For you & your dog's future to be a happy one

Thank you for watching these videos

On a serious note:

Please do your homework on the various breeds of dogs that interest you in adding one to your family. Whatever the breed of dog is, will equal what they were bred to do, and that will be a part of that dog's behavior. You can manage these traits in most breeds, but you will want to decide for yourself if this is a behavior trait you want to manage for the next 15 or so years. Managing various behaviors and breed traits are not always complicated. It can vary based on each dog independently. Management is required in any breed of dog if you want to live harmoniously together, without the dog controlling your life.To successfully do this, you must learn about dog behavior, training methods, and equipment. Most importantly keep an open mind to a structured training and living schedule for the proper raising and training of a dog. The success and happiness will come as long as you practice with your dog the schedule and boundaries you have in your home.

In case you missed it earlier; You NEED to do your homework on the breed. Some ways to help socialize by utilizing the environment, or gain skills to help you and your dog is to take obedience lessons, and maybe even some behavior classes, observe a lot to learn how to read and understand the unspoken language of "dog". It is actually really intriguing once you learn what you are seeing in the dynamics of dog communication.

Learning to focus the dog's exhuberant energy ("drive") towards a purpose of either fun games or working for you somehow. For example, nose work, tracking, puzzles, games, and more activities that utilize natural senses for a dog. The dogs think it is so cool to get paid with high value food for sniffing and finding things for us! 

Look into the Remember (or know) that ACDs are naturally going to be driven to moving objects. Some traits of the dog breed you think is pretty, may be less than ideal for a suburban environment, and will require more management from you. If the dog is going to have to live in an atmosphere that does not reflect a normal one for their purpose as a breed. These types of dogs will find something to assimilate the current environment into what they are bred to be doing if allowed to their own demises. For exainstance. They will herd the children by circling them. They will nip at them to get them to move, and grab and nip the wheels, or legs of fast moving tires to keep them away or just to herd them. It is simple a ACD is meant to be in the outback of Austalia, not on the sidewalk of a track home development with bicycles and kids running around. The ACD sees chaos and disorganization in this ; wheels of a wagon, wheelbarrow, roller skates, bicycles, vacuum, broom, you get the idea, It is NOT FUNNY! DO NOT ENCOURAGE OR ALLOW this behavior. Nipping or chasing is never a good thing. It will become an issue with behavior elsewhere.  Learn how to discourage this behavior. You should not physically punish or beat an ACD. They will either shut down and not work for you, or they can come back at you. They hold a grudge. Did I mention that it is necessary to learn how to teach your ACD? There are a lot of other things I could go on and on about, but we can discuss further if you wish.  I am very transparent about my dogs and puppies. I try my best to place a puppy with the appropriate person or family. I do not want to send the craziest puppy in the litter to someone that wants a therapy dog just because of the markings on the face. I also do my best to educate, inform and recommend to people according to their lifestyle and desires in their puppy. The only way is to train, train, train, because it is the way to get what you are wanting in your best friend. Getting a puppy is a long term commitment (sometimes as long as 17 years). We have to make a promise to our dog that we will do our due diligence to learn his language, and give him structure, direction, and safety. You should go on YouTube, and watch some "Skid-Boot" videos. You will see some cool tricks, and a man & his dog just talkin'.

Remember, invested time equals results. Check out trainer Jamie Bozzi @ smrtdog.com, great instructor!  Thanks again for doing your homework. 

Sincerely, 

Jen & the Cattledog Crew