We got so lucky with my Blue Heeler, we got him from a Humane Society. They told us he's around 2 ish??? He's THE BEST DOG I'VE EVER HAD! He's protective, obedient and soooooo sweet. I'm so glad I got my Ozzy in my life!

@AD-cm1fh

Ай бұрын

We got our red heeler through a rescue and he's also the best dog I've ever had! And his name is Ozzy too!! 🙂

I did ALOT of socializing with my heeler her first two years- took her everywhere everyday interacting with strangers and used to all kinds of places - sights and sounds. She’s done great but Even so, she isn’t comfortable as an older adult with strangers if they approach close to us.

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

ya they're just wary as a breed even if you DO socialize them. which is why if people don't socialize them they can have problems

@rrichardson53

Жыл бұрын

@@diydogguy yea…. I adopted a 2 yr old rescue- she came with all the bad stuff. We were able to “manage” her issues until she passed from cancer at age 13. We pretty much had to live like hermits (for her protection ) despite working with various trainers to no avail.

@jeffk464

Жыл бұрын

I found you have to do early socialization but you can't stop if you have dogs that aren't inherently friendly. You have to keep socializing them for life.

This is fantastic advice and does an amazing job explaining why training and socializing is important. Your footage really highlights what a good training-outing looks like as well. I really appreciate the comment regarding the leaf blower and how it should have been addressed while your dog was a puppy. This is a great reflection and example of how diligent all owners must be while training their dog. It also helps to set expectations for new dog owners as even a very well trained and socialized dog can have fears and other issues that need to be addressed. My dog was socialized in a busy downtown area, she does not bat an eye at very loud noises, busses/trucks blowing by, people shouting, etc... But she witnessed someone fall off their skateboard while she was a puppy and still has a fear of anything that sounds like a skateboarder.

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

isn't it weird how they can still develop those odd phobias? Something I hadn't experienced with other breeds before. Very smart though

EXCELLENT VIDEO; EXCELLENT ADVICE. The most serious affliction to a dog is lack of adequate socialization. So I agree that socialization before your puppy has every shot is worthwhile (as do experts), and I also agree that the exception to that is going to dog park before your dog is fully vaxxed. I find dog parks also worthwhile for your dog meeting people.

Great video! Only thing I will say, from my experience, is that I would discourage people from putting their hand out to let a dog smell them. This is the exact move that triggered my heeler to bite people. He was fine if strangers ignored him but got uncomfortable and often reacted with a bite if they tried to pet him. So, reaching a hand out was a big no for us. Everything else in this video is awesome! Good, helpful info! Thanks!

@estralune

Жыл бұрын

My heeler is the same, putting a hand out is a trigger. Knowing is half the battle, gotta set up our wary guys for success.

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

Interesting! You certainly have to know your dog. I know cowboy wouldn't bite this lady, but as a rule since the breed can be nippy it's probably best to "keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times" for strangers until they are used to you haha

@Watchandcutgearchannel

Ай бұрын

@@diydogguyI’m new to your channel but love your approach… not a heeler dog guy … until yesterday 😂… but what he says actually triggers other breeds too… some dogs might see this as “reaching out” to them .. too close for the dogs comfort and may make them defensive… What I do when I meet a new dog I meal down to their eye level and wait for them to come to me… One of my customers has a blue heeler… this was actually the first time I ever encountered this breed of dog, but I thought it was really interesting looking… She told me that her dog doesn’t really like people .. but the dog walked up to me so I kneeled down after asking her if it was OK… and the dog came up to me and started licking my hand 🤷‍♂️ then I was able to pet him.. staying away from his face of Course.. Then he sat on my feet .. Probably indicating he took possession of me like an item 😂😂😂😂😂 Probably why I ended up just getting one😂 I’d love dogs with attitudes

All good advice 👍Heeler reactivity is no joke, and even when you do everything right, you still have to be prepared to work on minor reactivity/fear quirks in their adult stage. I liked that you pointed out that socialization with this breed never stops, it's a full time gig.

