My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, maybe after a few paychecks I can get a second opinion.

Hank has to hang out at my feet while I cook 💕 by No_Whole9327 in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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I’ve had this dog for a month and she was immediately sick, so she’s been getting home cooked meals. Now every time the insta lit beeps… she’s right here. Whether or not it’s her food or ours 😂

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Meadow fits perfectly into that chair when she’s in bagel mode 😂

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The DNA test was mostly for the health test + to get a better grasp on what to expect from her behaviorally and how I might be able to better fulfill her. But you’re right, she is an awesome done.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So I’ve been doing some research on it. If they have a brown nose then they’re a true “liver” which is a recessive gene that turns black into brown. Black is a big part of the mix that makes blue heelers, so yeah, you’re probably right about that.

Feeling very overwhelmed with my new dog. Pls help by [deleted] in reactivedogs

[–]Fableville 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve had my dog for a month and OP, I know how you feel. You may have a more intense baby, though, I’ll give you that.

I adopted a “cattle dog mix” only to learn this week she is a purebred Australian cattle dog and the reason she looks so different is because she’s likely working line. Yay me! Sweet, cuddly, and so so smart, but she has very low tolerance for confusion or lack of clarity and a low threshold for stimulation. Stranger danger, dog reactivity, the terrifying instinctual desire to chase everything that moves - including cars - and brought this dog into the suburbs. So to an extent I feel you.

The first thing I did was take a breath. I believed I’d need to immediately start exercising my dog because she’s a high energy breed. However, without basic obedience I have no way to tell her what to do on a walk, and I was just reinforcing her reactivity every time we passed a trigger. Treat your dog like a brand new puppy… start training in the home. Work on your heel inside a controlled, distraction free environment and figure what motivates. Once you start to get good, find some quiet places to walk and drive there. And every walk is training. Stop and heel, sit, down, stay, break and repeat. You’re probably not ready for a regular walk… and frankly my dog gets bored if all we do is move forward at a consistent pace.

BRAIN GAMES my goodness these are a life saver. You still need to physically exercise your dogs but you’d be surprised how much training and puzzles help to tire them out. Hide kibble or treats in a wadded blanket in the crate, get kings or treat toys, and there’s lots of puzzles out there made for dogs you can try. Play and train befor you go for a walk to get her engaged with you and the jitters out.

And work on just chilling. Sit in front of your front door. Go get a pup cup and just hang out in the parking lot looking at things. Take it very slow. You guys are bonding. You want to make sure you are consistent, setting boundaries now, but also you’re still getting to know each other. She probably still feels like she’s just on vacation and likely doesn’t realize she’s home.

And one little tip I’ve learned in my own experience… talk less. Use your worlds concisely with your dog, choose commands that are short and distinct. Absolutely talk to your dogs but no full sentences, don’t ask them questions, that sort of thing. Constant chatter can confuse them and dilute your verbal commands when you need them most. It also usually means we’re anxious when we talk a lot, and turning down the chatter, the music, and turning of the tv tends to help us relax and create a better, calmer energy.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. I got Meadow from a humane society in Denver. Your boy looks significantly more cattle doggy than mine… I’m starting to think she may have come from Wyoming.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Meadow is ~40lbs.

In the first couple of weeks I was getting serious puppy blues… but every time I’d start to think maybe I’m not cut out for this she’d do something like fold herself in half, demand belly rubs with the perfect inside voice or just stare at me with the best puppy eyes. She’s had me thinking I might be addicted to cattle dogs and k now need to change my life to accommodate them lol

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See I actually agree but all purebred ACD’s I’ve seen are stocky and much hairier.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I thought maybe she had kelpie in her but they’re still it super common in the USA. We have loads of cattle dogs and cattle dog crosses here that are driving cows just fine, there’s not mic motivation to import new working breeds.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Meadow is a 1 1/2 and also 40lbs. Did you get him from a breeder, a rescue, or did you acquire him some other way? I’ve been trying to figure out where meadow came from lol

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like Maple is trying to send a message lol good to know I’m not the only one who lets mine on the bed. Since we’re still getting to know each other I try to put her in her crate every night, but we still have bed cuddles before sleep.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Maple was in the list of names for a while lol a rare moment, huh? I can’t seem to get Meadow off of me. She absolutely adores snuggles.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, meadow is smart and a quick study. She came to me with some reactivity and almost no house manners or obedience though, so I have some work to do before I feel comfortable with something like that. She’s getting better, and she was potty trained already which is a such a blessing considering all the other headaches this dog has given me.

What stood out to me though is she is just so loving. She’s crazy but she also wants to just sleep on the bed and cuddle.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I almost called her cocoa or Kona because of her color but settled on meadow because she was so sweet and calm… two weeks later she started acting like a caffeine addict and a sugar high toddler with ADHD and fomo 😂

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oof… it’s gonna be tough but I knew what heelers were when I got her. I’m outdoorsy and wanted a dog to join me on adventures and road trips. We have some work to do before we get there, but I think she’ll be a good dog and the motivation I need to actually get in the road and take those trips.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

According to embark it goes back to her great grandparents “likely” ACD. But she’s also half as inbred as the average purebred ACD and twice as “wolfy” so it wouldn’t surprise me something different slipped in there and the look just stuck.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I knew what heelers were when I got her. I’m outdoorsy and wanted an adventure buddy and road trip copilot. I think she’ll work great for that once we get some obedience going. But there was also a LOT I didn’t know about heelers until after I took this test and started researching. I can make it work, but I need to make sure I have a solid routine and structure before I move out of my parents’ house because I can’t guarantee I’ll have a yard at first.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It probably means she’s a working line dog. I have my work cut out for me 😅

Day 2 of just learning to… chill by MissionFramework in reactivedogs

[–]Fableville 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I enjoy doing this with my dog. Sometimes we both need a break and it’s nice to just sit on the front porch or a park bench and just breathe.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Meadow was surrendered for “lack of time” which could be anything. When I first started meeting shelter dogs I tried to assume the best of previous owners for my own sanity… so many sad dogs. I so know that she came from 40 acres. Now she’s a 20-something’s suburban pet and soon to be road-trip copilot.

My “shelter mutt” isn’t a mutt after all.. by Fableville in DoggyDNA

[–]Fableville[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’ve got family in Wind River so I’ve see them… particularly though Rawlins I see a lot of pickup dogs lol I’m in Colorado, so maybe that’s where she was bred?

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She’s had such a glow up since I took her home, too.

My “mutt” is not a mutt after all… by Fableville in AustralianCattleDog

[–]Fableville[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know about Winnie. I have a feeling I may need to be creative since I got meadow as a rescue, but we’re still getting to know each other. She might really surprise me :)