Anyone Have Experience With ACD's?

[azpoochluvr]

My cousin is trying to get me to adopt his Australian Cattle Dog, but I'm a bit wary.

First, I'm wondering why he wants to give him up after just getting him only 6 week ago.

He claims it's because his job doesn't allow him to be home enough to care for the dog properly. He's a fire fighter, and I know he works a lot of overtime and strange hours.

The thing that concerns me most is my other dog. I have a 2 year old Pug. I've heard that ACD's are very aggressive, and don't get along well with other animals.

Does anyone have any experience they could share with me?

 

[OutlineACDs]

ACD's are very active. I guess I don't notice it as much since I have 3 of them, but I have been getting lots of comments lately on how busy my puppy is. He's 8 months old and at the dog show last weekend I got comments by no less than 3 people about: "Does he ever settle down?" "Oh, he's quite the busy guy." "That's a lot of dog." Then last night I had a friend over and he asked me if Zen ever lays down. I had another lady ask me if I was hoping to make him calm by naming him Zen. Honestly, I just think he acts like a puppy. Curious and checking things out, friendly and wants attention. After all of the comments though I realize again, how this breed is NOT for everyone.

Some can be DA. I have one that is VERY fearful of other dogs, so she acts DA. I have one who is good with some dogs, but doesn't stand for rudeness, and then Zen, who so far, likes all other dogs. It will just depend on the dog/his genetics/amount of socializing as to whether he will be DA or not.

 

[stardogs]

It is quite dependant on the individual - I have two ACD mixes and help with ACD rescue.

My oldest girl is 11yo, is dog aggressive with unknown dogs but playful with those she knows, was quite undersocialized and nippy when I got her, but now 10 years later she is great with people and has been a therapy dog for 7 years. She's incredibly intelligent and just this year figured out how to open cabinets. LOL She also find 5' fences fun to jump if I'm on the other side and is incredibly prey driven.

My first ACD foster was pretty neutral about new people and dogs, was happy with a bit of training and about 2.5 miles of walking/day. He was 2yo when I had him.

My second ACD foster (1yo when I had her) was a very soft dog and wanted to be touching people at all times. She is neutral to submissive with strange dogs but very playful with her family canines. She enjoys long fetch sessions daily for exercise according to her owners.

My youngest dog, Kes, is now 19 months old and he has been the mouthiest, most hard headed, and high drive dog that I've worked with. He could climb 30" baby gates at 14 weeks, and now has no trouble flying over a 4' fence if he wishes. He looooves all people and dogs. His favorite form of exercise is fetch or frisbee in a big field - about 25 minutes in 90* temps = a tired dog for about 2 hours. He also loves off leash hiking - a 1 hour hike in 90* temps = a tired dog for about 4-5 hours.

My most recent foster was a 4yo female ACD and she was very low maintenance in terms of exercise due to being out of condition from having pups and being heartworm positive. However, she had major issues with confinement and was afraid of tall men and moving vehicles. She was friendly with other dogs but didn't play while she was with me.

I think you really need to get more info on the ACD in question. I can say though that an ACD is likely to be a LOT more energetic than your pug, so you'll need to be prepared for that and due to the breed's independence and intelligence you'll need to be ready to do some training from day one as well.

 

[Maxy24]

We've had a bunch at the shelter, I wouldn't call myself very experienced with them but I can tell you about the ones I have met.

I personally liked them A LOT. They were SO much fun. We had one that would honestly run out of the kennel doors and leap through the air and run into your face. He was so happy and energetic. He loved to play and was very responsive, easy to get him to come to you with body language and calling.
There was another one, similar personality. We had a ball that if you gave it to him he would herd it the whole time, I have no idea when he would stop, we never had him out long enough for that. He would also attempt to herd people if you walk briskly or ran near him but I got him to stop very quickly simply by freezing as soon as he started. After a few times he figured out it was pointless, us people are no fun to herd. He was very mindful of his mouth when herding the ball though, you could reach and take it and he never got your hands. He also stopped focusing on the ball as soon as it was put over the fence, even if he could still see it. Very smart dogs.

I just thought they were so fun, dogs who would be ready and happy to do anything at any time, active, intense, determined dogs. However for many people that is not the right dog.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

I think they are awesome dogs in the right hands and will definitely own one someday. However, having said that...

They are INTENSE.

They don't take crap and are very tough, edgy little dogs. They require not only physical exercise, but mental as well, as they are a very intelligent breed. All the ACD's I have met have been not very tolerant of other dogs. I have seen everything from outright DA, to just being intolerent about dogs in their face and up in their business.

I have also seen a very protective streak in this breed. The one I fostered once threatened a group of men who were drunk and hollering at me . He also growled when people got angry at me.

I am not trying to dissuade you from the breed. I actually adore this breed. I just want you to be aware of what you may be getting into. They are a lot of dog.

 

[mrose_s]

They are awesome dogs for the right person, we have 2 mixes. (Buster doesn't act ACD, he acts kelpie althought Harry acts entirely ACD)
Harry is poorly bred and was poorly treated before we got him and it shows in a lot of his behaviour despite early socialisation and a stable household.

ACD's are probably one of the most loyal breeds in existence, I believe Harry would die for us, we are his world, they live for their family.
They are a one person dog, Harry is my mothers completly. When she is here then its her he will listen to, if she is away, I'm his next favourite and then my sister. He likes to do right and have someone just explain to him what they want him to do so he can do it.

That said, DA and HA are both common in the breed, although I imagine a lot of that is people getting an ACD and thinking its a dog thats going to want to play with random dogs and get loved on by strangers, they arn't "pat me, pat me, pat me, pat me, pat me" dogs, they like their space and they think others should respect it.

I love ACD's, I always have but you have to be ready for them when you take them on because once you get one, its stuck with you for life.
And I won't lie, every single dog that has ever acted agro at me has been an ACD or a mix. Thats also probably because I spent a lot of time in truck yards as a youngster and there is always someone that forgets to mention the protective yard dog to the 11 year old wandering around wasting time.
They are a lot of dog.

 

[HayleyMarie]

I met one last winter at a pick and pull vehicle wreckers place. He was just beautiful compact guy with the frozen snow covered ball.

As soon as I saw him I just kneeled down and called him. He was very friendly came up to me right away and dropped the ball in my hands when I asked him to drop it. we just played ball while Tyler was looking for parts.

But as soon as I was done playing ball he was fine with that and just walked away to do something else. I fell in love with that dog right away.

 

[stardogs]

Keep in mind that Australian bred ACDs and American bred ACDs are often quite different. HA isn't as common in American bred dogs (though it does appear) and they tend to be a bit less drivey unless they are from true working lines.

 

[Laurelin]

I love ACDs and have to reiterate what everyone's said. They're a lot of dog. That said, they're a breed I really really want once I have more dog experience.

My uncle's ACDs were a LOT of dog and typically pretty dog reactive (I'm not sure I'd call them. His were true working lines though and used to herd his cattle on his ranch.