|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1432
  
Location: Never in one place long | I have one blue heeler whom I've had for 7 years since he was a pup, he gets along with most dogs but tends to be very dominant and some dogs (mainly big black dogs) he HATES and wants to fight with.... my husband says after he goes no more because of his personality...my question..... Do Heelers have a tendency to be aggressive??????? I LOVE heelers but just wondered..... I don't want this one to be my last!
Edited by DLV 2013-12-12 11:51 AM
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3782
 
Location: Gainesville, TX | DLV - 2013-12-12 11:48 AM I have one blue heelers whom I've had for 7 years since he was a pup, he gets along with most dogs but tends to be very dominant and some dogs (mainly big black dogs) he HATES and wants to fight with.... my husband says after he goes no more because of his personality...my question..... Do Heelers have a tendency to be aggressive??????? I LOVE heelers but just wondered..... I don't want this one to be my last!
The quick answer to this question is yes, they tend to be territorial. Not all are mean to other dogs but more of them are mean to other dogs than say labradors or golden retreivers where being territorial is a bit more rare. Blue heelers are more commonly territorial. Red heelers are usually worse. This doesn't mean they can't make good or even great dogs, but they have to be trained and exposed to a lot of other dogs early on to help combat this tendency. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | oija - 2013-12-12 11:51 AM
DLV - 2013-12-12 11:48 AM I have one blue heelers whom I've had for 7 years since he was a pup, he gets along with most dogs but tends to be very dominant and some dogs (mainly big black dogs) he HATES and wants to fight with.... my husband says after he goes no more because of his personality...my question..... Do Heelers have a tendency to be aggressive??????? I LOVE heelers but just wondered..... I don't want this one to be my last!
 The quick answer to this question is yes, they tend to be territorial. Not all are mean to other dogs but more of them are mean to other dogs than say labradors or golden retreivers where being territorial is a bit more rare. Blue heelers are more commonly territorial. Red heelers are usually worse. This doesn't mean they can't make good or even great dogs, but they have to be trained and exposed to a lot of other dogs early on to help combat this tendency.
Kind of what I thought, my dog is a wonderful dog, good with most other dogs, he was highly socialized from a young puppy for but some reason he hates large black dogs, we foster dogs so always have different dogs coming in and out, he puts up with most, can't say he LIKES them but tolerates them, he knows if he's bad he gets locked up but sometimes he really dislikes the dog and I can't figure out why. He has also nipped at people from behind.. obviously this is a heeler thing, never drew blood but tried to herd them! He gets my horses in the trailer when I can't lol. |
|
| |
|
  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I have one and yes they are territorial and tempermental. With that being said I wouldn't trade her for anything. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| We've always had red heelers. They do get more territorial the older they get. The house, truck and trailer, kids, hay stack are all off limits to strangers at our house unless we are there. If they are exposed like the above poster said it does help but they still will get cranky as the get older. All of ours know what "leave it" means and will ignore other dogs as long as we are there. The good thing about heelers is that they are very smart and can be trained fairly easy. |
|
| |
|
 California Cowgirl
Posts: 14973
Location: California | I agree with the above. The breed does tend to be territorial. They are very smart , what is thers is theirs, they are always working and serving a purpose in their mind. That being said , I wouldn't call them an aggressive breed. Head strong yes but not aggressive. I think your boy is just thinking he is doing a job for you.
Also did he ever have a bad experience with a large breed dog or a darker dog? He may be associating that with the "threat" of those big black dogs.
My rednose is not "aggressive" but he does puff up if we come across any male dog larger than him.
With a proper introduction he is fine but his first response is " oh no buddy , I am way bigger and badder" ...little does he know he is not.
Do you have time to take him to a obediance class for the socialization aspect?
I have found the best way to take the edge off my big guy is with a job , whether he is really serving a purpose or not. We just started personal protection work and he thrives with channeling his energy on making me happy.
Edited by F Bar 2013-12-12 12:10 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | JRC - 2013-12-12 12:05 PM
We've always had red heelers. They do get more territorial the older they get. The house, truck and trailer, kids, hay stack are all off limits to strangers at our house unless we are there. If they are exposed like the above poster said it does help but they still will get cranky as the get older. All of ours know what "leave it" means and will ignore other dogs as long as we are there. The good thing about heelers is that they are very smart and can be trained fairly easy.
oh yikees! I wonder how territorial he will get the older he gets!! He is SOOOO attached to me, if I scream or anything around anyone even my husband he gets inbetween us! My husband said he would EAT someone if they tried to hurt me! I do like that since I'm alone often. I'll have to watch him the older he gets. He is truly one of the best dogs though. He LOVES me unconditionally, will sit in a truck all day and wait for me watching EXACTLY where I walked in the door. he won't even get off my bed unless I get home to let him out! My husband has to carry him to put him outside if he's the first one home! He's a little weird I guess. He is so focused on me though that even if we are walking by strange people or dogs and I say his name he will walk beside me even without a leash and not so much as LOOK at the other dog.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | F Bar - 2013-12-12 12:08 PM
I agree with the above. The breed does tend to be territorial. They are very smart , what is thers is theirs, they are always working and serving a purpose in their mind. That being said , I wouldn't call them an aggressive breed. Head strong yes but not aggressive. I think your boy is just thinking he is doing a job for you.
