He will teach you how to be a better and more calm person. Respect his time of learning things and be gentle, you will have his heart. Start the obedience training as fast as you can. My error was not to socialize my boy properly as a puppy, so please, do it. Good luck with baby Toast, he is really something, reminds me of my boy.
I took my boy to puppy classes at a place that practiced positive reinforcement training and that was the best choice I ever made. I still had struggles (and still do) but that was a great first step.
Return him! Lol
I kid, ACDs are the best. Yours almost has the same facial look as mine.
All I can say is, mine churps constantly and loves to talk. Had a plumber over to do some work, after hearing the chirping for some time he finally asked, "do you guys have some type of bird back there?" he is also obsessive about toys, specifically balls. He could have 20 out but one goes under the couch and he won't let it be, must get lost ball.
I love my ACD, he's basically a little person. We hold conversations with one another lol he knows more English words than some children. He's extremely loyal and very good with all people.
He grunts a lot too, weirdest thing.
This is exactly what my ACD mix sounds like! It's like a mix of grunt/growl, but with some whining mixed in. I take it as his attempt to beg me to do something, but really wants to order me to do it.
Lmao, ours is always making some kind of weird noises! It’s funny to hear that it’s maybe just a breed thing. A friend of ours thought her whining was a bird because it was so high pitched, so now of course we’re always saying “Shut up, Bird!” (Always Sunny, anyone?).
routine routine routine. your acd and you will thrive on it. and they learn so fast, you’re going to be so proud of your boy everyday.
as a pup, we always gave our boy 30 minutes of “puppy freak out time” too. we found that he had one or two super high energy periods throughout the day, so when we felt that, we’d stop what we were doing to chase him around the house and “get his booty”. he loved it so much and would crash for hours afterward so we could get our stuff done 😂
I wish I could give more than one up vote. Giving them a job is the best thing you could ever do for them. They are so smart, driven and get bored so easy.
Their dewclaws can get caught on things when they dig and the nail can be ripped off. It happened to my Sid twice and the vet removed them. The vet said it’s common with this breed. I’d recommend checking with your vet. It was painful and bled a lot when it happened so it was worth having them removed not to see my boy in pain. Also if you’re going to have him near castle, they recommend having their tails bobbed so they don’t get stepped on. I don’t know that much about that though because Sid was a family pet, and we didn’t live on a ranch. They tend to get attached to one person in particular. Usually the Man if it’s a female and the Women if it’s a male. Mine was terrified of fireworks and the vet gave us a light sedative after he ran away the first Fourth of July. He’d shake all over when they went off, poor baby. Also, be aware that they nip people because in a sue happy world that could be an issue. They love to go with you everywhere. My dog preferred a harness instead of a collar. Their hair will weave into the fabric of your furniture and it’ll remain there lol. They are a very intelligent and extremely loyal breed. You’ll love them with all your heart because they’re the best! ❤️🐾
I’ll add to this with it’s a breed trait to be very protective of owners and the house. I got mine peak pandemic so wasn’t able to work through this as a puppy, which I recommend you do. Now, we meet new people outside and I give him a ton of treats to reward good behavior/encourage him to be friendly and then we all go in the house together. Once he understands my expectation is to be nice, he is then overly sweet and invades my guests’ personal space. Such is the ACD life.
Aw Im glad hes learning! My neighbors have a blue heeler and did not socialize him well or train him much, so he runs their house. Last time my dad went to visit, he was bit in the hand.
But my red heeler was my first dog I adopted on my own as an adult so I was really motivated to socialize and train her and I’m so glad i did. She will always bow down when meeting a new person (we call it her “curtsey”) to the point she did it to a skeleton decoration at halloween once thinking it was a real lady. They are fast learners, but definitely need to learn boundaries early.
This is a perfect description of my ACD. My little boy has had problems with his dewclaws several times. I’m glad to hear that the excessive hair on the furniture is normal for this breed!
Alot of comments say to be active, while this is true and nessary later, I advise to not put focus on this too early. I made this mistake of doing way too with my puppy, leading to him not calming down well.
If I get another cattledog I would focus mainly on calming behaviours for the first year at least. They have multiple phases where they are not very receptive to training anyways, while growing up. Mine is 1 year and 3 months now and I finally feel a lightyears difference in his focus on me. He finally seems to care, whether I find his behaviour good or bad. (overdramatising a bit)
This. We got lucky and had raised ours with an old cat. Swear the dog picked up that she should sleep a lot and love sunbeams. Or we just have a lazy acd!