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

absolutely

I didn't know how to properly socialize my pup. He is now 2.5yo and selectively reactive. Some dogs we pass with no more than interest, others he "stares and stalks" (poor manners), some he goes full on lunging and crazy. Still working with him. Hoping over time and with practice it will be more manageable. Thanks for the vid!

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

stick with it!

@The_huntress111

6 ай бұрын

How r u going with it ?

My older one knows when we get near the one Home Depot where he is absolutely spoiled by one cashier there...only 4 times has Jimi gotten angry with people. The 1st time? A guy was approaching my youngest kid (a girl that the Eastern European women called 'the model' from a baby) and Jimi was not going to let him get near her. I trust his senses with people. Same kid? Now has a Maine Coon kitten and Jimi & the kitten play/wrestle- they even eat together

👍 Хорошие советы. Начинаю применять.

This is a great video! Thank you!

The thing that sucks is that here in Sweden very very few stores allow u to even enter with a dog. It's basically pet stores and some rare occasions you'll find other stores. A mall for example would be so good to work on a dog with a lot of stimulation.

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

really!? I didn't know that. Very interesting. What about outside cafes or coffee shops etc?

@Plague_Doc22

Жыл бұрын

@@diydogguy As long as you're outdoors they're usually fine with it as long as the dog behaves. Just sucks cuz the only way to really socialize them with a lot of people is by going downtown..but then you dont really have an area for the dog to relax and not be overly stimulated.

@michellesouthflorida9682

10 ай бұрын

believe it or not its a lot like that here in South Florida. Most stores other than the pet store will NOT allow dogs inside and there are so many pit bull type breeds here that dog parks are always sketchy.

i saw these videos 5 years too late lol now i’m spending lots of money on training for his fear aggression/reactivity… oh the things i would do all over again!

@BeLiftedUp

Ай бұрын

Yes I got mine at 7 yrs old. It took me 11 months to gain her trust before I adopted her. Brave, fearless and intelligent. But gotta keep an eye on her as she is very defensive and protective of me. Took 4 ppl at the vet to hold her down n cut her nails. Great breed but dog parks are a no for us

I am a temporary owner of a year old red heeler male . He was an owner surrender. I have had him here for around 5 weeks . He is indeed a very busy dog . I never knew just how much energy or how very smart these babies are . I learned quickly to just keep him busy . Mainly just playing ball . I bought a ball blaster for him that we use on our property . My issue is he has some food resource guarding issues . I do feed him alone , I can feed him by hand at times reminding him to be gentle . Would you have any suggestions to work on with him with his resource food guarding issue? He was nearly adopted but the evening before transport the people changed their minds. I couldn’t let him go to boarding because he would go nuts this is why he is here with me . He does nicely with my foster pups as well. His name is moochie.

@The_huntress111

6 ай бұрын

How is he going ? ❤are you in Australia

I have three heelers that work cattle. I agree on the start early and I start mine early. I have heard folks say you dont need to do anything with them much before 6 months. If you wait that long you are screwed.

I got my Texas heeler when he was 3 months old and he is now 8 months old and I used to take him everywhere but we moved to an apartment from my mountain house. He has always barked at strangers when they come to my house but he just wanted a pat. He barks ferociously at all other animals but once he smells them he then starts trying to play. He’s been around my 2 year old granddaughters and all my family members but he still barks at certain people. He plays with my daughters pit and has from day one. Thanks for the advice and I’ve tried it all he’s still a mess.

I love cowboy your heeler, he is the best! Now my life and my heeler's life are the exact opposite of yours so there is absolutely no comparison. I live in a remote area of a sparsely populated western state and I have been pretty much snowed in at 4,800 feet since november, today we got another 6 inches of snow. My baby boy is 10 months old and has been isolated, virtually around no one except a few neighbors who are hostile towards us. It was a property dispute 6 yrs ago. Yes I have property and am very active. I go out 3 x per day with him for 30- 60 min and we have an excercise track that I cut out in the snow and we hike around the track. We are off a heavily traveled farming road and I have trained him not to chase the farming equipment, we have a horse run by with a rider on the horse and he doesnt chase it, we have fed ex and ups and neighbors vehicles going up the easment and he listens when I say NO and give a treat. The other day a huge labrador puppy and and older lab walked on the property, I panicked but he ran up and sniffed them and started playing. He refuses to get in his crate to go anywhere ,and my husband had to fight him to get into the crate to go to the vets and get weighed. He was surprisingly good inside the vets. I know as soon as the snow melts, he needs intensive crate training and to go in public to see other, pets and people. You have a good dog and good information. Thank you

