red heeler

[danbrady]

My son's dog came up missing, and my daughter was wanting a puppy, something like a fox, she said. I by NO means wanted to raise a puppy. This is all over this past week, low and behold, as fate would have it, a really sharp red heeler came in the building where I work. He was friendly and smelled like a dead armadillo. I found the owners and worked it out to bring him home. They said he was too high strung and wanted to run the horses too much. I don't know much about these dogs but I believe it's the one for me. Here is my plan, since he is a year and a half old, and has his shots I thought great, no chewing. So, I brought him home, bathed him, let him go with me to hay cattle, tied in the back end of the Gator, let him sniff around alittle and see the horses and the cows. Brought him inside and bathed him real good again, then Happy Jack rub on flea and tick. He's in the laundry room, tonight. I am scared he will bust out of his collar and get gone. I want him to create a loyalty with me, when I call him he stops and comes to me. When I get that, he gets more territory, maybe even no chain or leash. I know he loves riding in the back end, and bread rolls, other than that he hasn't growled or nipped at me with the whole bathing thing. I am very excited and hopeful for this little guy, I explained to my son that he's not with us to take the place of Spot, and that's not what I mean to do. I don't really want to use this dog on cattle, I do use horses when it gets too tough and they don't want to come to feed, but I can go slow and easy. I'm not sure he would go as slow and controlled as I need. I just need to get them into the iron lot to deal with them. Anyway, if you know something that could help or if I'm thinking right, just lay the words on me. Thanks everyone, Dan.

 

[spinandslide]

Firm but FAIR treatment will go a long way with a heeler. I took my heelers with me EVERYWHERE and I try to do the same with my border collies now. they develop an intense bond with their person this way.

May I reccomend until he has a solid recall, you keep a LONG lead on him..to reiterate his recall should he develop selective hearing?

My newly adopted border collie, 2 years old, had VERY selective hearings the first 2 weeks..his recall SUCKED! Now it is better then even my border collie Ive had since she was a pup..it comes down to consistency.

 

[danbrady]

Day 2 went good, he knows where home is and starting to get kinda happy when he sees me. I let him on the loose once before turning in and he went on a cat chase, but from now on I plan to leash him. He's in the laundry room and hasn't wet or pooped, I'm really surprised. I appreciate the techniques explained and I will apply it to him. I do have a long rope I used for horses and that sounds like the ticket. Just wish the horse ride we took today would have went as well for my friend, he landed on his shoulder after a mare crow hopped with him, nothing broke by x-ray, just hurts like heck. She's going to the sale, I can't warm her up for 30 min each time we ride. She has hardly ever gave me much trouble, thing is, I ride, not just sit on a saddle tied to a horse. I tried to tell him, weigh in the stirrups not your rear, hold on, and give her slack in the reins. My good friend, too. Maybe he won't hurt long. :frowns:

 

[Jogeephus]

I agree with Spinandslide. Spending as much time with him as possible will go a long way. My heeler goes EVERYWHERE with me as well. He learns the routine, learns me but still hasn't figured out how to climb a ladder deer stand but he made a heck of a good attempt yesterday. They can be a little hard headed but I think a lot of this is just a test of you and the limits. Good luck with him I think you will find they are wonderful dogs.