Blue heeler removing horse's tails and injuring goats- help?

[merrylieux]

If he was severely hard-headed or vicious, I would shoot him too-- I wouldn't inflict him on anyone else and I would explain to my daughter that the dog is mentally ill and we don't know how to cure dogs like that. But he really is trainable and doesn't seem to be trying to kill anything. I hadn't really thought about how much of a risk there is for accidental injury, though. It is pretty icy right now, and his chasing really does increase the chance of a horse's broken leg. I need to fix this NOW, and keep him confined until it is fixed. Thanks again everyone.

[Faster horses]

All Blue and Red Heelers are natural heelers, doesn't matter where they come from. It is bred in them.

A dog that chases horses is a real problem. There is a woman here that suffered a head injury because someone used a dog to load horses in the trailer. The horses were tied to the trailer and the woman walked behind them just as the dog appeared. The horse kicked in defense at the dog, only it hit the woman.

Dogs should NEVER be encouraged to chase horses for any reason. It sets up a potential problem later, whether on foot around horses or riding them when dogs are present.

I don't know what you are going to do with your dog. We have 2 dogs that we are having a problem with as well. (Now I am more understanding of Soapweeds opinion of dogs.) We have NEVER had this problem until now. We always have had female dogs, 2 or 3 at a time. Right now we have a female and a male. And you can bet they will chase something if they can. We are contemplating getting rid of one of them, just can't agree on which one.

It is a terrible problem and one that is hard to solve. Dogs do have a responsibility to their owners and that is to not cause problems.

[merrylieux]

He is clearly chasing instinctively. He will even chase birds fltying across the sky. When I said he was not a working dog, I meant that I think that is part of the problem-- not enough to do.

I have learned/ am learning alot from Parelli-- funny about that quote. You can't force much from an animal-- you must get cooperation. Make it easy and pleasureable to do the right thing but difficult and unpleasureable to do the wrong thing. So what I have to do is: more training, exercise and socializing every day and loud, painful stimulus when he chases. This sounds good. This is the very first time I have ever considered horses easier to train than dogs.

[kolanuraven]

I never let my heelers/Aussie just run loose on the place. If I'm not with them they are in their kennels. They know they have certain times for work. This way it eliminates the extra time on their paws to look for something to do.

These are dogs that once trained will be wonderful. I use mine only on the cattle....never on the horses as it just seems too tempting for them and I don't want to start that habit.

I looked into the shock collars and around here the are expen$ive..and the starter pistol was more reasonable. It will take work on your part too as it's a 50/50 deal with these dogs. These dogs need a schedule of when to work, rest and play. Play and work can't be confused and stick to the schedule till you get things like you want them.

My heeler female will at times jump up and catch birds right out of the sky just as they leave the brush. They are 110% pure energy.

I have basically become a Rescue for these types of dogs as a lot of people get one...realize that it was not the best choice for a house dog...or it starts herding the neighborhood kids or gets into mischief as they will outsmart you. So I've had to rehab A LOT of them....kept some and placed some with local farms/ranches, all of which has worked out well.

Bottom line...YOU are the top dog and the boss!

[Aztumbleweed]

I have used this method on most of my dogs. Put a 30 foot lead on him and every time he goes to take off somewhere to do something you don't want holler your command and jerk his head off be consistent and never let him be loose outside by himself if you don't have a kennel tie him up. The Heelers are tough but a little persistence(sp) will fix it. Then get you a Cur dog its all up hill after you get one of those. Good luck

[Soapweed]

This is precisely the reason I don't like "cowdogs". Norther Rancher's advice might seem severe, but believe me, it eliminates the problem. You have to look at both sides of the equation, do you really "love" the doggie that much to put up with all the crap, or do you also love your horses enough to grant them the dignity to have regular full length tails like all your neighbors' horses have. It would be an easy decision for me. I would rule in favor of the horses.

[Northern Rancher]

My feelings too Soapweed-I don't do a good cowdog justice so I just go with the other ones-I liked my Pyreness he wouldn't chase a cow if his life depended on it lol.

[Northern Rancher]

merrylieux don'y you know every heeler comes with the garantee to chase birds and kill cats-least everyone i've seen lol.

[Soapweed]

My son, who lives in town, has a blue heeler that is a very smart and well-trained dog. When my son and his wife go somewhere for a week-end, they leave our little "grand-dog" with us on the ranch. Ringo behaves pretty well, if there aren't cattle around nearby. The last time he was here, cattle were pastured quite close. He continually chased and worried the cattle, so I locked him in an empty horse trailer for the next couple days until his "parents" returned. It solved the problem, and he had food and water and the right to remain silent.

[EJ]

A well known rancher and dog handler that lives near here said a long time ago, when he leaves the yard he knows where his dogs are. Either tied or keneled. I`ve assumed the same routine. These dogs can be a real asset if you let them, but they can be a real problem if you let them also. There`s been more then one that got "lead in the head" . You can give them away sell them but you`re not getting rid of the problem. Starting young pups right is no different then starting a colt. Also you can`t use another dog to train the younger pup.

[Soapweed]

I would compare a bad dog to getting up every morning and putting on socks with sandburrs in them. It ain't fun. There are two ways to eliminate the problem, in my book. A. Get rid of the dog. B. Don't get the dog to start with. I have used Plan A with success. In recent years, Plan B has worked very well, and there is no guilty conscience associated with it.

Working cattle is easier around this outfit, if the bovines are not continually distracted with a nippin' yippin' dingleberry dog.

[Soapweed]

You all probably think I'm a dog-hater, but I'm not. I just don't like "cow dogs" and house dogs (dog hair on the couch makes me a grouch ). We have a good old half Rotweiller-half German Shepard. She is sweet and friendly and eats out of the same dish as the cats. She stays close to home, and only gets in trouble once in a while when her city cousin comes to visit. Scarlett is everybody's friend, including mine.