Cattle Dogs (Queensland) Changing?

[dainerra]

just wanted to say that not all "famous" "reputable" breeders aren't responsible. Winning tons of ribbons and shows, either conformation or working, doesn't necessarily mean that they are responsible either. It takes many factors together to make a breeder truly responsible and worth supporting.

And that red dog IS overweight. You should be able to see some indention of his ribs, just like every other breed of dog, but especially one with a short coat like an ACD.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Very true Dain. . I was just speaking on the topic that it seems like the blockiness is well accepted and practiced by breeders who fit the generally accepted definition of responsible in several countries in regards to exploring the origins of this type.

 

[dainerra]

hey, I'm a working line girl all the way. I have, though, found some GSD breeders who breed showline dogs that I do like. It takes some work, but there are good showline breeders out there in all the different breeds. Add in those people who just breed because they have a dog with working parts and you have a mess.

Oh well. Put in the legwork and I'm sure that you will find the perfect dog to add to your family.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

It seems like a lot of the show breeders had narrower dogs in the past, a few until very recently, so I do think there must be showlines out there somewhere I'd like. I do hope some are keeping the narrower look for those who like it but want a less drivey family dog.

Thanks! I sure hope we find the right fit.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I keep looking at the blockier headed dogs and I recognize the shape from another breed but can't quite put my finger on it. I still agree that the one dog is FAT. Now the one you posted below that one with the black pup in the picture is a good looking dog. That dog looks like it was built for cattle herding. Yes, it does look like a heavier boned dog, but I wouldn't turn it down.

My guess is that somewhere along the way a blockier dog did some big time conformation winning and then went on to stud and was probably campaigned really well. If you started looking at the lines you might start seeing the same stud in many of the blockier pedigrees. Or offspring of that stud.
I used to show a different breed in conformation and I saw that happen. Everyone wanted a certain stud on the pedigree either for bragging rights or to increase show puppy prices. I hope I'm wrong, especially in such an outstanding working breed.
I tried to get pics of Phoenix today and he was so curious about the camera that I couldn't take the picture. I think Phoenix is more like what you are looking for. He is still under a year old so he hasn't matured into his adult body yet. I will try to sneak the camera past him tomorrow so I can get a picture of his whole body and not just his nose...lol. He actually came off of an Amish dairy farm as a puppy. Not one running a puppy mill but one that had excellent working dogs and a demand for them in his community. It would have been a little sad for him to end up a house dog his whole life but it was clear that his owner loved him.
Phoenix does a bed check at night going from pen to pen and stall to stall. This is something else he started doing on his own. If an animal is still outside he will go get it into the barn. It's usually the pigs that are late getting back to the barn. When he first started this I was in the barn with him with the gates closed. He kept whining at the gate and refused to go to his pen. He never fuses about going to his pen at night. Finally I let him out and he took off and came back chasing a pig inside...lol.
Another time I climbed on top of two round bales that were on their sides. I was looking to see where my chickens were hiding their eggs. The rounds seperated and I went down between them head first. I was really stuck and couldn't get out. My daughter was in the backyard on the phone and Phoenix kept runnng to her barking. She kept yelling at him to be quiet and telling him to go back to the barn and stay with me. He would come running into the barn and I would tell him to go get my daughter. That poor dog. I don't know how many trips he made back and forth. My daughter told me he started pulling on her pants and was jumping up on her. She got made and went into the house.

I finially managed to wiggle around and get unwedged. She felt so bad for yelling at him. He thinks for himself and I like that a lot. I taught him words and phrases he needed to know like, "leave it" and barn and if I say goat he looks at a goat or pig he looks at the pig. Most of the herding he learned on his own. He found out that pigs bite when getting herded so he circles around them out of biting range and decreases the back side of the circle herding them forward.
He is spooky smart....lol. Good Luck in your search.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Quote: I keep thinking that too. But for me, it may just be that it is reading as "not ACD" to me.



Quote: Ah man, I sure hope not either, for gene pool reasons alone.





Quote:
Oh man, it never ceases to amaze me how smart they are, and how involved and protective they are with their family. ...And, apologies to you, but I had to bust out laughing that you kept sending her back and forth to each other!! Not as dire of a situation, but sometimes I am trying to do art and she is RIGHT THERE IN MY FACE figuring out what I'm doing, so I send her to my husband...who is trying to wire some electronic device or another, so he sends her back to me, and so on until we figure out what is happening.

