HELP I NEED HELP WITH MY AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG!!!!

my ACD is now a 3 month old puppy. She's a female but she's so hyper. :shock: I'm just wondering at what age will her ears stick up, on their own, and will she mellow out as she gets older??
Thanks

 

An ACD is a VERY high energy dog. She needs a job to do. If you don't live somewhere where she can be outside and get a ton of exercise, then invent something for her to do. You could start training in dog agility (don't do any jumping until she is older, though). Or you could teach her some things to do around the house - picking up her toys, turning lights on and off, fetching the newspaper, etc. Keep her body AND her mind busy. Sometimes, wearing out their little brains is the best way to wear out their bodies, but of course she also needs exercise as well. If there is anywhere she can safely be off leash, it works a LOT better than walking her. Play dates with other (safe) dogs can also be useful.

She will eventually mellow out, at least a little bit. But with an ACD that could be years down the road. My extremely hyper border collie mix is starting to settle down now (sort of) at about 2 years old, but I have heard many people say 5 years or more and sometimes never!

An ACD was bred to run cattle all day long, so they do not tire easily. What may help is to teach some good house manners. Teach things like "settle" and "go to your place" and practice some longer stays. These are things you will work up to, though, because at 3 months old she is just a baby and does not have a very long attention span!

Do start right away with the Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) program. Teach her something simple like "sit." Then whenever she wants something, she needs to perform her trick (sit) first. So, she has to sit before you put her food bowl down, she has to sit before she goes outside, she has to sit before you pet her or play with her, sit before going on a walk, etc. When she learns more tricks, you can vary whatever you ask her to do, but she has to do SOMETHING to earn all the good things that she wants to do.

 

i have an australian shepherd that when she was that age you couldnt get her to sit still for 1 minute but she mellowed out once she turned 2 and i take her up to our goat pen every day , shes to scared to herd the goats, but she runs around the pen for about an hour then we go inside the house and restle. after a few ohurs of excersise she gets tired. one thing you can do with your dog is teach her how to be a frisbee dog. right now you dont want her jumping but how you train the dog is you get 2 frisbees teach her that she must grab the frisbee and carry it to you once she knows thatstart rolling the frisbee for her to run after it then when she returns it to you roll the other one after about 50 gazzillion times of doing this, over a few day span, start throwing it really close to the ground once your vet says its ok to let her jump you can start throwing a little higher and once shes about 2 1/2 she will be ready for tricks in the air. or one thing that my dog thinks is really fun is playing hide and seek. i take a couple small treats tell her to sit and stay then i go hide somwhere call her name and when she finds me i give her a treat. there are many more games you could play with your dog, and one hint the more active your dog is during the day the faster she will fall asleep and the longer she will stay asleep.

 

Good tips! An ACD has a much different temperament than an aussie, usually, but the rule of thumb for ANY puppy is "a tired puppy is a good puppy."

 

I agree with hide and seek, mine loves it and boy does it wear him out, but he is a low energy dog, now my other dog is a frisbee dog, i think she may have some acd or aussie in her she still has the same high energy level and she is 8 years old I have never taught her frisbee tricks but she loves to catch it.

how about getting her into an agility class, not sure what age you can start that, I am sure they have puppy agility, that progresses once they are older and their bones are ststronger, but that is like giving her a job to do

 

sure they are different breedsa but their original function of herding is the same. and yes they have puppy agilty classes the jumps in those classes are on the ground so the pup just walks over it. but with the frisbee tricks you dont have to teach the dog the tricks usually cause they should just learn them by themselves. actually acds are one of the best breeds at frisbee.

 

LOL.. you have a handfull...

I've bred ACD's for years now. And have had them all my life. One thing is that you should have seriously researched the breed before getting one.

I had a male that was 12 yrs old and still acted like a 2 month pup....

ACD's need a job. Like everyone said and suggested are great ideas.
Another is srickt obediance. You need to start her in puppy classes NOW.

I started all my dogs from 4 weeks. ACD's are extremely intelligent. You have to be smarter than them. and if they get away with ANYTHING, they will always get away with it...

If her ears aren't standing up by the age of 3-4 weeks, then she's got poor breeding. That is a BIG default in her bloodline. Ears should be erect by the time they are walking....
Her body should be mottled with NO body spots. her tan should not come above hock or knees, or extend past cheek.