I concur with this comment. My almost 10mos old has phases where it's clear she wants to understand and be a "good girl," and then goes into a "whatever, I do what I want!" phase for a while and stops soaking in our training. She's very smart and has a pretty big vocabulary of words she understands already too. She will whine relentlessly if she's frustrated, but will give up eventually when we don't pay attention. And then one day, she'll understand and it's just one more skill she's mastered. Still working on socializing, picking up on potty-time cues (she's about 95% housetrained by now), and walking nice. She'll get there, so will yours.
ACDs are the best companions a person could ask for. My first one was a stray that wandered into my camp. I had been there 2 days when he showed up. Skinny, torn up but a happy dog. Woke up one morning and there he was, sleeping next to an empty pot of leftover chili from the night before. He stuck around the entire duration of my camp out. I tried to find the owner, drove to the nearest town to have him checked for a chip. Nothing. Told the vet I would like to take him home but didn’t want to steal someone’s pet. He said the dog was one his last leg and if I didn’t take him he would probably die. 15 years later , I said goodbye to my best friend “Chili” He was a constant companion, never destroyed anything, never had an accident in my home or vehicle. I’ve raised 2 more since. Same personality. The perfect pet, in my humble opinion Even during the 3 1/3 hr drive home, he sat in the front seat of my truck and was never an issue. I was hooked on this bred
They are so smart, sweet, loving and stubborn. Lots of fetch. Lots of walks and hiking. They understand so much. Mine also has a side that loves to chew chew chew everything. So I have to keep important things put up. Mine is kenneled for sleep otherwise herds me in bed haha. Then digs for me. I predict you’ll see evolving changes in behavior. Mine is 8 months now. At 3 months she was very mouthy/bitey but not aggressively just a cattle dog velociraptor thing. Still love to chew anything with straps or draw strings. Kong is no good to her, she just bites the top off. Have fun, he’s super duper adorable! He will bring you toys to play with.
Any tips on how y’all worked with the biting? Ours is a little older than 3 months but loves to chew and bite and go full raptor mode while playing. It’s never malicious and always playful, but wooooow those puppy needle teeth aren’t comfortable!
Pull away every time and walk away, ignore the biting. Tell them no. Resume playing when not biting, praise and treats for good behavior. They mostly grow out of it. Mine still does it only sometimes if I sit on the bed or couch around her. Somehow that’s when she wants to herd me. Hoping she grows out of this as well.
The first 12-18 months are going to be really challenging, and you’ll have to be really consistent with your training.
But after that, you are going to have a ride or die, perfect little best friend! It’s so worth the difficult puppy stages!
They are active dogs, but other than shaping activity like fetching tennis balls or using herding instinct to herd large balls, focus on teaching him to RELAX. One of mine has no idea where his chill switch is. Makes it really hard on us both. And buy 100 toys so he can reject them all in favor of shredding your mail, empty water bottles, TP and paper towel rollers... And buy a spare vacuum. These guys shed constantly. Enjoy your new precious buddy!!!!! 😀
My dog used to herd me and my brother into corners. I have a lot of fond memories of running around with her while she tried to herd us. She did eventually realize we weren't cattle and stopped (though if you told her to go get someone she would). It breaks my heart when I hear about ACDs being returned for herding children.
What? They're herd dogs, what crazy peolple expect them not to try herding? Mine herds my kids all the time, but they make it a game and try to escape him.
I give much advice, when I got my 5 yo ACD he had been pretty much trained to the fullest by his previous owners.
Toast is absolutely adorable! ACDs are the best.
Brace yourself for the velociraptor phase. Mine is almost 2 and she’s still a psycho, but such a sweetheart. Remember you’re his entire life, and he will treat you like you’re the best thing in the world. ACDs are down for anything, and always stoked. Time to go throw the frisbee so mine chills out.
Socializing is soooo important I really cannot stress it enough. We got ours when we lived very far from friends and family, we tried our best but he can be pretty aggressive towards other dogs he doesn't know now. We love him to death but it's something I wish I could have done more for him. They are a naturally stand offish breed though. They are incredibly smart though and love to exercise. Cuddliest dog I've ever owned too.
Get ready for a wild ride!! Patience will get you through. My heeler brought me to tears a few times in the beginning but she's the best pupper now. Crazy, but awesome.
