I'm sorry, I don't usually post things like this, but this one really got to me. I used to be wary of cattle dogs, but since owning them, I've gone head over heels for the breed. Definitely a huge, huge difference between meeting a cattle dog, and living with them, since they tend to be all about their owners and no one else. At any rate, my husband is interested in getting a puppy in a year or two (I tend to get adult animals only, so it's his turn XD ). We are pretty sure we have a place picked out, but I came across a breed specific rescue website today. They are charging rates that are high, but perhaps acceptable for purebred dogs. What bothers me is that most of the dogs they have for adoptions are obvious mixes. Now, don't jump on me for not liking mutts, behind cattle dogs and podengos, they are my favorite dogs. My problem with that, is that this group is acting as if they are purebred. The descriptions say things like, "he is a great example of his breed" on a dog that is obviously a border collie/heeler mix. Another says, "this is the littlest blue heeler you'll ever see". Well yeah...because it is obviously a mix (looks like terrier to me)! My issues with that are: -Charging prices that might make sense for purebred dogs but not mixes of unknown background -Claiming mixes are 'great example of the ACD breed' when they are mixed. They aren't great examples of the breed in conformation and probably behavior...ACDs are pretty odd balls. I can see a dog going to a home and having issues completely unrelated to the breed, but people thinking that is typical of cattle dogs because they are told the dog they got is one -It's just dishonest in my book. What is wrong with just saying it is a heeler mix? Heeler mixes can be great, because sometimes the cattle dog energy and protectiveness are toned down in mixes. I don't know why this ticked me off so much, but it did. It reminds me of some guy who was (and I think still is) selling chihuahua/cattle dog crosses, and calling them mini cattle dogs. The dogs look so obviously chihuahua like, it always surprises me that anyone can make a buck off of something like that. <End RAGE>
If you do get a heeler, definitely prepare yourself for a dog that never runs out of energy, EVER. My cousin has a blue heeler that is both a farm and family dog, and his drive is insane. He gets a ton of exercise and is outdoors all the time, so it isn't a matter of being cooped up at all. But even during 'quiet' time in the evening, he is gogogo! He has learned to play nicely indoors, but has to be in constant motion. If you are trying to watch tv, there is a constant game of light toss fetch with indoor toys or he gets antsy. Sometimes he doesn't know his stopping point. We have to MAKE him stop and cool down. Kinda sugaring up a kid with ADHD, I guess! One with four legs who can run and run and run and run and run and run....WHEW! He really is a good boy though. And he is SMART, he learns so fast and is so eager to please. Teaching him a new trick is a matter of the human having the energy to keep up with him!
Bleh, I hate when rescues misuse their clout especially. D: Haha, yeah Stacykins, these dogs can run! Thankfully, our heelers have been really easy to train to stay calm inside the house. But outside....ZOOM!
LOL it's really not uncommon for rescues to be really ignorant about the breed characteristics. I once saw an obviously purebred Samoyed listed as a Newfoundland mix, and pitties get labled as "Boxer mix" all the time.
Quote:Pits here get labeled boxer mix to save their lives. Denver and many of the outlying cities have a breed ban with automatic euthanasia for any pits that end up in a a shelter.
Aye, I've seen some really awesome rescues, and some I have to wonder how much is just about money. Yeah, I definitely see and can understand that at the general shelters. But this is a breed specific (cattle dog only) rescue, so I kind of hope they know a big brown dog with floppy ears and no ticking isn't a purebred!! XD Though, it'd be better if they didn't, because at least they wouldn't be lying. And oops, wrote you a response Breezy, and didn't realize you were responding to Jamie. Reading is hard. :B
I have had some blue heelers in my day, and LOVE them... but there is a down side. Not just bad rescues. Heelers/ACD's can get cancer in various areas and NOT respond to chemo and radiation treatment. There is still a lot of cross breeding going on with the red/blue heelers, NOT the AKC recognized dogs. If you do some research as to what crosses still crop up, or were prevelant in what areas. Some heelers have bull terrier blood in them, they were bred in the Sydney/NSW's area before they were brought here. I had one that had a bit of Rat terrier in her 6 generations back, she was leaner and had HUGE ears like the terrier ancestor, but man she could go all day. One of my others as afraid of everything.. I MEAN everything, there is a genetic disease that can hit a puppy, it can make them hyper shy or hyper agressive. The only way you can tell is once the pups start to grow, and then you can see it in one or two, and shouldn't breed the parents again, but people do. Some Heelers can have alot of energy, some not so much. Now have you done much research in the breeds that went into the heeler? http://www.queenslandheelers.net/historybreed.htm You will see traits crop up in dogs you are interested in, even ones you think CAN"T be purebred. Smooth coated collie, dalmation, smooth highland collie, kelpie (border collie/dingo), dingo, and some unknown crossbreds. They are one of the few dogs I know that can take a kick to the head, spit out the blood, grin and keep going. They are also super smart. Hope this helps, I would check out pet finders as you can find all kinds of dogs, ACD/heelers there.
Yeah, I'm no expert, but I am probably more well versed than many on cattle dogs (and the website specifically says it is for ACDs, and refers to dogs of obvious mixed background as belonging to this breed). Mainly because I'm a geek and like to read up on everything. XD I'm not as familiar with the stumpy tailed cattle dogs, but they seem a lot harder to find. Aye, cattle dogs can come in a wide range especially varying by state, but while I won't post the link (I'm not looking for people to go attack the website, plus, I'd talk to them directly to try to figure out why they think listing mixes as ACDs is a good idea before I went around calling them out directly), I can say they have some very definite mixes. I am confused what you mean about cross breeding reds and blues though. Are you referring to working lines, say, heelers in some of the SW states that aren't registered, but mainly have ACD blood in them being crossed with, say, Australian shepherds? The 'Texas heelers' I've been seeing around more and more it seems.
