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Amherst WI | I have always wanted a blue heeler dog. I have heard they can be aggressive with kids. Is this true? We have a Black lab/German shepard mix now, will there be any problem with the two breeds getting along? We don't have kids now but plan on it in the near future. |
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Galva, IL----- Half way between Peoria & Moline | Can't help you with any info,but I do like your byline, very TRUE.. Good luck with proposed family expansion. Bob |
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West Texas | Blue Heelers are one-owner dogs. Other people are tolerated. Barely, in some cases. If children are around, the dog should be in a kennel.
My own heeler lived up to its name, and nipped my young nephew on the calf. To be fair, my nephew kicked her first, I was told. But still, the possibility is there and you should be proactive at all times.
They are working dogs and expect to be kept busy, so keep that in mind, too.
One thing you might not know ... blue heelers shed their weight in hair every dang day. :-( |
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central ky | I've had several healers over the years. Most were one master dogs, a couple were freindly to the kids they knew since they were puppies. Some didn't even like me. I second the shedding part. They can be great workers, and loyal freinds but I wouldn't trust any of mine with children. |
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South Eastern ,ILL | Have had several blue heelers over the past 35 years and one female we kept breeding had over 100 pups ,I sold,never had any problems with any of them, but I personally always had a female for our farm .I would say the males may be the agressive ones. Last female I had, died at the age of 17 great dog. My family got me a new pup for Christmas this year, she is very good with the grandchildren. I guess, I don't get the one owner, and not good with children part, if anything ,they are great with family members. Mine have always been great pets, but our family gives her lots of attention. |
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Farmington IL | I have red heeler. He has been at my side since I got him at 8 weeks old. He grew up around my helpers, my friends and alot of people. He is as faithful a dog as you could ask for. He wants to be where ever I am at all times. He his with me all day doing chores, field work or just running around in the truck. He leaves the house in the morning when I go out and comes back in with me at night. He is incredibly friendly towards everyone and I have been told it is because he grew up by my side. They say heelers are 90 miles per hour or zero and he fits that to a tee. He is a little hard on cats and such around the farm. Wanted to chase cars but I took care of that with a shock collar very easily. He likes other dogs but he will not back down from anything and if he doesnt get his way he will tie right into the other dog. He wouldnt scare me at all around kids. Yes, he has heeled me before when I told him to stay in the barn lot and I was walking away but never even tried to really bother anyone. Good gaurd dog, very loyal to a few people are around the farm daily, will stay at my side 24-7 and be happy, just a fun dog. One of my helpers said the other day he couldnt remember what it was like before this dog was around but it couldnt have been as much fun. Two things, one, if you cant be with him all the time I wouldnt even consider it. They get bored and can be a real handfull, I have seen it with other people and I would never tolerate having a dog that behaved like that. Second, I would want the dog to grow up around the kids, I think they will deal with that much better.
His name is wrigley and you couldnt ask for a better dog. |
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West Texas | We had a blue heeler that was very friendly with us but not soo much with strangers. She was our sheep running dog. When I picked her up she was suposed to stay in a pen close to the sheep but it wasn't ready. She would fight with the other yard dog (and win) so we started keeping her in our fenced in back yard. She became my companion dog as she would go with me every where I went.
One night we heard her whining at the back door. Opened up the door and her head was covered in porcupine quills. I carried her in the house, laid her on the table and my wife and me worked on her for 2 hrs or longer to get them all out. The whole time she never moved or tried to fight us or anything! She was very good natured.
We've had a male blue heeler since then that was a lot more aggressive but still good with the kids. Not so good with strangers! He would not let anybody but us in the yard!
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East Central Kansas | We have a heeler we inherited from our son. Very protective of his family. He's great with our daughters, even though he only saw them occasionaly while maturing. Good with the grandchildren, somewhat protective of them. Son-in-laws are tolerated. Possibly a "family scent"? Agree on the shedding, saw something that heelers only shed twice a year. I agree, if the two times are 1 Jan thru 30 June, and 1 July thru 31 Dec. He gets along with other dogs well.
John K |
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| If you want a "cattle" type dog, consider an Australian Shepherd. Not too hyper, protective but not aggressive. Great with kids. For us, so far so good. This is a short haired black and white with no merleing.