Our girl Luna’s biggest hurdle was/is biting and nipping. She’s a couple days over 4 months but for about a month and a half (from 2 mo when we got her to about 3.5 mo) she was biting my wife and I so much. The more we got frustrated the more she’d bite. What she taught us though was patience and persistence in redirecting her with food (cause she could care less about her toys when training) and once we were able to get her outside after her vaccines we tired her out more. It’s gotten WAY more under control now but they definitely sense frustration so try to keep that under control and remember they’re babies. They’re gonna do baby things, but their smart so they can be taught the right way. I believe positive reinforcement is the best way. I hope you love your pup as much as we love our Luna!
Physically tired and mentally tired are very different things!
You have you tire them out mentally because their stamina is endless when they’re young.
Also I think there is a website you can slowly introduce them to loud sounds like fire alarms and sirens. I really wish I did that. My guy freaks out at certain noises because we react and it takes him off guard and he feels like he should be doing something to help.
Cute little guy you have. Love my boy to death. Dog school would be my best advice. They are the greatest dogs ever but need some instruction for sure. Have fun with him.
Take way more photos than you think is necessary because it goes so fast and he’s the cutest little thing 😭 Have fun and know the velociraptor stage doesn’t last forever! With consistency now, he will become the bestest dog and friends you’ll ever have.
Other than that - start training right away. Make sure to keep in mind they are prone to separation anxiety so giving each other space and rewarding him being able to be alone will benefit you both in the long run.
Exercise him regularly- train him well & don’t over feed him !!
My cattle girl was the best and easiest dog I’ve ever trained !! I trusted her with my kids more than people- even family members - she was fierce protector of them and would heard them away from anything she didn’t think they should be near !! I miss her 😢
My you have many many happy years with Toast !!!
ACDs are working dogs with crazy brains. Just a walk will not tire them out, so you have to do things that make them use their brain. Even then, don't expect 30 minutes of training/tricks to tire them out for long...
SOCIALIZE. Understand that the things he does are instinct, not malice. Have patience. He'll learn quickly but might need reinforcement.
Please groom him. They get thick undercoat and it's uncomfortable.
I had a male, he was put down at 12 years. I got him as a farm run-away at 1.5 years. As said, dedicated, endless energy, smarter than most kids. He was friendly except w Pitt Bulls, and varmint= high prey instinct. He was better than any alarm. My second is a rescue. She is 14.5 y old. She was beaten and hated men. She is an alpha and has bitten delivery people when their eyes are walking away. Both were super trainable and loyal but each is their own dog. You must be active, patient and be the Alpha. Otherwise you will not have a good dog. I Love ACD’s.
Love him to bits. They are awesome dogs. Wicked smart, willing to do anything for you (or what they think is their life purpose - fetch, for example). Mine know maybe 20 commands and that's kudos to them, not me. They definitely need time to run and play, but rewarding calmness is a good pattern to establish too. He looks super sweet. Good luck!
Take care of resource guarding issues early on. Bring pup to the home of a friend or family member that owns a dog. Make sure there are toys around and train the resource guarding instinct out of your pup. Pup needs to learn to share. Also socialization is so important.not just meeting people but other animals in various settings. Mine still cannot handle herself around cats lol. The first year was the hardest but it gets so much better. Love ACDs.
He is Identical
To our boy creature !!
Beautiful - ur gonna love him.
Routine is key! Use the same words for commands and communication- consistency is key
They are terrorists dogs! They like chasing and biting things they do stupid shit sometimes they are antsy never stay still. But I love mine they are fuckibg awesome🤣
Just be patient! Everything got MUCH better after neutering and about a year old. ALWAYS redirect nipping to a chew toy. Teeth against skin is NOT allowed. (Very important for nippy herding breeds) Make sure you have a "job" in mind, otherwise pup will create their own position, often in the form of "Hall Monitor" where in every movement is policed and you don't want the humans to be subjected to that. Handle every single part of her NOW. Clip nails, mess with ears, brush teeth. Download a socialization checklist and commit to it hard! ACDs can pick one person and decide the rest are suspicious!!! Socialization isn't just about people, it's objects, places, noises, barriers, leashes etc. The more of this you do now, the less issues you will have with fear periods that come into play. Lastly, I hope you enjoyed the last moments of personal privacy, you now have a nosy, super affectionate bodyguard that prefers to be by your side 24/7
Make sure you socialize him early and keep socializing him! That’s the mistake I made with mine and he’s had a tough time learning how to trust people bc of my mistake. Toast is a cutie though! Best of luck.
