Still looking for a Border Collie or Australian Cattle Dog

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I am still looking for a good pup from working lines .If you know of any please let me know .I have been in touch with breeders and rescues and nothing solid yet .Also if you would give me your pros and cons on each breed .Thanks~ Patty

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), October 19, 2000

Answers

I can't think of a Con for either, you have selected two of the best breeds for working dogs, they are also equally faithful loving working pets. We have 2 Australian Shepherds, good work dogs, watch dogs and dedicated loving friends. Border collies are equal in every way, tho we do not have one now i have had them in the past. Good luck in your search, the reward will more than compensate for the time it takes to get one.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), October 19, 2000.

I love my border collie, and all the ones who came before her. Only Aussie I have experience with a friend of the kids' came out with hers, let it loose, and it proceeded to bark and chase every animal on the place until she caught it and got it back in her car..but, it had never been off leash before, or outside of the city. If he's still in business, here's where I got my original border, years ago: "The Border Collie Place" 285 Oyler Road, Ethel, WA 98542 Gary Gaskill (360) 978-4764. The only complaint I have, is they DO NOT bark at people, they just go greet them. They keep the unwanted predators away, though. Also, My personal preference is for a SMOOTH COATED collie, much easier to maintain, but just as pretty. Hope this helps!

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), October 19, 2000.

Patty,

If you are looking for Australian Heelers that is very different from Australian Shepherds. I have had both breeds and find the shepherds to be much more trainable, they are not so hard headed and seem to pick up things easier. Not that Heelers are not a good dog, you just have to know what you are getting into when you get one. They are aggressive and somewhat strong willed, they just take a lot of work. What area are you from? I raise working Australian Shepherds and will be breeding my female on her next cycle, but I live in Montana. You might also check with the breed pages on the web there are a lot of them and you should be able to find a reputable breeder in your area just search under what ever breed your looking for.

I have not had a border collie but have heard good things about them. I have a friend that raised them for many years the only thing she ever said bad about her dogs was that you have to keep them busy and they need to be working or they get bored.

Good luck finding a puppy. I know I sure enjoy mine when I have them. It is always hard to let them go when their new owners get them.

Suzanne Wilson

-- Suzanne Wilson (mtsuz@hotmail.com), October 22, 2000.


You might look on www.petadoption.com They are national and will look in the regional shelters. I have found all kinds of working dog breed including the australian cattle dog and border collie pups. Just a suggestion. Good Luck

-- Carleen (netorcs@mo-net.com), October 25, 2000.

I have here a 5 month old Bc/ACD cross. Though I am unaware of his lines (he was part of a litter of 5 that I rescued from a shelter in NC) I have exposed him to stock (sheep) twice, with optimum results. I have one of these crosses myself, along with two ACDs and I herd both sheep and cattle with all of them. My cross seems to be the most versitle -- meaning he works both sheep and cattle superbly. The cattledogs seem to work cattle more readily, and the BCs usually work sheep better than the ACDs. IMO.

Let me know if you are at all interested in this pup -- he is officially part of the Bull Run Australian Cattle Dog Club's (of which I am president) Rescue program.

G'day!

-- Wendy W. Plache (BovineK9@aol.com), May 31, 2001.



Hi Patty, I have two ACD (blue heelers) they are now 4 1/2 months old. I' ve had many kinds of dogs and these two take the cake on subborn and dense, they act alot like cats. Fortunatly I've had alot of cats too! I have had some training difficulty due to having two, they disregard people in favor of each other, and reinforce each others bad habits, keeping them separate as much as possible has helped a great deal. House breaking has brought me near my last nerve, they will do well for a week or so and then pee as soon as they get on the carpet from outside, one will climb over the child gate take walk a few steps and pee, he also walks and pees at the same time, the longest trail so far was almost 6 feet long, that one took about 3 lbs of baking soda, They are sensitve to correction and voice tone and tend to sulk after correction and they often do not come when called, and have shown to hold a grudge, but that dense thick headed quality they have is needed to work cows, why else would they keep it up after getting kicked? I am useing food reward as nessisary to keep their attention and intrest in conjunction with sweet voice tones, only enough phyical correction to enforce harsh voice tones, (which I learned from my Grandmother she could pick a long blade of grass and shake it at her dogs with a hard voice and they would lay down crying as if they were being beat to death, she even 'house broke' her milk cows from messing the barn!) They snap at hands and face when playing, (this was ended by slaping them across the face as a reflex) and will try to take down any thing / anyone who runs in sight, even the sound of running feet will get them up and looking for the chase. The Alfa male of the two has required constant attitued ajustment for growling and posturing (the body language of "I'm top dog") The other needs incouragement to not slink away and hide, All told they are good for what they are intended for, but shepards and collies are easier in every way.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), June 01, 2001.

Patty, We live on a ranch in Montana, and my husband had an excellent border collie male (he died last Monday). He could send him to gather cows up to a mile away, and he worked cows on drives better than any dog I've seen. He was an independant worker, and very seldom had to be told what to do. My only complaint with him was that he was very strong eyed, and would drop down and stare at cattle that were looking at him until they turned their heads and looked away. I have a border/red heeler cross that is very good for close work. I can't send her very far to gather, but she is excellent behind a herd of cows, and great in corrals. She will bite a cow on the nose if she has to, but prefers to heel. We are getting a Kelpie/border cross puppy next week from a lady down by Billings, Mt. Hopefully he will be the best of both worlds. My parents are big on the Austrailian Sheperds. I am not impressed with them at all. As puppies, they are the most destructive creatures on earth. We know other people that have them that will agree. They will rip corners off walls, if you don't keep them busy at all times. As for working, they don't seem to be as easy to train. Borders want to please all the time, and Ausies seem to have a more beligerant attitude that is hard to control.

-- Terry Stephens (stephens@3rivers.net), July 28, 2001.

This post was so old I did not remember it was mine !I have a 6 month old red heeler from good lines .She is wonderfull .I need to do allot more training , but her natural instinct do what needs to be done .She throw a fit if any animal is not in there pen .She will get them back by herself .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), July 28, 2001.

Hello, I live in So. Calif. and have an Australian Shepherd. She is a lively 3 year old and we would like to give her to a good family. We don't have good living conditions for her and would love to see her have a place with lots of room to run and more attention. I just don't know where to turn and was wondering if someone could help me. She really needs to be appreciated by someone who appreciates her breed and she really is one of a kind. Thanks!

-- Elizabeth S. (bshel92677@yahoo.com), May 02, 2002.

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