You ccan check out the breed standard at www.akc.com or www.acdca.com

heres a 5 week old puppy of mine that was one of my pride a joys. His blue came in Really early....around 3.5 weeks.

One of my pups had a small black spot on his back. We culled him and sold him for pet quality. though it doesn't effect his working ability any or his intellignce. I've never had another pup with body spots.

And here's three of them being pretty.



And here's one at 3.5 weeks. You can see his blue coming in. and his ears are already starting to stand.

 

ok so im wonderin are acds the same as a couple other breeds where if they have no color on their ears will they be blind and/or deaf

 

My point is that typically, even though both ACD's and aussies are herding dogs, their temperaments are much different and therefore need different techniques to handle them. Aussies are typically very compliant and love to work for people. I believe that ACD's are supposed to be more aloof and independent. Sams can either confirm or tell me I am nuts. Naturally, every dog is different and you can't go by breed alone.

 

ACD's an Aussies are NOT the same!!!

They have completely diffrent temperments, herding styles, bite styles and traning methods.

Aussies are what we call "group" herders. They work really well with one or more dogs. Theyare also "soft" biters. In other words they don't "push" cattle or livestock very hard.
They're also used more widely in sheep, goats, and other smaller livestock.

ACD's however are agressive biters, and go straight for the heels. where the aussie and corgie tends to go for the head/ears/ nose.

heelers are much more engergetic, their stamina lasts much longer than the aussie, and they can handle a harsher climate, terrain, and weather.

Not putting either dog down. But The aussie is more graceful than the heeler, and in most cases more eye appealing, however the down breeding of them, trying to make "mini's and "show dogs" out of the breed has really put a damper on them. What show people are breeding for and what they NEED to be bred for to herd are litterally two diffrent things.

But that can be said for the ACD as well. though its not as bad.
The ACD is a bigger dog, which creates some difficulties as well. They can't fit in tight places, and their not as fast or quick to react. Their long coats also alow them to over heat and get short winded faster. Not to meantion the grooming thats needed.

 

um ya aussies dont need to be groomed as much as alot of the books say i groom my dog once a month if even that much. they are vry quick to react and also aussies are headers and heelers. aussies are great at heading heeling and gaurding livstock. they are not mainly just for the smaller livestock my dogs brothers are used for cows and im talkin large bulls aussies are not "soft" biters. and i know that acds and aussies are not the same thats obvious, ok and also aussies dont get winded that fast. they dont over heat quickly unless their pure black. aussies can handle very hard climate, terrain, and weather, esspecially hard weather. and i feel you were putting down aussies. oviously youve never owned one. sure ive never owned an acd but atleast im not puttiin them down. you are just typing what youve heard. ive talked to many aussie breeders. and almost everything you are typing about aussies is not true

 

Sorry if you misunderstood what I said. I'm not putting down EITHER breed. They are both Great dogs.
Yes compaired to the heeler they are Softer biters. Yes I have had them, and I have a mix right now... and one I'm working with for a friend. Don't know who you talked too... but I know the herding dogs. Not from JUST what I've heard or read, but what I've personally experianced. I do herd training. So dont' try and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.

Thats great that your dogs brother is herding large cattle. They CAN do it and are GOOD at it!!! but are more WIDELY used with SMALLER livestock. Most trials use goats and sheep for the Aussie. Most not all..
Yes they require more grooming....they are a longer haired dog and matt easily in the long grass and burrs.

In warmer climates such as down here in Southern Texas, the Aussie just can't keep up with other breeds that were Bred for the hot harsh climates. The ACD was bred for the Australian outback a hot harsh climate, and they do well in hotter climates. The Aussie hands down is more short winded and over heats faster than the ACD and Kelpie because of its dense long coat.

Please don't take offence to anything I said, I know herding dogs and LOVE THEM ALL!!! I would't mind having an Aussie. Their beautiful dogs and in my oppinion train a bit easier than the ACD.

So before attacking me for any information I may give, please do a bit more research and not just off of what your Brothers dog does and what someone told you... visit a local trial and show, or a real working ranch that has these dogs.

 

im sorry about what i typed last time its just its just that i was having some problems with alot of people and my mind wasn't clear so im sorry if i made the impression that i was extremely mad and stuff i guess i shouldn't have said anything but i really am sorry for some of te stuff i said.