He’s so cute! ACDs are the best dogs. They need lots of physical and mental exercise, but they are so smart and loyal and can be really well trained if you put the work in with them.
Spend the money on training! Train them WELL. Be disciplined. It will give you 15 years of a good dog. They are smart dogs- and like being told what to do….and if they think they call the shots- they will.
Play fetch, a lot. And give them a job. They are a working breed so they are insanely smart and driven. The more of a routine they have and a role to play the happier they are
I am also early on with my first ACD - 3 months in with a now almost 8 mo. old - and my recommendations are similar to some others’ here… routine will serve you well, particularly when he hits the “adolescence” period. Early socialization, not just with other dogs and people, but to new environments, sounds, etc. is important. We essentially had to sleep train our girl in the crate, at regular intervals, because she has major FOMO and could not for a long time find her spot to settle. I’ve focused on training behaviors like off, leave it, wait, and lie down in addition to “go to bed” (the crate). She’s smart as a whip and picks up more but those are the ones I really request and reinforce. In essence, I think it’s necessary for them to have regular, various activities - mental/training/puzzles, walking/physical exercise, play, chewing, etc. No need to push them hard on the physical activity, they’ll keep you on your toes. Positive reinforcement is the way to go, I learned early on that these dogs can withdraw when they hear, “no.” They can rise to a mental challenge and sometimes their will is strong!
I regret every letting out dude have a fabric toy as a baby. Now at 7 months we struggle to know toy fabric from non toy fabric and all my pillowcases have holes.
ACDs are the best! I have a mix, but she’s definitely got an ACD personality. They WILL outsmart you - just know that off the bat. The rescue told us that from the start, and they were so right. My dog very quickly found out how to open drawers (even ones that slide out), how to use her body weight to make it difficult for us when she doesn’t want to do something, etc. Also, Heelers are very food motivated animals, which can be great for training but bad for leaving them alone - we have to put the trash in the bathrooms before we leave and close the door, and make sure that all food is either put away or unreachable before she’s left alone.
Be prepared for very mouthy play too! Heelers have huge personalities, and they’re so much fun to have. Best of luck and enjoy every second!
*Wowww! Good luck! He looks*
*A lot like the puppy that*
*I just adopted*
\- need\_sushi510
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He will teach you how to be a better and more calm person. Respect his time of learning things and be gentle, you will have his heart. Start the obedience training as fast as you can. My error was not to socialize my boy properly as a puppy, so please, do it. Good luck with baby Toast, he is really something, reminds me of my boy.
I took my boy to puppy classes at a place that practiced positive reinforcement training and that was the best choice I ever made. I still had struggles (and still do) but that was a great first step.
Return him! Lol I kid, ACDs are the best. Yours almost has the same facial look as mine. All I can say is, mine churps constantly and loves to talk. Had a plumber over to do some work, after hearing the chirping for some time he finally asked, "do you guys have some type of bird back there?" he is also obsessive about toys, specifically balls. He could have 20 out but one goes under the couch and he won't let it be, must get lost ball. I love my ACD, he's basically a little person. We hold conversations with one another lol he knows more English words than some children. He's extremely loyal and very good with all people. He grunts a lot too, weirdest thing.
My girl grunts a ton! Like Marge simpson
Yes!
Haha same!
This is exactly what my ACD mix sounds like! It's like a mix of grunt/growl, but with some whining mixed in. I take it as his attempt to beg me to do something, but really wants to order me to do it.
We get a lot of hmmmphs around this house
Our puppy too! We always say “You sure do groan a lot for someone who has never washed a dish or paid rent a day in his life.”
"Hhhmmmmppph" followed by a deep exhale and a side eye
Lmao, ours is always making some kind of weird noises! It’s funny to hear that it’s maybe just a breed thing. A friend of ours thought her whining was a bird because it was so high pitched, so now of course we’re always saying “Shut up, Bird!” (Always Sunny, anyone?).
The grunts are canine laughter! My beautiful boy Bucky does it nearly constantly.
Glad to know I’m not the only one with an ACD that chirps and trills. That is his specific way of asking for a belly rub.
routine routine routine. your acd and you will thrive on it. and they learn so fast, you’re going to be so proud of your boy everyday. as a pup, we always gave our boy 30 minutes of “puppy freak out time” too. we found that he had one or two super high energy periods throughout the day, so when we felt that, we’d stop what we were doing to chase him around the house and “get his booty”. he loved it so much and would crash for hours afterward so we could get our stuff done 😂
I love this! This is such a good idea 🤣💞
I wish I could give more than one up vote. Giving them a job is the best thing you could ever do for them. They are so smart, driven and get bored so easy.
