Please give me your opinion of Blue Heelers

I have an 8 year old heeler that I've had since he was 4 weeks old. He has a wonderful disposition and is great with kids. He can be a little high strung and is obsessive about guarding me but will not attack a human unless I tell him to. He was definitely high energy when he was younger but I have left him alone for 14 hour work days in a fenced yard and with access to the house via doggy door since he was 2 years old and never had any problems. Before he turned 2 he was left in a fenced yard all day without any issues. He definitely has a quirky personality, is very intelligent and very ready and willing to take charge of any situation lol but overall has just been a wonderful dog and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Wow...such differing opinions!

I think we'll go sometime this weekend, have a look at the pups and parents, and make our decision then.

We have Roscoe the Wonder Dog, a sevenish year old red heeler. He was a dumpoff, with a banded tail (yea, as an adult!) and has been a great dog. Good with the kids, cats and scared of the horses, lol. Likes to bark but will go in his house when told to SHUT UP.
Biggest thing that told me what a good dog he was? He had dug out of his kennel into the one our shepard mix and rotty share. Someone (i'm leaning towards the mix) tore the crap out of him. Injured as heck, Roscoe let me carry the dog house out of his kennel and load him in the truck. Stood the whole way to the vet and once unloaded, stood in the dog house bottom and rested his head in my hands. I rubbed between his eyes while asking him to not die on me and he closed his amber eyes and sighed. SIX weeks of living in a small kennel in my garage, with constant oral meds and four weeks of pouring warm iodine water over and through the wounds and he never once offered to run away, bite or fight me. He just sighed and sat there.
This is one reason he'll be the ONLY dog that makes the move to NM with us.

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" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

We have a blue heeler that is awesome with our kids. She watches them constantly and I believe that she would die defending them. She has bitten one person- a relative- who was teasing one of our kids and acting like he was going to hit them with a switch. Everyone was laughing; we all knew it was a joke, but she didn't want anyone acting like they would hurt the kids. Two years ago, I watched her leap and knock my 11 year old son backwards and then turn her back to him and start barking. There was a snake in the grass in front of him and she kept him from stepping on it.

But, when she was a puppy, she chewed up everything. She got under our house and ripped down insulation. She was horrible about chasing cars and not obeying. She has mellowed out a lot but I don't know if it is because we broke her of those things or if she just grew out of them.

I think different strains of dog must be the reason for different temperaments.

Read the posts again. The difference between those who had them and loved them and those who didn't is WORK. A heeler is an active dog, mind and body. If you can give them a job that involves 50 miles a day while the dog has to use it's brain (herding, hunting) then the dog can come home and be a great dog. If it doesn't get that stimulation the poor animal is FRANTIC for it and spends all day trying to use it's body and brain. A backyard isn't suitable so the poor dog goes neurotic and stir-crazy.

Please don't try to make a decision while looking at adorable puppies and older who-knows-how-many-HOURS-of-training-to-achieve parents. And please don't adopt a dog bred for working unless you can work it hard. Some dogs have an inherent need to be tired at the end of the day that simply must be satisfied. A heeler is one, a border collie is another, anything "field bred" is a third.

"Two years ago, I watched her leap and knock my 11 year old son backwards and then turn her back to him and start barking. There was a snake in the grass in front of him and she kept him from stepping on it."

My heeler did the same thing for me. He also liked to chew a lot when he was a pup but I solved that problem by keeping him supplied with raw femur bones.

Our neighbor across the river has one that killed 17 of his kid goats this spring. (And I think that it's still alive.) I don't know anything else about the breed, but I know if his comes across the river, it won't be making a return trip.

Tom

You're in a great postion since you get to pick a puppy from the litter! we chose one that wasn't the first to chase a ball or come forward to check us out, but was not timid or fearful when we picked her up and played with her. We needed a somewhat submissive female because the poodle is a very dominant dog. The two dogs get along great, and Janie is smart and goofy and tough. She is way more "street smart"--or woods smart, than the poodle. So here's some pix of our evil wild heeler

Puppy Janie(our second heeler)


Janie all grown up


Janie doesn't gnaw on her kitties


Lazy dog


janie and her girlfriend Claire


Janie on patrol

What nice pics, wyld thang!

*Janie doesn't gnaw on her kitties*

lol, nope, she hugs 'em to death!

She's a beautiful girl and looks like she knows (and fits with) her family well.

__________________
" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

ha, she does have a favorite cat she licks and grooms, the cat loves it! it's like the cat is her puppy. She does chase the cats sometimes, but it's totally because the cat wants to be chased(yes you really can tell ).

ANother interesting thing about her is that she has awesome hearing, and barks at stuff that really matters, like someone walking up to the door, not jsut the wind blowing and making a random sound. If something is really dangerous (like a prowling wild animal, or a dangerous dog or creepy human) then she is quiet and stealth. We really like being able to read what she's picking up. The poodle just barks--which is fine, but she barks at the wind too.

you say they are giving them away? where is that? I'd take one in a minute. we had one and it was the best dog, every dog that comes our way is measured by his standard. we lost him through a tragic accident and I miss him every day.

