Guest Anonymous Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 We would like some advice, we are ex-heeler breeders, have not breed them for over 20 years. We have seen alot of heelers recently and it seems as if the breed has split into three different styles: The first is a show style, short and compact, we own one and found him to be a bit hard headed and loyal to whomever takes him coon hunting; The second is what we have seen a lot of in our area, WI, MN and IL, overly large and overly suspisous, they don't seem to have the intellegence that our old dogs had; The third is what we used to breed and we have found difficult to find, the ranch working dog, not too big but also not to small, around 35 pounds, and very willing to learn when he understands that you are the leader, willing to work to the death and a loyal partner. We are considering to once again establish a breeding program starting with a pup that we recently found in western WI, he is one of the smartest dogs that we have dealt with, sensitive and quite laid back (as he lays passed out on the couch). He is out of a very attentive and handy red female whoms mother is also a very impressive female. His sire is a hard working dog that handles bulls with ease and was quite managable. Which comes to the advice we are looking, if this male that we are working with maintains his trainability would the best way to promote the breed be to hunt a female of the show style or the working style. We would like to produce pups that will make good family dogs and farm dogs, understanding of course that prospective buyers need to be schooled on training and handling these dogs. Registration is not at the top of our list, we want good dogs and only intend to breed once to establish that we get what we want and again only when new owners have been lined up. Our pup is impressive to the point that we have turned down well over a dozen offers to sell him and actually was forced to price him at a unreasonable dollar amount because the pursuer would not take "not for sale" as a answer. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 [quote name='Debbie']We would like some advice, we are ex-heeler breeders, have not breed them for over 20 years. We have seen alot of heelers recently and it seems as if the breed has split into three different styles: The first is a show style, short and compact, we own one and found him to be a bit hard headed and loyal to whomever takes him coon hunting; The second is what we have seen a lot of in our area, WI, MN and IL, overly large and overly suspisous, they don't seem to have the intellegence that our old dogs had; The third is what we used to breed and we have found difficult to find, the ranch working dog, not too big but also not to small, around 35 pounds, and very willing to learn when he understands that you are the leader, willing to work to the death and a loyal partner. We are considering to once again establish a breeding program starting with a pup that we recently found in western WI, he is one of the smartest dogs that we have dealt with, sensitive and quite laid back (as he lays passed out on the couch). He is out of a very attentive and handy red female whoms mother is also a very impressive female. His sire is a hard working dog that handles bulls with ease and was quite managable. Which comes to the advice we are looking, if this male that we are working with maintains his trainability would the best way to promote the breed be to hunt a female of the show style or the working style. We would like to produce pups that will make good family dogs and farm dogs, understanding of course that prospective buyers need to be schooled on training and handling these dogs. Registration is not at the top of our list, we want good dogs and only intend to breed once to establish that we get what we want and again only when new owners have been lined up. Our pup is impressive to the point that we have turned down well over a dozen offers to sell him and actually was forced to price him at a unreasonable dollar amount because the pursuer would not take "not for sale" as a answer. Debbie[/quote] Well my advice would be not to breed to either type but to seek another to match him instead. I also would say don't bother breeding him if he is not registered - work him and love him and then when you need another working dog head for the working trials and find one. Heck you can probably find the 'style' dog you need to work sitting in a shelter via [url]www.petfinder.org[/url] where so many dogs that need to work end up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 [quote name='Debbie']We would like some advice, we are ex-heeler breeders, have not breed them for over 20 years. We have seen alot of heelers recently and it seems as if the breed has split into three different styles: The first is a show style, short and compact, we own one and found him to be a bit hard headed and loyal to whomever takes him coon hunting; The second is what we have seen a lot of in our area, WI, MN and IL, overly large and overly suspisous, they don't seem to have the intellegence that our old dogs had; The third is what we used to breed and we have found difficult to find, the ranch working dog, not too big but also not to small, around 35 pounds, and very willing to learn when he understands that you are the leader, willing to work to the death and a loyal partner. We are considering to once again establish a breeding program starting with a pup that we recently found in western WI, he is one of the smartest dogs that we have dealt with, sensitive and quite laid back (as he lays passed out on the couch). He is out of a very attentive and handy red female whoms mother is also a very impressive