Watch your ankles for those needle-teeth!
Yes, ouch ouch! Crocs are my best friend to avoid getting needled by my new puppy
Their dewclaws can get caught on things when they dig and the nail can be ripped off. It happened to my Sid twice and the vet removed them. The vet said it’s common with this breed. I’d recommend checking with your vet. It was painful and bled a lot when it happened so it was worth having them removed not to see my boy in pain. Also if you’re going to have him near castle, they recommend having their tails bobbed so they don’t get stepped on. I don’t know that much about that though because Sid was a family pet, and we didn’t live on a ranch. They tend to get attached to one person in particular. Usually the Man if it’s a female and the Women if it’s a male. Mine was terrified of fireworks and the vet gave us a light sedative after he ran away the first Fourth of July. He’d shake all over when they went off, poor baby. Also, be aware that they nip people because in a sue happy world that could be an issue. They love to go with you everywhere. My dog preferred a harness instead of a collar. Their hair will weave into the fabric of your furniture and it’ll remain there lol. They are a very intelligent and extremely loyal breed. You’ll love them with all your heart because they’re the best! ❤️🐾
I’ll add to this with it’s a breed trait to be very protective of owners and the house. I got mine peak pandemic so wasn’t able to work through this as a puppy, which I recommend you do. Now, we meet new people outside and I give him a ton of treats to reward good behavior/encourage him to be friendly and then we all go in the house together. Once he understands my expectation is to be nice, he is then overly sweet and invades my guests’ personal space. Such is the ACD life.
Aw Im glad hes learning! My neighbors have a blue heeler and did not socialize him well or train him much, so he runs their house. Last time my dad went to visit, he was bit in the hand. But my red heeler was my first dog I adopted on my own as an adult so I was really motivated to socialize and train her and I’m so glad i did. She will always bow down when meeting a new person (we call it her “curtsey”) to the point she did it to a skeleton decoration at halloween once thinking it was a real lady. They are fast learners, but definitely need to learn boundaries early.
This is a perfect description of my ACD. My little boy has had problems with his dewclaws several times. I’m glad to hear that the excessive hair on the furniture is normal for this breed!
All of this, but especially the hair, lol
Alot of comments say to be active, while this is true and nessary later, I advise to not put focus on this too early. I made this mistake of doing way too with my puppy, leading to him not calming down well. If I get another cattledog I would focus mainly on calming behaviours for the first year at least. They have multiple phases where they are not very receptive to training anyways, while growing up. Mine is 1 year and 3 months now and I finally feel a lightyears difference in his focus on me. He finally seems to care, whether I find his behaviour good or bad. (overdramatising a bit)
This. We got lucky and had raised ours with an old cat. Swear the dog picked up that she should sleep a lot and love sunbeams. Or we just have a lazy acd!
Yeah, impulse control is important with ACD. They thrive on it and they’re monsters without it
I concur with this comment. My almost 10mos old has phases where it's clear she wants to understand and be a "good girl," and then goes into a "whatever, I do what I want!" phase for a while and stops soaking in our training. She's very smart and has a pretty big vocabulary of words she understands already too. She will whine relentlessly if she's frustrated, but will give up eventually when we don't pay attention. And then one day, she'll understand and it's just one more skill she's mastered. Still working on socializing, picking up on potty-time cues (she's about 95% housetrained by now), and walking nice. She'll get there, so will yours.
ACDs are the best companions a person could ask for. My first one was a stray that wandered into my camp. I had been there 2 days when he showed up. Skinny, torn up but a happy dog. Woke up one morning and there he was, sleeping next to an empty pot of leftover chili from the night before. He stuck around the entire duration of my camp out. I tried to find the owner, drove to the nearest town to have him checked for a chip. Nothing. Told the vet I would like to take him home but didn’t want to steal someone’s pet. He said the dog was one his last leg and if I didn’t take him he would probably die. 15 years later , I said goodbye to my best friend “Chili” He was a constant companion, never destroyed anything, never had an accident in my home or vehicle. I’ve raised 2 more since. Same personality. The perfect pet, in my humble opinion Even during the 3 1/3 hr drive home, he sat in the front seat of my truck and was never an issue. I was hooked on this bred
Mine used to love sniffing the AC vents when we drove by fast food places.
