One of the biggest problems with a blue heeler or red heeler is, people. It isn't that the dogs don't like people, it is that people mis-read the dogs or that people don't want to take responsibility for our actions. Combine that with ignorant mail carriers, paper boys, and judges and sometimes your dog just won't stand a chance.

As I mentioned in the previous blog entry, blue heelers or red heelers received their name from the fact that they nip at the heels of cattle, sheep, ducks to get them to move. This becomes a problem with people because people don't like being herded. Instead of being resourceful or trying to help the dog is classified as aggressive. Most people don't take time to make the connection that the dog was close enough to put its jowls on you but didn't break skin. If a dog is truly aggressive and can get that close to you, you would know it.

When you choose to get one of these dogs or if you are interested in getting one of these dogs, that is one thing you need to be aware of. Heelers, will "heel", this behavior although harmless, really needs to be controlled and corrected early. It is easier to correct your dogs behavior than the ignorance of others.

Queensland heelers are very, very protective dogs. I wouldn't have a problem leaving a million dollars in plain site, in my house, in the worlds worst neighborhood, with my heeler present. People won't get anywhere near your house without the dog alerting everyone within a three mile radius that there is someone out front. These dogs will protect life and property with the best of them.

Many people have stated that the Heeler isn't a very good dog for families or small children. This is a pretty big generalization that should probably be ignored at worst or taken on a case by case basis. Kizzy was the absolute best with children, my dog Levi and my mothers dog Komet, are great with kids. Sasha on the other hand doesn't like children and will choose to hide or seek shelter with the closest adult. If children still press her she will growl but has never ever snapped at a child.

Don't let any of these things deter you from a cattle dog, they are still the most amazing and loyal companions you can have.

| 2 comments

I was 12 or something like that and our family moved from a house in Salt Lake to a house in Provo. My next door neighbors were actually my aunt, uncle and of course cousins. My cousin Troy is the one that owned the dog that started my love affair with the cattle dog. Well actually it was his dog Kizzy. Kizzy was a female blue heeler and she was amazing.

We lived next to a park, and a big hill. On top of the hill was an elementary school. The children would walk through the neighborhood, into the park, and up the hill to get to school everyday. As a true herding dog, Kizzy would follow one group up to the schoolyard, turn around and run back to find another group. She would do this all morning, until the children stopped coming. At this point she would wait at the school until that magical time when the children would reverse their routes. On more than one occasion the principal would call my cousin and let them know that Kizzy was hanging out at the school and they would appreciate it if he would come pick her up. I don't understand the principals logic because Kizzy never hurt a fly, except for one time, another dog.

Directly across the street from us, the neighbors had a large dog about 3 times the size of Kizzy. The paper boy, who one could argue, was not the brightest crayon in the box would throw the paper directly at the dog, in its pen. This worked well for a period of about six months until the dog escaped and proceeded to knock the boy from his bike and latch onto the boys face. Kizzy attacked the dog, causing the dog an immense amount of harm and saved the paperboys life. The paper boy did need reconstructive surgery on his face, but was saved due to Kizzy. The local newspaper even did a story on Kizzy, proclaiming her a hero.

I had totally fallen in love with this dog and I am not sure if she passed away before we moved back to Salt Lake or after. The only thing I know is I couldn't wait until I was on my own to get a Blue Heeler of my own. Several years later I briefly had an encounter with a very beautiful Red Heeler named Diggs. When I was 23 and decided to get me my very own dog, I couldn't decide on a color or a sex, so I got a blue male and a red female.

Having two of these dogs, has occasionally, been a nightmare. High energy dogs that get bored easily can destroy a lot of your favorite belongings. It has been an expensive journey but 13 years later, I don't regret it for one second.

| 6 comments