Cattle Dogs (Queensland) Changing?

[Ashburnham]

Koolies are beautiful dogs.
I have had them for 25 years.

 

[Moochie]

I have a question about puppies. Is it normal for them to growl so much? I got 3 pups today, 5 weeks old [leaner heelers too], and the boys are very rowdy. 2 boys 1 girl, she's a little reserved and growls if the boys bug her when she tries to nap. The boys growl a lot. It's usually play growling but sometimes it sounds serious. If I pick up Phoenix [one of the boys] he growls. At first I was like O__O because they're so young you know.. I said "cut it out I'm the boss here" in a soft but firm tone and he stopped.
Is it normal for the breed? I've only had dachshund puppies that young before and they weren't so spunky. I will get them neutered when the time comes so hopefully that will make them calm down a bit. I haven't had puppies of any kind in a long while, not this young and small.

Left to right or top to bottom : No name yet/male, no name yet/female, Phoenix/male . How can these little mush balls have so much personality?

 

[RoyalT]

Why did you take pups so young? They really need to have their butts kicked a few times by their dam before they go to their new home. 5 weeks is about 2 weeks early, in my book. They may be weaned, but that doesn't make them socially ready to leave the dam/litter.

I'd say they growl to test their limits with you. Lay down the law consistently with those guys!

 

[Moochie]

Why did you take pups so young? They really need to have their butts kicked a few times by their dam before they go to their new home. 5 weeks is about 2 weeks early, in my book. They may be weaned, but that doesn't make them socially ready to leave the dam/litter.

I'd say they growl to test their limits with you. Lay down the law consistently with those guys!

Mom wanted younger puppies, we got our first one at 13 weeks though.

A fella at the feed store said I need to bite their snout until they get down and show their belly to you. Not sure if he's messing with me or if he's serious. I tried that with my first one and as soon as I let go she came back up and tried to play bite me. She definitely didn't get praise. She's not rowdy at all though, hyper at first but no growling whatsoever towards my family and I.

 

[RoyalT]

You don't need to actually bite them, you can "bite" them with your hand/fingers. You're going to have your hands full with 3 young heeler pups all at once!

 

[Ashburnham]

Turn them over and grab them gently around the throat and growl back at them.
Mine always growl in play with each other from puppies onwards to adults.

 

[Moochie]

Clever dogs they are though. Yesterday our oldest was with us at a small farm, I couldn't let her out because the farmer's border collie wasn't getting along with Clemmy, so mom put Clem in the car while we looked at the kids (goats). Don't worry the car wasn't hot at all, it was actually really cold yesterday so it was a good temp in the car from the air conditioner on the middle temp. Anyways 10 minutes later we came back and Clemmy chewed the handle to try to open the door!
She's very observant but I find it amazing that pieced that together in her head. "okay, human grabs that metal thingy everytime to get out of moving dog bed.. I grab metal thingy then I get out too. Easy! Can't.. Grip.. Yergh.."

 

[Moochie]

The poor door handle though nothing too bad but we need to get it repaired, don't want it scratching or cutting me or anyone else. Next she'll start investigating the wheel and the pedals.. Good grief.

 

[SA Farm]

Definately a breed that needs consistency and boundries. Incredibly smart, I hope you have plans for training those three! I have my hands full with one puppy and my 5yr old!

 

[RoyalT]

Beautiful pair there, Kathryn!

Yes, I don't think I would wish 3 simultaneous heeler puppies outside of a litter on my worst enemy. Talk about mayhem...