Breed of the Month - The Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog, or Blue Heeler, is also known as the Australian Heeler, Hall's Heeler, Queensland Heeler, or Red Heeler. The term "heeler" refers to the breed's instinct to snap and bite at the heels of the animals they are herding. They have alert and happy facial expressions, pointed ears, and although they appear small, they are muscular and agile. They come in a mixture of colors--mostly blue with tan and black, or mostly red speckled.They were bred as a combination of Scottish collies and Australian dingoes and blended with some Australian Kelpie, Dalmatian, and Bull Terrier to be an extremely hardy breed that can withstand long hours and harsh weather conditions with ease. ACD's are more 'work-minded' than other herding breeds and as a rule, are not as good as pets because of the aggressive characteristics specifically bred into them. But, as with every breed, there are often exceptions to the rule.Here's the breakdown:Temperament     2 out of 5The Australian Cattle Dog is an excellent companion and is always awaiting the next command from its master. But ACD's need a lot of exercise or they will become highly destructive. About two hours a day is ideal. They need to be with their pack (that means you!) most of the day or else they develop behavioral problems. These can include severe aggression, depression, or anxiety. This is not a breed to leave at home for hours on end, nor tied up in the back yard. If an ACD must be left alone, they will do best with one or two other dogs for companionship. They are bred to be highly sensitive guard dogs, so as a rule they do not like strangers coming onto their property. ACD's should be socialized regularly if you want them to be friendly toward other animals and guests. ACD's do not distinguish a difference between wild animals or your small pets, so they are not recommended around cats, rabbits, mice, or smaller dogs. Most of the time, a well-socialized ACD will do well with children, but they are not recommended. They often herd children, so keep an eye on them--you don't want them to snap at your child's heels. Even a highly socialized dog can be aggressive, depending on the child it interacts with.Training        5 out of 5ACD's have what I like to call, "extreme intelligence." Like Border Collies, they can be trained to do just about anything. The downside of a highly sophisticated breed, though, is that they become bored easily so you always need to have a job for them. The sky is the limit on what you can teach them. ACD's can be very independent and stubborn due to their intelligence, so firm training is a must. This breed responds well to consistent training and discipline, although they catch on quick and hate to disappoint their masters.Grooming       4 out of 5The ACD's short coat is weather resistant but they are average shedders so brush often with a firm bristle. You only need to bathe when necessary. They never need shaving or haircuts--their coat has been developed to endure all kinds of weather. Never dock their tail--they need it for work! Even the AKC recognizes a full tail, so there's never a need to dock.Overall Score       3.5 out of 5ACD's weigh about 30-55 pounds and live about 12 to 15 years. They do best on the farm with animals to herd, but if you don't raise cattle or sheep, a large yard will do, along with plenty of exercise. ACD's are great candidates for competitions such as agility trials, flyball, frisbee, and of course, herding. I recommend ACD's for owners who wish to work with their dog, compete with them, or give them a job on the farm. They are not suited for suburban or city life. They tend to be very vocal so its best not to have neighbors too close by. If you're buying your ACD puppy from a breeder, consider purchasing two or three from the same litter. They'll be happier pets in the long run having their brothers and sisters with them. Adopting an ACD is tricky if you have existing pets, so make sure you talk with the organization you're adopting from--they'll know if that particular ACD would do well with other animals.