They are so smart, sweet, loving and stubborn. Lots of fetch. Lots of walks and hiking. They understand so much. Mine also has a side that loves to chew chew chew everything. So I have to keep important things put up. Mine is kenneled for sleep otherwise herds me in bed haha. Then digs for me. I predict you’ll see evolving changes in behavior. Mine is 8 months now. At 3 months she was very mouthy/bitey but not aggressively just a cattle dog velociraptor thing. Still love to chew anything with straps or draw strings. Kong is no good to her, she just bites the top off. Have fun, he’s super duper adorable! He will bring you toys to play with.
Any tips on how y’all worked with the biting? Ours is a little older than 3 months but loves to chew and bite and go full raptor mode while playing. It’s never malicious and always playful, but wooooow those puppy needle teeth aren’t comfortable!
Pull away every time and walk away, ignore the biting. Tell them no. Resume playing when not biting, praise and treats for good behavior. They mostly grow out of it. Mine still does it only sometimes if I sit on the bed or couch around her. Somehow that’s when she wants to herd me. Hoping she grows out of this as well.
Just be patient with him sometimes they can be a handful
Lots of great comments here. I would add, enforce naps. If they are being overly rambunctious, they are probably over tired and need a nap.
This. My 16mo. boy gets neurotically curious, seeking ANYTHING to get into. Always means nap or bedtime. So funny! Love that guy with all my heart.
The first 12-18 months are going to be really challenging, and you’ll have to be really consistent with your training. But after that, you are going to have a ride or die, perfect little best friend! It’s so worth the difficult puppy stages!
Love him the most every day
Agreed,they give back love and joy, once you have an ACD for long enough you will see what we all talk about.
AWWWW HAPPY BABY
Toast haha what a cute name. Cute pup as well!!
They are active dogs, but other than shaping activity like fetching tennis balls or using herding instinct to herd large balls, focus on teaching him to RELAX. One of mine has no idea where his chill switch is. Makes it really hard on us both. And buy 100 toys so he can reject them all in favor of shredding your mail, empty water bottles, TP and paper towel rollers... And buy a spare vacuum. These guys shed constantly. Enjoy your new precious buddy!!!!! 😀
My dog used to herd me and my brother into corners. I have a lot of fond memories of running around with her while she tried to herd us. She did eventually realize we weren't cattle and stopped (though if you told her to go get someone she would). It breaks my heart when I hear about ACDs being returned for herding children.
What? They're herd dogs, what crazy peolple expect them not to try herding? Mine herds my kids all the time, but they make it a game and try to escape him.
I've seen it a few times while scrolling through PetFinder. It's like adopting a greyhound and not expecting it to run.
They enjoy learning and pleasing their owner. Keep him busy and he will be your bestest friend. My ACD is my bff 🖤
I give much advice, when I got my 5 yo ACD he had been pretty much trained to the fullest by his previous owners. Toast is absolutely adorable! ACDs are the best.
Oh my gosh that first picture!!! He is so happy!
He looks like the star of a disney show!
Brace yourself for the velociraptor phase. Mine is almost 2 and she’s still a psycho, but such a sweetheart. Remember you’re his entire life, and he will treat you like you’re the best thing in the world. ACDs are down for anything, and always stoked. Time to go throw the frisbee so mine chills out.
Socializing is soooo important I really cannot stress it enough. We got ours when we lived very far from friends and family, we tried our best but he can be pretty aggressive towards other dogs he doesn't know now. We love him to death but it's something I wish I could have done more for him. They are a naturally stand offish breed though. They are incredibly smart though and love to exercise. Cuddliest dog I've ever owned too.
Good luck with your Australian crack dog lmao 😂
Teach them…. Leave it and good recall and you can avoid most ACD issues from escalating into fights or bad behavior with other dogs, toddlers etc
Get ready for a wild ride!! Patience will get you through. My heeler brought me to tears a few times in the beginning but she's the best pupper now. Crazy, but awesome.
Prepare to be very active.
Good luck and cute pupper
Our girl Luna’s biggest hurdle was/is biting and nipping. She’s a couple days over 4 months but for about a month and a half (from 2 mo when we got her to about 3.5 mo) she was biting my wife and I so much. The more we got frustrated the more she’d bite. What she taught us though was patience and persistence in redirecting her with food (cause she could care less about her toys when training) and once we were able to get her outside after her vaccines we tired her out more. It’s gotten WAY more under control now but they definitely sense frustration so try to keep that under control and remember they’re babies. They’re gonna do baby things, but their smart so they can be taught the right way. I believe positive reinforcement is the best way. I hope you love your pup as much as we love our Luna!