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SW IN | I have had heelers since the '80's. No problems around kids. I gave my daughter a pup a few years ago. It has grown up with her four kids. She is fiercely loyal to the kids. She will not tolerate anyone rough housing with her kids, including dad and grandpa. Wrestling with them outside is a good way to get bit. |
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central Illinois Montgomery County | We had Blue Heeler dog name Sid. We adopted him 3 years ago.He is very smart dog. He will follow simple command. He is good with our children but very jealous dog if we pay attention to our other dog Blacky he get jealous .He don't like it when we pet Blacky our black lab dog. Him and Blacky are the best buddy. When Blacky got run over Sid the one telling me about the whole thing. I mean he went up to me and let me follow him to where Blacky is laying. Blacky recover but I never saw dog so embarrassed. Sid like riding and yes he try hard to make our barn cat run so he can chase them but cat learn quick not to run. He like walking with me and he is very protective dog.
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Eastern NC | My wife's family always had a blue heeler when she was growing up. The dog never threatened her or her brother but for some odd reason every time I would show up to pick her up for a date that darn dog would chase me back to the truck with fangs showing. I don't know if he acted this way because he was not used to me or if my wife's dad had him trained to chase away all potential son-in-laws. The dog did his best to keep me away but it didn't work. We have been married for 4 1/2 years and the dog died a few days before our wedding. He was a very smart dog but I do believe that those dogs are very protective of the ones they care about. |
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Heil Harvesting, Ulysses KS/Limon CO | I am on a lot of farms through out the summer and fall. Lots of which have dogs as pets or working dogs or both.
My choice in dogs is a red heeler, but I do not think one would take to the harvest well.
Now that said, I DO NOT TRUST a heeler. Will not. Some of them I am around are the nicest dogs in the whole world. Some them are angry. I will say they generally seemed to get along with producers kids/grandkids. But dang, from an outsiders stand point I will not get out of the pickup till the owner is present and with some of them on a chain.
Work for two farmers 5 miles apart in Colorado. Had heelers that were brothers. One of them is the nicest dog in the world and the reason I developed my love for heelers. The brother probably got more attention and spent much more time with the owner. That thing is mean as hell. I will not get out of the pickup until he is on a chain. Period. I generally show no fear to dogs but the first time he dug through my shoes I learned that restraint is often the better part of valor.
I view them like a pit bull. Many if not most are very nice. But they all have that temperament and they only have to snap once to cause some serious damage to a young child.
The problem is that when you get one, if it is nice to the kids and you and not nice to others it is hard to get rid of because the family becomes attached. One of my customers with a blue heeler told me he knew that dog needed to be shot but his grandkids liked it so well he could not do it... |
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West Union, Illinois | I have spent years in other folks yards ... as a seed corn salesman, dragging LP hoses, working on tanks, etc. I have never had a problem with a Blue Heeler or a Rotweiler. Well, non entirely true. I have had Rots almost knock me down being friendly. I have reached the conclusion both need a lot of their people's attention. They are not "feed 'em once a day and leave 'em alone" dogs. Both are fairly "high maintenance" I really like "Blue's" In fact I was thinking of one the other day I haven't seen in a couple years. He'd come to the truck when I parked and stay with me until I finished and the truck moved. Never caused a problem. He was just there watching me.
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North End I-15 | And the kid was a hyperactive attention defficit nephew . He was teasing the dog and was told at least 6 times to quit . Dog made him quit.
Dogs name was ERF , stands for Ernies Real Friend . Next to Jack he was my most dedicated animal companion . Natural smart cow dog , and good with all my grand kids . She was a year old when I got her from an Uncle that moved to town . He had her trained very well ,
Too bad he didn't work with his great Nephew . |
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Amherst WI | A heeler doesn't look like too good of a choice for us. I'm not sure if I can be away all day and leave the dog to fend for themself. I am also fearful from what I am gathering here that the dog will be great to us but be mean to others who stop by. My uncle had heelers, and a HS freind had a couple as well. My unlces dogs were good, but my friends dogs all they would do is growl at you if you tried to pet it.
