| artierae | 09-06-2005 09:25 AM |
Kim -- No we haven't met any other breeders in the area. Sue has talked to a lady who lives near us, but not in person.
Bettyanne - When I got my Australian Cattle Dog, he was 2 mo. shy of being 3 years old. The people also had a Rottweiller. He HATES Rotts!! He also was very bad (and still is, sometimes) around men. He bit my son-in-law a couple times before they finally got acquainted. (not hard, just nips, and Sue says it was because Steve got between me and the dog) - He also would take a sandwich out of your hand if you were close enough to him. He would heel, sit, and sometimes lay down. But "stay" was not in his vocabulary. I told him he had a little obedience training, but no one ever taught him manners. He tried to chase every dog in the neighborhood away. He would bark at them when he was in the car and they were in their own yards!! When Sue got her first Yorkie, Ginger was about 8 or 9 weeks old. They came to visit me, and we left Ginger in her crate for a while and let Rowdy see her and smell her in the crate. Then, after a while we let her out and let them get acquainted. We were very watchfull because of his history with other dogs. Well-----Ginger stole his heart immediately! For a long time, we didn't leave them together alone, but now he is the official baby sitter of all her puppies. She not only made him fall in love with her, but after she got old enough and had her puppies, she let him know she was the Alpha dog in this situation (she still is, no matter who or how many dogs and puppies are around.) Before the puppies are big enough to jump on the couch, they use him as a spring board, or a step to get up. He doesn't care a bit. I think he loves it. He still does not know "stay" and I never leave food where he can reach it, but at least he doesn't take it out of your hand any more, and he is so good with the babies, we forgive any other faults. when I first got him he would not play, I tried buying him toys, tried throwing the ball, he just looked at me like I was crazy. Now he lays on the floor as low as he can get and plays with them all. Even our male stud dog can get him to play!
I'm sorry this is so long, but that is my story of my good old Heeler, (Cattle Dog). | 