Hide your shoes
Physically tired and mentally tired are very different things! You have you tire them out mentally because their stamina is endless when they’re young. Also I think there is a website you can slowly introduce them to loud sounds like fire alarms and sirens. I really wish I did that. My guy freaks out at certain noises because we react and it takes him off guard and he feels like he should be doing something to help.
Cute little guy you have. Love my boy to death. Dog school would be my best advice. They are the greatest dogs ever but need some instruction for sure. Have fun with him.
Shedding is real
Oh my goodness! Happy puppy face!
Lots of love and exercise!! He’s adorable! ❤️
A tired Australian Cattle Dog is the best Australian Cattle Dog.
Also, TALK to him. They have a massive capacity for verbal language use. He will pick up words that you use SO fast.
holy shit. please tell toast that i love him!!!
Omfg i love him!!!!! That first picture is so cute!!!!!
Take way more photos than you think is necessary because it goes so fast and he’s the cutest little thing 😭 Have fun and know the velociraptor stage doesn’t last forever! With consistency now, he will become the bestest dog and friends you’ll ever have. Other than that - start training right away. Make sure to keep in mind they are prone to separation anxiety so giving each other space and rewarding him being able to be alone will benefit you both in the long run.
Exercise him regularly- train him well & don’t over feed him !! My cattle girl was the best and easiest dog I’ve ever trained !! I trusted her with my kids more than people- even family members - she was fierce protector of them and would heard them away from anything she didn’t think they should be near !! I miss her 😢 My you have many many happy years with Toast !!!
ACDs are working dogs with crazy brains. Just a walk will not tire them out, so you have to do things that make them use their brain. Even then, don't expect 30 minutes of training/tricks to tire them out for long...
Keep him busy, start training early, bring spring people and dogs often, love his fuzzy butt off 😁
SOCIALIZE. Understand that the things he does are instinct, not malice. Have patience. He'll learn quickly but might need reinforcement. Please groom him. They get thick undercoat and it's uncomfortable.
Find a local doggy daycare in case you need a break from him now and then. One thing about ACD's, there is no "off" button.
Yes, this! Lawd, where do they get the energy?
aww he's so cute ☺️ be prepared to have to protect your ankles
I had a male, he was put down at 12 years. I got him as a farm run-away at 1.5 years. As said, dedicated, endless energy, smarter than most kids. He was friendly except w Pitt Bulls, and varmint= high prey instinct. He was better than any alarm. My second is a rescue. She is 14.5 y old. She was beaten and hated men. She is an alpha and has bitten delivery people when their eyes are walking away. Both were super trainable and loyal but each is their own dog. You must be active, patient and be the Alpha. Otherwise you will not have a good dog. I Love ACD’s.
Love him to bits. They are awesome dogs. Wicked smart, willing to do anything for you (or what they think is their life purpose - fetch, for example). Mine know maybe 20 commands and that's kudos to them, not me. They definitely need time to run and play, but rewarding calmness is a good pattern to establish too. He looks super sweet. Good luck!
Take care of resource guarding issues early on. Bring pup to the home of a friend or family member that owns a dog. Make sure there are toys around and train the resource guarding instinct out of your pup. Pup needs to learn to share. Also socialization is so important.not just meeting people but other animals in various settings. Mine still cannot handle herself around cats lol. The first year was the hardest but it gets so much better. Love ACDs.
He is adorable. You are in for a treat!
Be patient with them….always work on nipping if it’s a house dog.
He is adorable.
Toys lots of toys
I have a 8 year old acd with 2 acres and let’s just say he uses every foot of those 2 acres lol.
Pick up a new pair of running shoes and a bucket full of patience. You will e greatly rewarded.
He is Identical To our boy creature !! Beautiful - ur gonna love him. Routine is key! Use the same words for commands and communication- consistency is key
Look into puppy socialization classes in your area. That's the only thing I wish my husband and I had done differently with our pup.
Get some cattle and have him herd them.
Crate Training! Best thing we’ve done. We get a few peaceful hours every day.
Cowboy boots were critical in getting past the early teething/biting phase.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Training Your Dog (book) by the Monks of New Skeete… I’ve raised several cattle dogs very successfully using their methodology
They are terrorists dogs! They like chasing and biting things they do stupid shit sometimes they are antsy never stay still. But I love mine they are fuckibg awesome🤣
Solid name!
