Heeler pup beginning to heel

HOSS · Jul 31, 2012

My red heeler pup, Boaz, is 7 months old. The last month the "light bulb" seems to have popped on regarding what he is supposed to do. I started having him herd ducks which he would do with much delight. He was mortally afraid of cows however. When he would go into the pasture with me he would hide behind me and run if a cow got close. The last month, however, has brought a change in attitude. He is starting to drive cows until they turn on him and then he has been backing off. Tonight I put him on a white calf of about 400 lbs and he got it started by nipping at the hocks and then when the calf spun on him he darted back around and nipped it's nose to turn it back in the direction the calf was going. I took this as a good sign as he didn't turn tail but out maneuvered the calf. He has done a great job at dodging the kicks so far and he hasn't been rolled yet. I will be working with him everyday to see if I can get him to know which cow I want him to drive and when to start. He stops on command pretty well which is probably the hardest thing to get them to do. Any pointers from anybody with heelers? I am hoping as he matures a bit and the testosterone gets flowing he will get more aggressive and push the issue more with some of the older cows that are not afraid of dogs at all.

cross_7 · Jul 31, 2012

i don't have much experience with heelers (i've only had one) but i be sure and not let him get hurt or hurt his confidence when he's young.
as far as how to relay to him which cow you want you can start by using a term(i use "there") when he goes to a cow.
same as when teaching "come by" and "away to me"
once things progress you can send him come by or away and when he gets to the cow you want give the "there"
and move her any where to want once he knows his commands.
i had always used the "down" on my dogs and now i wish i had done like your doing and taught a "stop"
i'd sure be careful till his mind matures especially on grown cows.

cow pollinater · Jul 31, 2012

Take him back to the ducks on a leash... better yet with someone else leading him... and MAKE him work outside with big square corners .
Heelers will figure out how to get around cattle but it takes some doing as the instinct is to push. You have to really force them to get them to learn to flank cattle but they will if you make them. The best part about a strong heeler is that it's hard to ruin them as they'll put up with whatever you make them do just to get to work and they'll take a beating and get up biting with a smile on their face.
A strong "DOWN" needs to be the first step so that you can stop him.
FWIW, all of my dogs to date have been mutts of all cowdog breeds witha strong queensland influence but I recently aquired an eight year old border collie that a cousin of mine wasn't getting along with and I won't ever mess with another crossbred dog.

cross_7 · Jul 31, 2012

cow pollinater":1mzw00h7 said:
Take him back to the ducks on a leash... better yet with someone else leading him... and MAKE him work outside with big square corners .
Heelers will figure out how to get around cattle but it takes some doing as the instinct is to push. You have to really force them to get them to learn to flank cattle but they will if you make them. The best part about a strong heeler is that it's hard to ruin them as they'll put up with whatever you make them do just to get to work and they'll take a beating and get up biting with a smile on their face.
A strong "DOWN" needs to be the first step so that you can stop him.
FWIW, all of my dogs to date have been mutts of all cowdog breeds witha strong queensland influence but I recently aquired an eight year old border collie that a cousin of mine wasn't getting along with and I won't ever mess with another crossbred dog.

i know a trainer that teaches a stop opposed to down and it seems to work better as the cattle don't seem to see it as sign of weakness or opportunity
as long as it is taught that stop is just like a down and they don't move until commanded.
i wish i had taught mine a stop instead of down

Howdyjabo · Aug 1, 2012

I agree on the stop over a down-- sometimes with strong willed dogs you need to start with a complete down and let them drift back into a standing stop. they are always trying you so they will eventually start offering a stand when they hear a down- then if you really want them down you just repeat the command.
A softer dog needs to learn to stand right from the start- or you will never get them off their bellies.

A sheep dog needs to go down- since I have both sheep and cattle I try and have both on my dogs.

cow pollinater · Aug 1, 2012

I would agree with you both on the stop and down for most dogs but with queenslands the hard part is keeping them focused on you so the down works like a timeout and makes them think a little.
I haven't had a queensland or mix that didn't figure out pretty quick that it just meant to stop for a minute. Once they get that figured out they're already listening.