female. His sire is a hard working dog that handles bulls with ease and was quite managable. Which comes to the advice we are looking, if this male that we are working with maintains his trainability would the best way to promote the breed be to hunt a female of the show style or the working style. We would like to produce pups that will make good family dogs and farm dogs, understanding of course that prospective buyers need to be schooled on training and handling these dogs. Registration is not at the top of our list, we want good dogs and only intend to breed once to establish that we get what we want and again only when new owners have been lined up. Our pup is impressive to the point that we have turned down well over a dozen offers to sell him and actually was forced to price him at a unreasonable dollar amount because the pursuer would not take "not for sale" as a answer. Debbie[/quote] [b]Debbie, can you email me at: [email][email protected][/email] in reference to your questions about Heelers. Thanks........[/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2002 Share Posted July 9, 2002 [quote name='Debbie']We would like some advice, we are ex-heeler breeders, have not breed them for over 20 years. We have seen alot of heelers recently and it seems as if the breed has split into three different styles: The first is a show style, short and compact, we own one and found him to be a bit hard headed and loyal to whomever takes him coon hunting; The second is what we have seen a lot of in our area, WI, MN and IL, overly large and overly suspisous, they don't seem to have the intellegence that our old dogs had; The third is what we used to breed and we have found difficult to find, the ranch working dog, not too big but also not to small, around 35 pounds, and very willing to learn when he understands that you are the leader, willing to work to the death and a loyal partner. We are considering to once again establish a breeding program starting with a pup that we recently found in western WI, he is one of the smartest dogs that we have dealt with, sensitive and quite laid back (as he lays passed out on the couch). He is out of a very attentive and handy red female whoms mother is also a very impressive female. His sire is a hard working dog that handles bulls with ease and was quite managable. Which comes to the advice we are looking, if this male that we are working with maintains his trainability would the best way to promote the breed be to hunt a female of the show style or the working style. We would like to produce pups that will make good family dogs and farm dogs, understanding of course that prospective buyers need to be schooled on training and handling these dogs. Registration is not at the top of our list, we want good dogs and only intend to breed once to establish that we get what we want and again only when new owners have been lined up. Our pup is impressive to the point that we have turned down well over a dozen offers to sell him and actually was forced to price him at a unreasonable dollar amount because the pursuer would not take "not for sale" as a answer. Debbie[/quote] Australian Cattle Dogs are "HERDING" bred dogs and should be bred for that purpose, NOT bred as a show dog. Their natural instinct and ability is rapidly being bred out by the AKC show-only-for-conformation people. Just like the Border Collie! You are right, there is begining to be a split in what the ACD looks like. The AKC show and breed-for-LOOKS-only people are changing the look of the ACD, they are creating a different breed. Just like the working Australian Kelpie vs the show or bench Kelpie ----- they look totally different now. Have you noticed that some judge liked the look of the ACD having it's back legs standing way back and now every ACD is being stood with their hind legs way back. This is NOT the way an ACD stands normally. Well, there goes the hocks, the hips are next! These are herding dogs and should be bred for that purpose, period. If you want to do the breed a favor......please don't breed to a "show" ACD, breed for what the dog was originally created to do.......HERD LIVESTOCK!! Breed for good solid genetics. If the dog has good genetics then he'll be conformationally correct. If you want a show dog or to breed show dogs, buy an already ruined breed, like an Australian Shepherd, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2002 Share Posted July 9, 2002 I agree with Treavor. Breed to another working dog NOT a show dog. The show ring ruins a breed. They only seem to care about looks. The AKC/CKC/and any other registry, breeds away from working ability which is wrong. That is how we loose a good breed. I love my cattledog, she is not papered, comes from working stock but she herself does not herd. She has been to sheep a few times but she plays flyball and she needs her flyball to keep her somewhat sane-- check her out at [url]www.flyball-fbi.com[/url] under profile click on Foster...... If you choose to breed please make sure that the buyers know what it is like to own a cattledog that it needs mental and physical exercise. Also, please be willing to take the dog back if the buyers cannot for whatever reason keep the dog. In my eyes, I reputable breeder is one who cares for the breed, will take back a puppy/dog no matter the reason, and wants to improve the breed working standard. Who cares about looks? I don't.....Also make sure that any buyer has done enough research on their own about the breed so that they make an informed decision. Personally, I will go back to Foster's breeder or another working acd breeder before I ever go to an AKC breeder...... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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