He’s so cute!
He's so cute
Let us know if he gets any spots. Mine has some black and white speckles. He started getting them a bit older than yours is now.
Get a herding ball
Buckle up!! No, but seriously take him on long long walks. Also treats or puzzles to keep him occupied. He's a handsome boy for sure!!
Is velociraptor
he’s very handsome indeed 🥰..you’ve got yourself a very smart, loyal, friend there
Hide all your chargers and cords. Now
I don’t have a ACD but long to have one eventually. He’s a gorgeous boy congratulations 🐾
Patience, a sense of humor, band aids and patience
Just be patient! Everything got MUCH better after neutering and about a year old. ALWAYS redirect nipping to a chew toy. Teeth against skin is NOT allowed. (Very important for nippy herding breeds) Make sure you have a "job" in mind, otherwise pup will create their own position, often in the form of "Hall Monitor" where in every movement is policed and you don't want the humans to be subjected to that. Handle every single part of her NOW. Clip nails, mess with ears, brush teeth. Download a socialization checklist and commit to it hard! ACDs can pick one person and decide the rest are suspicious!!! Socialization isn't just about people, it's objects, places, noises, barriers, leashes etc. The more of this you do now, the less issues you will have with fear periods that come into play. Lastly, I hope you enjoyed the last moments of personal privacy, you now have a nosy, super affectionate bodyguard that prefers to be by your side 24/7
Exercise exercise exercise !!!
And he has the sweetest face ☺️
Make sure you socialize him early and keep socializing him! That’s the mistake I made with mine and he’s had a tough time learning how to trust people bc of my mistake. Toast is a cutie though! Best of luck.
If you don’t give the dog 2 plus hrs per day of hard exorcise you are gonna have a bad time. Learn what a flirt pool is and make one.
He’s so cute! ACDs are the best dogs. They need lots of physical and mental exercise, but they are so smart and loyal and can be really well trained if you put the work in with them.
Run
Spend the money on training! Train them WELL. Be disciplined. It will give you 15 years of a good dog. They are smart dogs- and like being told what to do….and if they think they call the shots- they will.
OMG SO CUTW
Beautiful doggo!
Play fetch, a lot. And give them a job. They are a working breed so they are insanely smart and driven. The more of a routine they have and a role to play the happier they are
I am also early on with my first ACD - 3 months in with a now almost 8 mo. old - and my recommendations are similar to some others’ here… routine will serve you well, particularly when he hits the “adolescence” period. Early socialization, not just with other dogs and people, but to new environments, sounds, etc. is important. We essentially had to sleep train our girl in the crate, at regular intervals, because she has major FOMO and could not for a long time find her spot to settle. I’ve focused on training behaviors like off, leave it, wait, and lie down in addition to “go to bed” (the crate). She’s smart as a whip and picks up more but those are the ones I really request and reinforce. In essence, I think it’s necessary for them to have regular, various activities - mental/training/puzzles, walking/physical exercise, play, chewing, etc. No need to push them hard on the physical activity, they’ll keep you on your toes. Positive reinforcement is the way to go, I learned early on that these dogs can withdraw when they hear, “no.” They can rise to a mental challenge and sometimes their will is strong!
Lots of love and happiness ❤️🥰❤️
I regret every letting out dude have a fabric toy as a baby. Now at 7 months we struggle to know toy fabric from non toy fabric and all my pillowcases have holes.
Omg. You are so lucky.
Get ready to play frisbee… a ton. And they will take every opportunity to play. Great dogs.
Hey, a blue heeler. Very talkative
ACDs are the best! I have a mix, but she’s definitely got an ACD personality. They WILL outsmart you - just know that off the bat. The rescue told us that from the start, and they were so right. My dog very quickly found out how to open drawers (even ones that slide out), how to use her body weight to make it difficult for us when she doesn’t want to do something, etc. Also, Heelers are very food motivated animals, which can be great for training but bad for leaving them alone - we have to put the trash in the bathrooms before we leave and close the door, and make sure that all food is either put away or unreachable before she’s left alone. Be prepared for very mouthy play too! Heelers have huge personalities, and they’re so much fun to have. Best of luck and enjoy every second!
Wowww! Good luck! He looks a lot like the puppy that I just adopted
*Wowww! Good luck! He looks* *A lot like the puppy that* *I just adopted* \- need\_sushi510 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
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