Also did he ever have a bad experience with a large breed dog or a darker dog? He may be associating that with the "threat" of those big black dogs.
My rednose is not "aggressive" but he does puff up if we come across any male dog larger than him.
With a proper introduction he is fine but his first response is " oh no buddy , I am way bigger and badder" ...little does he know he is not.
Do you have time to take him to a obediance class for the socialization aspect?
I have found the best way to take the edge off my big guy is with a job , whether he is really serving a purpose or not. We just started personal protection work and he thrives with channeling his energy on making me happy.
When my brother got a black lab puppy, for some reason the two NEVER liked each other and got into a few fights... every since he hasn't like them... the weird thing is I JUST fostered two black lab/mixes one male and one female... neither were very big and neither were dominant, he's been around many SMALLER/non dominant labs and gotten along just fine.... it's the larger black dogs he can't stand.  |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 533
Location: Northeast, KS | Sounds like a good dog to me!! |
|
| |
|
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Yes. Heelers are aggressive. They usually get more aggressive as they age and get more territorial. (Think "my truck", "my mom", "my yard"). This is why socialization and traveling at an early age are imperitive.
My two boys don't take any crap out of other dogs and go out of their way to establish their dominance. Once that other dog understands that they can and will get beat up if they step out of line, fighting minimizes. Even past that point however, mine are horrible bullies and will pick at the other dog trying to escalate an excuse to beat it up.
I really have to stay on my game as the 'alpha' to keep them from doing murder, and they are ALWAYS tied up or locked up when I'm gone to work or busy. I know it would be reasonable for them to have to be destroyed if they went too far and bite someone, and I know I'm liable for the vet bills if they eat somebody's pet.
Having heelers is a big responsibility, to the dog itself and the animals and people it can affect if not cared for properly. You can be a 100% and they'll still do something incredibly naughty like murder the neighbors cat... Omg my brain gets all squirmy about THAT...or punch holes in the little jerkface terrier that confronted them under their own horse trailer and snarled at them...luckily they were tied up and I didn't get vet bills...
Sometimes I feel like I'm Mom to two blue gangsters. BUT, I wouldn't trade their loyalty and funny sides for anything. I also know that if somebody grabs me or wants to steal something, they have to get through the blue wall first.
Edited for typo. I'm my own nazi.
Edited by classicpotatochip 2013-12-12 12:29 PM
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| DLV - 2013-12-12 12:09 PM JRC - 2013-12-12 12:05 PM We've always had red heelers. They do get more territorial the older they get. The house, truck and trailer, kids, hay stack are all off limits to strangers at our house unless we are there. If they are exposed like the above poster said it does help but they still will get cranky as the get older. All of ours know what "leave it" means and will ignore other dogs as long as we are there. The good thing about heelers is that they are very smart and can be trained fairly easy. oh yikees! I wonder how territorial he will get the older he gets!! He is SOOOO attached to me, if I scream or anything around anyone even my husband he gets inbetween us! My husband said he would EAT someone if they tried to hurt me! I do like that since I'm alone often. I'll have to watch him the older he gets. He is truly one of the best dogs though. He LOVES me unconditionally, will sit in a truck all day and wait for me watching EXACTLY where I walked in the door. he won't even get off my bed unless I get home to let him out! My husband has to carry him to put him outside if he's the first one home! He's a little weird I guess. He is so focused on me though that even if we are walking by strange people or dogs and I say his name he will walk beside me even without a leash and not so much as LOOK at the other dog.
They are my favorite for those reasons highlighted and the fact that they are so loyal! I don't mind them getting territorial becasue they are only like that when we aren't around, which is comforting in a way because of theives now days! We lost one of our best ones two years ago but she was one of our best trained. Her only down fall was cats!! You could stop her dead in her tracks for anything else but a darn cat! |
|
| |
|
 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | I would say there is a certain amount of agression and possessive behavior you are going to have to deal with with every heeler. Some more then others though.
