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08-16-2015 01:25 AM
Pet Lovers I have a dilemma which I don't want to rely or limit my research and opinion on Internet sites.
My friends daughter just moved into her own place and was at a local strip mall. There was a rescue adoption taking place. Her daughter adopted this breed. Accordingly to rescue people they are "sweet lovable dogs" and excellent companions.
she lives in a 3rd fl appt (748sq ft), attends college full time and works 2 p/t jobs rarely home.
ok the research we've done indicates the total opposite of what the rescue people told her. Her mom is quite concerned that this dog is to big for small space, will become aggressive, high maintenance and if not crated will destroy her place.
is anyone familiar with this breed or own and would be kind enough to share the pros and cons. My friend is very concerned daughter bit off too much getting this type dog (again only based on research thru different sites).
thank you!
08-16-2015 02:07 AM
Hound dogs are active, working dogs. They need excercize and things to do. I really do not know of their being destructive. But left alone for long periods of time in doors would bore them. They are "nose hounds" and will sniff out food and go after it, as they would with prey. I would strongly suggest many different food toys to challenge the dog. It still needs frequent, long walks everyday.
Near me, there are "nose work" groups for hound excercize. Hounds can bark and bay a lot, too. But they are loved for their soft ears, sweet nature, and alert mind. BTW, those ears must be cleaned often to prevent infections. The ears are long to pick up sounds and smells.
Contact and local hound groups for accurate information.
08-16-2015 02:35 AM - edited 08-16-2015 02:53 AM
homedecor1 wrote:Pet Lovers I have a dilemma which I don't want to rely or limit my research and opinion on Internet sites.
My friends daughter just moved into her own place and was at a local strip mall. There was a rescue adoption taking place. Her daughter adopted this breed. Accordingly to rescue people they are "sweet lovable dogs" and excellent companions.
she lives in a 3rd fl appt (748sq ft), attends college full time and works 2 p/t jobs rarely home.
ok the research we've done indicates the total opposite of what the rescue people told her. Her mom is quite concerned that this dog is to big for small space, will become aggressive, high maintenance and if not crated will destroy her place.
is anyone familiar with this breed or own and would be kind enough to share the pros and cons. My friend is very concerned daughter bit off too much getting this type dog (again only based on research thru different sites).
thank you!
This breed - officially named the Australian Cattle Dog - is in the herding (NOT hound) group and highly energetic.
And yes, they're nice dogs.
But, they MUST have a job to do on a daily basis, along with consistent training and exercise.
That means the owner also has to be trained on a consistent basis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/australian-cattle-dog/
Certain colors of this breed are sometimes referred to as a "Blue Heeler" or "Red Heeler".
As in this case, when a potential pet parent does not do any thorough research before buying or adopting the pet, the animal always pays, and usually in the worst ways.
A puppy is not an impulse purchase.
It's a living sentient being that deserves the most love and care, and a lifetime commitment.
This young woman seems to have neither the time or proper environment for this puppy.
And since you should never buy a puppy from a pet store (that should have been a part of her research beforehand), she has contributed to the revenue of illegal and extremely cruel puppy mills.
Please see if there's some way that the poor dog can be rescued from this unfortunate situation, and then adopted into a forever home by a person, couple, or family that has done their research, and who has only the ANIMAL'S best interests at heart!
BTW, I have worked in the animal care field, was close to a family with an ACD that should never have come about, and have a lifelong passion for learning about animals of all kinds.
(in case you thought I was just kitty-centric)
08-16-2015 03:09 AM
@NYwoman wrote:Hound dogs are active, working dogs. They need excercize and things to do. I really do not know of their being destructive. But left alone for long periods of time in doors would bore them. They are "nose hounds" and will sniff out food and go after it, as they would with prey. I would strongly suggest many different food toys to challenge the dog. It still needs frequent, long walks everyday.
Near me, there are "nose work" groups for hound excercize. Hounds can bark and bay a lot, too. But they are loved for their soft ears, sweet nature, and alert mind. BTW, those ears must be cleaned often to prevent infections. The ears are long to pick up sounds and smells.
Contact and local hound groups for accurate information.
A Blue Heeler IS NOT a hound. It is a herding dog specializing in driving cattle by nipping at their heels, thus the name "heeler". The blue comes from the color of the coat, gray and black mixed which has a blue cast.
The are very intelligent dogs driven to work, similar to a border collie. They are not suitable for apartment life. Such dogs need mental stimulation (work) and if the owner doesn't provide it, the dog will invent an activity and the owner won't like it. They are not malicious but do become bored easily.
They also need a lot, a lot of exercise to work off the energy they were bred to have for work. It would be difficult for anyone off a farm to provide enough exercise.