Quote:

I absolutely love that trait too. <3 They really are thinkers, and are great with phrases like you said. Say, you can teach her, "get your toy", and then "go get (husband's name)" independently. Then, if you tell her something like, "bring toy to (husband's name)", she'll go do it without him calling her or any help. I think the thing that first kind of freaked us out is that she would watch planes go past soundlessly in the sky, and would sit and watch the leaves rustle in the wind with is ridiculously peaceful look on her face. X) That is so neat that your dog figured out herding on his own...especially with ornery pigs!


Quote:
Oh thanks, I would love to see him! He sounds *exactly* like what we are looking for.


On my end, her's our little girl. She is a bit lighter in build than even the leaner ACDs tend to be.



She never understands why other dogs need to take a shade and water break. If she's hiking, she wants to go go go. The handsome boy in front was a "Texas heeler" (Aussie/ACD mix), and was admittedly a little out of shape when we adopted him.


Watching the sunset. No, really. She likes to sit on cliff overlooks and look at the scenery too.

Also, she smells flowers:





If inside the car, she just looks intent. If outside, she looks through the store windows to try to find whichever one of us is inside. I love this dog!

Inside the house, she is a cuddler and a couch potato. Our cat and one of our rabbits especially like to drape over her, and will come up to her for grooming like the little moochers they are. 'Course, they also do that to us....at three am....when people are trying to sleep.
She's a total pillow and blanket hog though. She gives you a long, suffering sigh when you send her to the bottom of the bed.

 

[All-American-Chick]

We have owned a acd that passed a year ago.i miss her greatly.she was the best dog we ever had.watched over every chick on the property.would wash them and keep them safe.a great mama even to the orphaned kittens we rescued.the cats waited by the front door every morning waiting for her to come outside.

funny i come across this thread cause i way thinking she was so much leaner in the middle then our new acd pup we have recently added to our family.

pepper our newest is so stocky and has the roundest butt.she came from working parents which also were very stout.

im sure she is far from standerds but wow she is quick and smart as a whip.at times her hearding the chickens and our son drive me crazy.

here is a picture cause she is so cute in it.
that white in her eye is so strange.when she looks at you, one eye has that white on the inside of her eye and the other one doesnt.

 

[StarLover21]

OMG! NEED the puppy!

 

[Skyesrocket]

Beautiful Pictures!
"She never understands why other dogs need to take a shade and water break." That is SO true! Phoenix just can't figure out why my boxer has to take a break. He will stand just like your girl is in the picture while Boomer catches his breath. Boxers just aren't designed for that full out running.
Phoenix has been teaching my boxer to herd the goats. Boomer is catching on some. But he is also teaching Boomer some things that I don't really want either one of them doing. Like laying down in the ditch or kiddie pools to drink water. Ugh...I mean, really? Does he think he can absorb it faster if he lays in it while he is drinking? lol
That sunset shot is beautiful!
All America Chick, Your pup is a beauty! I hear a lot of people say that their ACD is the best dog they ever had....and usually right after they add but, it can drive me nuts too! lol. I love her coat!

 

[All-American-Chick]

our first one was perfect,never did a thing wrong.always by your side no matter where you were at.This new one is a bit of a challenge though.now we have chickens and kids something the first one only met in her later years and by then she was so mellow and well trained.
they are wonderful dogs with a high level of energy.we have to play fetch a lot to keep her busy and wore out or she will find her own things to do to satisfy her herding instincs.

Beautiful Pictures!
"She never understands why other dogs need to take a shade and water break." That is SO true! Phoenix just can't figure out why my boxer has to take a break. He will stand just like your girl is in the picture while Boomer catches his breath. Boxers just aren't designed for that full out running.
Phoenix has been teaching my boxer to herd the goats. Boomer is catching on some. But he is also teaching Boomer some things that I don't really want either one of them doing. Like laying down in the ditch or kiddie pools to drink water. Ugh...I mean, really? Does he think he can absorb it faster if he lays in it while he is drinking? lol
That sunset shot is beautiful!
All America Chick, Your pup is a beauty! I hear a lot of people say that their ACD is the best dog they ever had....and usually right after they add but, it can drive me nuts too! lol. I love her coat!