5 Reasons to NOT Get an Australian Cattle Dog: AVOID

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ACD are very loyal Velcro dogs. The most important command to teach them is “leave it.” Whether it’s a workman or a visitor, the dogs learn when I say leave it, to stand down. A workman walked into my house once without knocking. My cattle dog took off like a shot. I yelled “leave it!” He skidded into the terrified man, wagged his tail, and pranced happily back to me. Usually when someone comes over, the dog will keep his distance for a few minutes, and then eventually warm up. I had a cattle dog who held off a pack of vicious loose dogs from attacking my toddler. A cattle dog will never run away from you. You hang the moon in their eyes. They miss you while you go to the bathroom. Mine would lie at my feet for hours while I was working, never complaining, but he was really lying in wait. The moment I’d stand up to take a break and take him outside, he’d jump up to attention, delighted and ready to go. You can leave the Hope Diamond in your unlocked truck with a cattle dog, and both will still be there when you get back. Although they are heelers, they are bred not to damage cattle. They have a strong instinct to softly grab and release someone’s foot. That’s how they got wild Australian cattle, notorious for difficulty, to move where they wanted. If you don’t train them not to, they will trip running children or grab their feet, not not actually hurt them. They’re trying to herd them, not attack. Our cattle dogs taught the resident coyotes exactly where our property line is. The coyotes would streak off our property, relaxing past the boundary as if they passed “safe.” They would guard our chickens when we let them out. My hens would nap next to my dog. Although they have a strong prey drive, and kill ground squirrels, once I taught them the hens were mine, he guarded them like the rest of my stuff. They have to be socialized and you have to regularly have people come over to your house, otherwise the dog will think his job is to keep everyone out. His instinct is to guard you and your stuff, and he has a tremendous work ethic. This is a dog who would die for you without hesitation. These really are wonderful dogs, if you are properly prepared for them.

You hit the high points, but I would add that cattle dogs shed A LOT. I have to clean up hair daily, even when it's not shedding season for him

I rescued mine from a bad daddy. She is 8. I did my best to find her a new home. But because of everything you listed here, it was an impossible task. As a result, I have an Australian cattle Dog, in a very small house, in a small yard, in a small neighborhood. She is everything you listed here. I have lost a lot of weight trying to give her the daily activity she needs (not a bad thing to have happened). She's never tried to bite me, except when I need to trim her nails, but she does try to herd me all the time. It's comical. And very protective! She's had such hard life before me. After accepting that she is all mine, I promised her she'd never have to go to a new home. I'm recovering from a week-long stay in the hospital so my activity is low right now. She seems to understand. But I can tell she's ready rip-roar again.

Yes! Spot on - this breed takes a lot of attention. We got ours through a prison rescue program in 2007 and there wasn't as much info readily available like there is today - we had no idea what we were getting into! Fortunately we had 5 acres for him to run on and it worked out great. We learned early how smart he was when he figured out how to open the front door and let himself in when he was tired of the outdoors. One day playing frisbee - you probably can figure what happened - he intercepted. I'd had dogs before, but never anything like him - so I finally started seriously researching. I discovered a ranch that lets dogs herd sheep and took him there - it was really cool watching him do what he was bred to do. We were always finding activities for him to do to keep him busy - this breed can be as time-consuming as a kid. But if someone has the time, energy and willing to deal with an animal as stubborn as a teenager, they are the greatest, most rewarding, pet in the world. He passed a few months ago at 16 years old - which is a great run for his breed, but the loss is still devastating.

my neighbour asked me the other day how many times does your cattle dog shed year...I told him, just twice. January to June and July to December

I just had to put my 13 yr old red healer down . He was a hard headed son of a gun and was loyal to me and was my friend. I loved that rascal RIP titan see ya on the other side boy

Im from Australia and I'm absolutely in love with this breed they are so dam smart and loyal

I had a Blue Heeler years ago. The best, most trainable dog I've ever loved. They NEED a job! Without a job to do they can be very difficult.