I live on 10 acres with a blue heeler and several other labs and a golden retreiver. The labs like to venture out and explore along with the golden but the blue heeler is the one that will stay home. She is always by our side. She doesnt get along with my boston terrier at all but my boston and her are alot alike so that might be the problem. They are both head strong. I love my blue heeler and will have another one no doubt. She has never reacted in any way towards my son and is a great jeep dog and 4 wheeler dog. She will do anything we want to do to just be beside us. Very loving but loves like a bull in a china shop. We have taken her to obedience training which was more for training for us than her so that we would know how to handle her. WE have had no problems. They just need to always know who is boss. Mine does fine around goats and chickens. She has herded my chickens when I have asked her to and goes in with the goats and never bothers them but I tell her no.

Amy

I've never had a heeler, but all the amish around us do. Hard, gritty dogs. I don't trust them one bit. Turn your back and they'll snap at you. But they all like them. You'd really have to work with one and train it and not just "have it". Probably really depends on bloodlines as well.

Saw you commented on the Border Collies too. I don't care for them either, rather own a heeler. BC's seem high strung, barky, and need a lot of training.

That said, everyone has their own breed preferences. We raised German Shepherds for almost 10 years. They are okay, but kinda hyper around livestock, especially females, DH who adores GSD's will agree on that.

We currently have our old male GSD (neutered recently) and a young pair of Catahoulas. I just love the Catahoulas. But they really need to have someone that knows what they are doing. I also lucked out and both of mine have excellent temperments. I purposely picked them for that. Other lines are VERY hard, gritty dogs and prone to fighting. Just like any breed of any animal, there is a "general" temperment, but different lines (and desires of the breeders) bring different things.

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ADGA Nigerian Dwarf and MDGA Mini Mancha goats for show, home use and pets www.dbarjacres.webs.com Located in North central Wisconsin

Like all dogs, there are good and bad ones in each breed. Bad ones in any breed are usually the result of improper training and not matched up with the right type of owners. When ever you ask about any breed of dog you are going to get more negative responses then positive because thats just human nature to concentrate on the negative. A lot of people base their whole opinion on a breed by the example of only one or two dogs they have met or owned. Some haven't even met any just heard things about them. If I was you and interested in a heeler, I would research the breed first and then pick through peoples opinions/knowledge on them and go with those that seem the most creditable. Better yet, find a Heeler group where you can chat with other heeler owners, they can tell you the good, bad and what to look out for. Then go visit the parents and puppies, if you think they will work for your lifestyle.

Ashland, Ohio. I can give you their number if you're really interested.

ha, she does have a favorite cat she licks and grooms, the cat loves it! it's like the cat is her puppy.

OMG, Wyld Thang!! Our blue heeler does the same thing to one of our (goat) kids (and our cocker spaniel, when she lets her.) I don't know why it's just the one goat kid out of all of them, but he is her puppy and she grooms him, lol.

AND, your dog looks just like ours. Honestly. I need to get a pic.

WE LOVE OUR BLUE HEELER, PI! She is the best dog ever! As long as you have plenty of room for him/her to roam and are willing to spend the time training they are great dogs! I have never had a problem with my dog. Heelers are a working breed so need to be active and have a big "yard" but they are so intelligent, eager to please and loyal to their "family". We got Pi when dd was two years old. They were playing under the dinner table when Pi was a puppy and she nipped Cora. Cora just turned around and bit her back on the ear! lol They have been littermates ever since. Heelers are very easy to train if you spend the crucial time from the beginning. We started ours in the house w/ crate training (inside at night and morning, outside with family during day) and to bond with the family and learn boundaries but she has been strictly outdoor for the last eight years. They do not do well left alone because they like to be with their family so another dog or a lot of time with family is recommended. Be sure and teach her to accept you guys "messing" with (building trust by taking food, inspecting it and then handing it back to her) her feed and during feed time so she doesn't feel threatened while eating. They will defend their family and home so get them used to being around strangers and knowing to obey your commands/body language when people approach. Ours barks when people come up the drive but has never bit anyone or shown aggresion. The most was when kids were little and had company over I saw Pi in corner of porch growling. Turned to look and dd and boy were fighting over toy. She never got up, just growled to let me know. Some people have had trouble with theirs chasing cars but we never did.

Sorry so long but I really do love our heeler and highly recommend the dogs...especially if they come from "mellow" parents. From our experience they are great with kids, especially if raised together.

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"Mama always says stupid is as stupid does" Forrest Gump

"It is discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit." Noel Coward's Blithe Spirits

Just happened to see this today.

Typical Heeler if you ask me