Herding dogs, especially highly driven dogs, do not make good family dogs because they will chase and try to herd anything that moves, i.e. cats, cars, children, bicycles, etc.
I have four herding dogs, collies and an Aussie and am quite familiar with the characteristics of this type of dog.
I would immediately return the dog from whence it came. The adoption agency needs a lesson in breed characteristics and appropriate placement. They don't know what they're doing.
@NYwoman. I believe NYwoman has this breed confused with Blue Tick Hounds.
08-16-2015 03:13 AM
This young lady doesn't need a pet, especially a dog which is social. It's not fair to leave an animal alone while she attends FT school and works two jobs. Tell her to wait until she finishes school.
08-16-2015 08:01 AM - edited 08-16-2015 08:36 AM
The Blue Heeler is a "Cattle dog" or herding dog. -H-E-R-D-I-N-G-. Many years ago, I used to walk my dog in a public park, and the two people who had them couldn't wait to get rid of them .. because they worked full time. They were "young" and I suppose never did any research before they made the investment, which was clearly a mistake. You can NOT walk those dogs 30 minutes in the AM and PM and expect a good result. My cousin had a farm with sheep, but he used Border Collies. They herd .... ALL DAY. The place where I used to ride horses got one. The daRn thing would try to herd the horses while we were riding. It was annoying.
I went to a "rescue" event yesterday, and you would've thought I had the plague. Those people would not even let me hold a dog. I'm surprised, given the girl's living situation, a rescue group gave her the dog. That was a totally inappropriate choice for an apartment.
Please don't be offended by my post. This is JMHO, based on my experience. IMHO, she should return the dog to the rescue group immediately and NOT have a dog at all.
08-16-2015 08:03 AM
We have a Blue Heeler who is 1 year old - got him when he was 8 weeks. He is a loveable sweet dog who needs constant movement and entertainment (self or otherwise). He is an equal opportunity chewer! He chews everything! A canine wood chipper! Our wood pile is shrinking! He can run FAST! Luckily, we have 5 acres for him to do so. We have 3 other dogs and he gets along with them well. We love him. Until I moved to TX, I had neverr heard of this breed, and the ones I've seen are all beautifully differently marked. An apartment would not be where I would have this dog!!!!! They need space!
08-16-2015 08:32 AM - edited 08-16-2015 08:36 AM
Law and Order had an ep where the crazy dude had one of these only time I heard of the breed, it is a hunting/herding dog.
No reason to have one in an apt. at all
and I am not saying that people who have them are crazy but it was integral to the plot.
Please encourage the dog's owner to return the animal to organization,
08-16-2015 08:46 AM
I don't know much but I do remember my dog trainer (who has years of experience) say in a class once that the blue healers are quite difficult. Headstrong. I know you have to be very firm whenever you have a dog like that. That being said, I have always had Shelties and they are vocal, active dogs, love to bark. Last year, my groomer called me and told me that one of her clients granddaughter brought home a Sheltie who had been abandoned by a coworker and they were going to take him to a pound. She asked that I foster him to keep him out of the pound. I agreed and went and got the little boy, took him home and he got along well with my 2 girls and in about 2 hours I realized that this dog is a well trained wonderful dog. I took him to my vet and had his microchip read and he came from a rescue. Long story short, the lady from the rescue told me that she picked him up in a shelter, he was adopted out 3 times and brought back. These college girls adopted him then could not keep him and made up the story about him being abandoned. I ended up keeping him and the shelter agreed. I have had him 15 months now and he is a wonderful, beautiful dog with only 1 problem. He howls, LOL. When I first got him, even though he has my 2 girls with him, when I left the house he howled up a storm and he likes to bark. I am working him out of that, but I guess the moral of my story is that this rescue did not place him into the correct home. He was brought back 3 times, and headed to another rescue if I had not picked him up. I don't think the blue healer is a dog for the novice dog owner but this dog may be nice. I don't know.
08-16-2015 10:49 AM
I do not think the young lady has time for any dog right now with her schedule. Blue heelers can be aweesome dogs but they need stimulation, play time and a job to do. They are herding dogs and tend to find things to herd, They remind me of jack russells and australian shepherds that need something to do. I had an australian shepherd, great pyranees and a heeler at one time. The healer was a foster. A neighbor had dairy cows that he milked. He would take my australian shepherd to bring the cows in. They would drive up to pick up the dog and she would be waiting for them at the mailbox. That dog loved doing that and was calm the rest of the time. The great ending to the story is that the neighbor fell in love with the heelers and adopted her. He still would come get the shepherd as well.
While no dog should be expected to be alone all of the time , there are some that need more stimulation.
doxie
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