Five Methods On How To Train Boxer Dogs To Become Your Best Friend

One of the greatest fulfillment a Boxer owner can have is for their dogs to develop into well-rounded ones. Boxers are breeds that are clever, thus making it less cumbersome to train Boxer dogs, despite the possibility of being aggressive.It takes a handful of knowledge and patience to train Boxer dogs. Turning them into your loyal best friends does not happen in just one day. Nevertheless, before you consider Boxer training, make sure that you know the dog's background and plan ahead of time on what particular methods you are going to utilize.Five Methods to Train Boxer Dogs:Boxer Crate TrainingWhen you want to train Boxer dogs, consider potty training at the earliest time possible. Boxer crate training is one of the moost important things you should teach your puppy as soon as he arrives in your home. Provide a tidy crate for him and train him how to do his business outside so that he will not be messing around your house. In potty training, just like when training a child, take note of your pup's elimination schedule. See to it that he goes to his bathroom at the same time everyday. Soon, he will get the hang of it and will free you from the stress of cleaning up his mess. Become the master dog!Dogs are naturally pack oriented. In the wild, they have their male leader, the Alpha dog, to follow. If you long to efficiently train Boxer dogs, make him recognize that you are his boss. Do not tolerate his negative actions such as Boxer biting and Boxer jumping on others. If he does one of these, say "No" firmly.You should be the one to identify the food that he eats, his elimination area, his sleeping spot, etc. Take control over him and avoid opportunities for him to overcome your power. If you take him for an afternoon walk along the shore, see to it that he does not walk in front of you. If it happens, he might assume that he is your master and would make it harder for you to teach him in the long run.Boxer Leash TrainingIs your dog pulling his leash while you take him for a walk? Then, begin Boxer leash training now. This method will train Boxer dogs how to get used to choke chains. Making use of collars can be a source of Boxer's protection, as well as to human beings, from any harm or injury.There may be times that your canine gets annoyed with the leash and wants to get rid of it. In case he keeps tagging it while you are walking along with him, stop for a while and make him sit. He will then realize that you are unhappy with his behavior. As soon as he settles down, then continue to walk. Boxer Clicker TrainingBoxers, by nature, are playful and active. One way to repay them for their good manners is through rewards. Boxer clicker training sessions can be started as soon as your puppies come to life. In this method, breeders train Boxer dogs by introducing the click sound during their early days. This technique uses a small hand-held clicker and you should push a button to produce a clicking noise every time your Boxer does something good. Give him a bite sized treat afterwards. This click sound is constant and would make dogs associate it to a reward. Boxer Obedience TrainingDespite the Boxer's pleasing personalities, they may possess some Boxer aggression problems such as Boxer biting and growling, which could hinder the owners' goal to train Boxer dogs successfully. In case you are not able to handle this situation well, take your pup to a Boxer obedience training school. This allows him social opportunities with other canines and human beings.Obedience training sessions include teaching your dogs basic commands such as sit, stand, kneel and jump, thus stimulating his mind to think and respond.Boxer dogs can make good companions to the family. You would not want to waste your precious time with those costly methods on how to train Boxer dogs effectively. Therefore, the above tips should be carefully followed.

Beagle Dog Origins Revealed

Researchers still have doubts about Beagle dog origins. Some say it can be traced back to the eleventh century and some say that they were there even before the Romans invaded England. What is known is that these are also known as the English Beagle and these dogs were used for hunting expeditions. These dogs have a strong smelling sense and that is why they were used to sniff the chase out. Mainly these were used for rabbit and fox hunting. This was more of a walking sport as the hunters used to walk and follow the trail of these dogs. Hence the game was called the poor person's fox hunting!Again the name Beagle may have been derived from either Gaelic or French words. This is still remains to be an unknown fact. However these are considered to be extremely friendly dogs. Beagle training can be done effortlessly provided one is attentive to them. Otherwise they have a tendency to be stubborn and disobedient.Anyways these dogs prefer going out for long walks and running a lot. In fact a good Beagle guide should take them out for exercise as they tend to gain weight. Putting on weight and obesity affects them adversely in many ways. It can cause joint and heart diseases, cancer and kidney failure at times. This breed is too much susceptible of these ailments more than any other canine species. This is why they need proper medical care besides deworming and vaccinations to keep these disorders at a bay.Apart from this what is known is that Beagle dogs have a connection to hounds. It is believed that their olden day ancestors that existed in the England did not look like the present ones. It is also said that this species has been around for nearly 2000 years now! It is an interesting piece of information that the origins of Beagles have been traced back to Ancient Greece. Some prominent texts from Greek literature have citations that actually sound like a Beagle. Rumor has it that William the conqueror had brought a white colored slow hound called Talbot. These were later cross bred with greyhounds make generate an active breed which is one of the ancestors of modern day Beagle.These started to be exported to the United States way back in the 1830's. Nevertheless it has to be added here that these were also not like Beagles that we see today. Several varieties of this breed were exported to different countries that made the breeding of dogs possible in different regions. If one needs to know more about Beagle dog origins than they can make use of the local libraries which may have various books on them. As an alternative one can browse the internet and get detailed information on this breed of dogs. The net is a great source of knowledge as it has all the updated information and one bank on that.Overall it can be mentioned that Beagle dogs can make great companions. They are a group of playful dogs who can happily become family friends in no time. If you think this breed is for you check out more beagle training tips.