So it seems like these dogs are either going to be hot or cold and I am not sure if I want to risk it either way. |
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Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577 | ONe of the smartest, most lovable dogs I ever had was a Rot inherited from son....you could set your watch by the time periods-----every 10 minutes------that she would get up and walk over to lick my hand/arm..............went with me everywhere................but I could not 100% trust her with kids.............and yet I saw some kids that layed down with her, and used her as a pillow when she was sleeping................and others whom she kinda growled at. I couldn't detect the patterns......the differences.......in those kids. Apparently she could. I have a lab now..................loves people, loves kids, actually is somewhat of a nuisance since at 80lbs he wants to snuggle when people sit in a chair..............goes with me absolutely everywhere. Parking lot attendants know the dog and pet him thru the window, kids come in and want to take him out and play with him........... Why take the chance........... |
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WC Illinois/SE Iowa | A earlier post talked about Aussies (Black and white picture). I completely second the Aussie. We have a seven month old and she has been great thus far. I'm in the process of teaching her herding. (starting on sheep and moving to cattle when she masters that). She gets along great with our other mutt dog. I think there is a little Aussie in her too. Both are the best natured dogs I've ever had. We don't have kids yet, so I can't give my two cents there, but both have been great with our nephew when he gets to play with them. I'm probably not adding much to the conversation, just like the opportunity to show my girls off when dog threads come to the table.
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| Most of the 23 years I've been alive we've had Aussies around the farm. Never took the time to train them correctly, but turned out to be acceptable cattle dogs. First one was a male blue merle. He loved Dad, liked the rest of the family and tolerated everyone else. It would take some time for him to get to know people and would be fairly reserved until they visited the farm a few times. The one we have now is a female red merle. My sister took her to dog obedience classes in 4-H and she is the dog's favorite person. We had some problems with her wanting to run around as a pup, but then the dogs she ran with died and put an end to that. When she gets excited she lifts one paw in the air and "waves" and does chebacca impressions. Some kids get intimidated by the growling and a few have been knocked when she waves her paw in the air.
I have heard of a few Aussies getting a one-owner mentality, but never a mean one. They will stay by the side of one person and one person only and lose all personality when they're away from that one person. |
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western Pa | I had to tie our astralian shepard up would of shot him if it wasn't the daughters dog went after the fuel guy and anybody else that isn't "family" |
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North End I-15 | that bites car/pickup tires . All of his dogs answer to one name .... "Turd Hound !" When you drive through the yard they attack the vehicle tires , the Red Heeler is the worse. One day another neighbor and I were driving slowly through the yard with Jack "The Wonder Airedale" in the back of my pickup . The Red Heeler is jumping up barking and bitting @ Jack . I was trying to not run over the other dogs so was watching out my side mirror . Neighbor with me starts to laugh and I hear this terrible whining and crying . He said "look in the mirror on the passenger side ". Jack had the red heeler clamped firmly by the top of his skull and trying to give him the wet rag shake. I promply stopped and Jack let go . Red heeler ran for cover . For years afterwards the Red Heeler gave a real close inspection to the back of my pickup before trying to bite tires. If Jack was in the back he ran at least 10' away barking and bitting air. :>) I sure miss Jack :<( |
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western Pa | A more truer statement has not said. |
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nw illinois | Good choice. Had a heeler and 2 labs. Your on the right track now. |
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North Western Alberta | I have a Border Collie/Mareema mix. She is probably the most loyal dog I have ever seen. She is so good with kids, its not even funny. She is smart, ( probably the Mareema, cause I have heard Border Collies can be a bit stunned) Anyways, one of the most important things I think, is for the puly to grow up with the kids. This one did, and she LOVES the kids. I never worried when they were little going out to the school bus in the dark. I knew that dog would fight to her death to protect those kids. She would stay there with them, till the bus left, then come back to the house. And, soon as she heard the bus coming... BOOM!!!!! look out, cause she is going there, hell or high water.
Good dogs are better freinds than good people I think... haha. |
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Texas/New Mexico Stateline | We have a border collie, blue heeler mix of some kind. Wonderful with kids. Never shows and ounce of aggression. DUMB as a box of bricks though. DUMB DUMB DUMB!!!! |
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Kentucky | We have had 2 pure Blue heelers and two crossbreds.Last 2 dogs have been Catahoula Leapords. Really like them. |
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Blue heelers and kids
