude" he plays with. It is pretty funny to see him stand behind a tree dead still then charge the cat and jump on him, Dude knows he is coming and rolls over and bites what ever is avail. then they take turns running around chasing each other, sorry off subject.
Danielle

OldYellersGhost · #13 04/25/05, 08:50 PM

What kind of diet is Ace on?
I want whatever that boy is getting!

cabe · #14 04/27/05, 05:03 PM

We keep all the dogs bowls full of dry Alpo. It is best for them , keeps the teeth good and all that. Ace eats just as much as the rest, but you can tell when he has a good day- his gut is huge, and his fir is shiny as wet coal. His favorite thing in the world is a nice fat groundhog.If it takes him two days he will consume the whole thing , head,fur,...only thing I have ever observed him pass up is the stomach , and it is full of grass.I wish I had a dollar for every mole he has ousted. Marty.

Pony · #15 04/27/05, 09:28 PM

Huzzah for the Great Ace!!! What a wonderful dog!!

Sounds like you are rightfully proud of and downright grateful for that ol' boy.

Good for him!

Thanks for sharing your story!

Pony!

TedH71 · #16 04/27/05, 09:55 PM

Don't cross him with a redbone..I've had redbones...no mean bone in their body and you don't want a full blood hound or a dog with alot of hound in thier blood because they'll wander and dig excessively...howl and bay alot!!!! The reason he's not baying much is because of the bulldog and border collie in him. If he was full blood Plott you would hear him alot more!

Ted

lynpea · #17 04/28/05, 07:14 AM

the territory boundries probably come from the B.collie in him. our own bc never leaves the property unless we are with him. I only wish that he was half as brave as your dog!

cabe · #18 04/30/05, 07:58 AM

EUREKA!!!( or however you spell it) about a month ago me and the kids were driving home and we saw this huge Great Dane lookig dog crossing the road. It was very skinny and no collar, looked like a stray, but when we slowed down it ran away.Well you know how you file something away in your brain for later use... My youngest girl knows I want Ace to find a girlfreind, so she told me we should find that dog and see about it, girl , boy ,life story, whatever. I went back to where it had last been, drove up to the house near there, and guess what walked out in the yard?The most awesome sight of a dog I have ever seen. This thing was huge, so black in color that it was almost blue, and the longest ears and legs I have ever seen on a pooch.
We went up to it and to our joy it was a Female. But I was so worried about her becuase she was all bones, and no collar. My daughter is a hero anyway, and she would not rest until we brought it some food, but when we returned someone had arrived at the house where the dog was staying.The owner was a woman, and she told me this dogs story.
At one time she had a very good Bloodhound, her ex -hubby had paid great sum for it and was going to have it bred , and sell pups. The two of them had troubles, he left- and she tryed to take her dog to a place to meet another dog for marriage and on the way her blood hound (girl) got away and into the yard of a black colored Great Dane (her girl Bloodhound was in full heat)I think you folks can put two and two.To cut to the chase this 3 year old female is half Dane /Bloodhound.She has never been spayed, and is neglected but the woman would not sell the dog to me.So I struck a deal, we buy all the dogfood , vet fees,for this sweet and wonderful giant beautiful dog, when she goes into heat in a couple of months Ace gets to marry her. This is the language I and my daughter use.The woman told us we had to take all the pups, and we agreed. I also believe we will be able to buy Maria(we have named the dog our name)as this woman seems on hard times, or at least provide better for Maria.Thanks for all the great advice, and now Ace is going to the Chapel, and he is going to get Married.Imagine the pups they will throw.Marty