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

as long as you get some socializing in i think the breed prefers that lifestyle anyways :)

@mtnwalkingdogwoman

Жыл бұрын

@@diydogguy, Thank you we will be working on it !

I have a 6yr old half heeler, half mexican street dog. It is so annoying having to explain to people not every dog likes being pet and smothered. She just tolerates it but if a stranger randomly tries to pet her, she will dodge it and go to me. I wish more people understood that these creatures have their own autonomy and shouldn't be expected to love and crave attention.

My cattle dog doesn't like the leaf blower or the vacuum.

I have the opposite problem. My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is hyper social and whenever she has a chance to talk to other people she's completely unteachable. Despite spending countless hours and hiring a private trainer trying to work on her ignoring distractions, she is incapable of taking a walk down the street if there's even a hint of anyone in their gardens or in the distance. She gets so worked up she starts shaking. Even in our own garden, she will bite our fence and almost injure herself trying to get to people in the neighboring gardens.

The nature to herd has mine nipping/pulling at my other dogs hind leg and ears. He listens to leave it immediately but he doesn't understand not to bite at all. Any advice?

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

yes setting stronger expectation on what is allowed with the other dogs. Likely needs some form of correction (long line) to snap him out of it and have control on that situation. We talk about this a lot at cattledogacademy.com

We got a healer almost 2 years ago as a puppy. We didn’t have time with her at the beginning with kids and life. Now she’s not social at all and barks at everyone. Do I still have time to save her? She recently got into a bad fight with our pit lab mix and we almost lost her. We have them separated and it’s starting to get old doing it, thinking about surrendering the pit mix and just work on the blue heeler. Thoughts? Thank you!

@marrrrrrrrrrrrry279

Ай бұрын

I don’t think that you can have both of the dogs sadly. Both of those breeds are very powerful and it will end in one of them dying. Probably the heeler because pit bulls when they get in a dog fight enter a red zone where they lock their jaw and will fight until either the opponent dies or they die. Regardless of what people say about pitties, they were bred for dog fighting and are more prone to dog aggression, especially if the other dog is being aggressive. You should keep the heeler since he was there first and he is probably never going to be comfortable around other dogs, at the very least not comfortable around that pit mix. A dog with a calmer demeanor may work, but it would probably be best to keep the heeler as an only child. As for the dog getting better, she will never be perfect but she can get more manageable. I’ve had reactive dogs and they can be managed with more exposure to different things but they never end up perfect, little things still set them off. So try getting out with the dog more, train her to wear a muzzle so everyone can have fun and be safe. Good luck!

My girl is great in all situations unless she's on the lead and I'm sitting down then she's just not comfortable with anything getting too close.

How tall is Cowboy at the shoulder...I have a Cattle Dog but he appears to have longer legs he's about 22" at his shoulders. I met both of his parents and both are heelers...one blue and one red....just curious thx

@yeahno6100

3 ай бұрын

Probably because it's not a pure bred ACD, like 70% of them these days. Cowboy isn't a pure bred, you cam tell by its face and snout shape, he's still pretty close and about 90% pure, but his parents would of been an ACD and something else. I know because I grew up on a cattle property here in Australia and my grandfather and father both bred them as working dogs. Pure ACD's have an unmistakable look about them that.

I have 301 dog years of healer experience.. Pro Tip: If you don't have stock to work and live in an apartment, DO Not even think about getting a healer. If they don't have space and if they don't have work you will not like the dog and the dog will not like its life.

Hi, do you have an email address? I have a few questions about cowboy

@diydogguy

Жыл бұрын

jack@back40dogs.com

This was so helpful thank you