Well my cattledog is nothing like what you say. He is gentle, won't even harm a fly! Was mouthy as a pup but not bad! He loves the luxury of a warm, soft bed,; and left alone he won't tear up the place....used to but only twice. True he is loyal and extremely protective of me. But he won't bite. He be a gooboy!

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant! I'm from Australia and you have nailed what a cattle dog is. I have a blue heeler and she is everything you say. If you give them the time, let them know who is boss you will have the most amazing family member. Thats a proper cattle dog you have, most cattle dogs in the states are slender, ours are stocky like cowboy. Beautiful dog

I have had 3 heelers, and am now down to two. I have always had females... so a little different experience. Smaller, and less aggressive. Very loyal Velcro dogs. My first was "Daisey" a Red Healer. She was bright, and very obedient. Was grateful to be adopted. Showed up in our yard as skin and bones. She was so good and obedient, she could be walked in down town medium size cities without a leash (until the police had other ideas). Two of mine have been very intelligent and obedient, one less so. I have never been bitten by any of them, although one, a jumper has nipped out of over enthusiasm, easily correctable. They are all very mouthy, but I view that as a normal way to use their "hand". They are bossy, and would like to control us and the house (if they could). They want to go everywhere with us. I would say they are great company, and intend the best for you (and them). My favorite bread.

Great video and you nailed the key points. I’m an Aussie cattle dog owner and it worries me that the breed is becoming ‘popular’ in the northern hemisphere for all the reasons you mention. They’re a working dog and they don’t take shit, not a display dog for sure. Good call bud, our pool guy spent half a day in our backyard waiting for me to come home and let him out - our two Blueys let him in but bailed him up when he tried to leave 😂

I have had three. None of them have had the problems you mentioned. They are fantastic dogs. And the oldest living one was named bluey at 28.5 years old

Oldest dog is a heeler named bluey lived 29 and 5 months ❤️

as an aussie , i think your comments are spot on and you have a real gift for presentation .one thing i've learnt ,is if he's in the back of your ute/truck ,don't put your hand in ,untill you've been properly introduced and familiar and they give you the ok .this neighbour down the road ,had a smithfield .[redish one ] and even though i was with charlie the owner ,as soon as i got in the yard he went into protect mode . about half a step behind .had to ask charlie a few times between his gate and the front door "charlie you sure the dog's ok ? yeah mate he's fine". he was but only because charlie was escorting me .

I'm on disability but able bodied. I'm very outdoorsy. I think this is the best breed for me. They're adaptive to hot or cold. They're Waterproof. Fearless. Their endurance and toughness is unmatched.

The staring at you comment is so right on. My dog does that all the time. You will not win a stare down vs a heeler.

Well, I have 8 cattle dogs. 2 blues, 4 reds and 2 red stumpy tail cattle dogs. They really don't need to be going all day long on the exercise 😂 A good long walk, playing fetch or the jolly ball is good. The nipping of humans is an easy fix as well for the most part when they're brand new ya put it in check. Their brains are always working, very very smart. My hubby's cuz thought he was ok to walk in the house unaccompanied by my hubs or myself. Well, Mr Kai Rayne decided his finger was a great thing to bite. Lol. A little blood along with a huge learning lesson for the cousin The most important thing in owning a cattle dog is you have to be more confident and strong willed than your acd/astcd. If you're a push over they will run the show, and it will be total chaos.

My favorite part was "if you're not stubborn, don't do it" 😂😂 so true. I've also found that they tend to take FULL advantage of complacency. No matter how many hours you spent training a behavior or boundary, if it's a joykill in their eyes, they'll default to "nah, I'm good. I'd rather _________" when they notice you're not quite as attentive to enforcing that particular rule. But not right away, they test the limits bit by bit all (adorably) sneaky. Till one day you realize what happened and back to enforcing the behavior... and then come the wounded, affronted looks. It's as if in their opinion YOU'RE being unreasonable. After all, that behavior was a thing once, sure. But clearly we came to an understanding that it wasn't a thing anymore. Now you're calling them on it? How rude. 😂 you said they're too smart for their own good... I've always said my heeler is too smart for MY own good.