About the big black dog thing. My Doberman got jumped in our front yard by our neighbor's labs about twice before she decided that she hated labs, especially the black one. My male Boxer usually ended up getting to the male yellow lab before she did so she would pair up with the black female every time. I never saw the dogs until there was already a massive fight going on. Our front yard apparently has a lot of hiding places. Sometimes they would see my dogs go outside and would run the 100 yards from their porch to mine just to fight my dogs. Anyway... She gets along with every other dog I have had her around. Chihuahuas, puppies of all breeds (she didn't like the black lab puppy though, she wasn't mean but wanted nothing to do with it when normally she is in heaven with a puppy to play with), a few grown dogs of various breeds some bigger then her, kittens are her reason for living. She loves kittens. Cats don't tolerate her trying to mother them, but she knows which cats are ours and will run past them to chase a stray cat out of the yard. She tries to kill every lab she sees though. I blame it all on the fights she has had with the neighbor's labs. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | pinx05 - 2013-12-12 1:10 PM
I would say there is a certain amount of agression and possessive behavior you are going to have to deal with with every heeler. Some more then others though.
About the big black dog thing. My Doberman got jumped in our front yard by our neighbor's labs about twice before she decided that she hated labs, especially the black one. My male Boxer usually ended up getting to the male yellow lab before she did so she would pair up with the black female every time. I never saw the dogs until there was already a massive fight going on. Our front yard apparently has a lot of hiding places. Sometimes they would see my dogs go outside and would run the 100 yards from their porch to mine just to fight my dogs. Anyway... She gets along with every other dog I have had her around. Chihuahuas, puppies of all breeds (she didn't like the black lab puppy though, she wasn't mean but wanted nothing to do with it when normally she is in heaven with a puppy to play with), a few grown dogs of various breeds some bigger then her, kittens are her reason for living. She loves kittens. Cats don't tolerate her trying to mother them, but she knows which cats are ours and will run past them to chase a stray cat out of the yard. She tries to kill every lab she sees though. I blame it all on the fights she has had with the neighbor's labs.Â
Might be the reason he doesn't like black dogs too, Gunner (my brothers dog) always stands up to him and wants to fight.... I'm glad it's only dominant black dogs and not ALL black dogs... I thought it was only male but this dog is a female and he doesnt' like her either.
YES I think heelers are amazing dogs! My dog doesn't attack cats at all, so that's a good thiing but I had to TEACH him that, he used to try. :)
Thanks for sharing about your heelers everyone... guess their "bad" traits just come with the breed but I still LOVE them! |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| My blue cross has gotten more territorial as she's gotten older. She's going to be 4 in a few months. She is VERY territorial when it comes to the bed and horses being around us and the vehicles. She will protect us. Now take her somewhere and she is great. Never gets nippy or grumpy. She loves traveling. But her house is HER house. We adopted a red about 3 months ago. We were told she was almost a year old. After being around her Id say she was MAYBE 6 months. We immediately started hauling and socializing her. Not knowing her history we weren't sure what to expect. She has been PERFECT! Shes went on 14 hr trips with us and never got fussy. A GREAT hauling dog. Is awesome around people, other dogs and horses. But she is my husbands dog. We had lost his basset about 2 months prior to getting this dog and she took to him immediately. The ONLY thing I am not sure I like is that She doesn't like his teenage sons. Growls and barks at them. Cant blame her, I don't like them to much either. But as long as they don't mess with her she's cool. The youngest only comes over every other weekend so shes not around him a whole lot. My other heeler X is the same way. She RUNS from the kid. THAT tells me something!
I LOVE MY HEELERS! Awesome dog but HAVE to be socialized. Mine go everywhere but to work with me. Shoot they come to church with me. **I go to a cowboy church so its OK!** Their our babies and I LOVE THEM! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 90
| DLV - 2013-12-12 12:09 PM
JRC - 2013-12-12 12:05 PM
We've always had red heelers. They do get more territorial the older they get. The house, truck and trailer, kids, hay stack are all off limits to strangers at our house unless we are there. If they are exposed like the above poster said it does help but they still will get cranky as the get older. All of ours know what "leave it" means and will ignore other dogs as long as we are there. The good thing about heelers is that they are very smart and can be trained fairly easy.
oh yikees! I wonder how territorial he will get the older he gets!! He is SOOOO attached to me, if I scream or anything around anyone even my husband he gets inbetween us! My husband said he would EAT someone if they tried to hurt me! I do like that since I'm alone often. I'll have to watch him the older he gets. He is truly one of the best dogs though. He LOVES me unconditionally, will sit in a truck all day and wait for me watching EXACTLY where I walked in the door. he won't even get off my bed unless I get home to let him out! My husband has to carry him to put him outside if he's the first one home! He's a little weird I guess. He is so focused on me though that even if we are walking by strange people or dogs and I say his name he will walk beside me even without a leash and not so much as LOOK at the other dog.
Mine is the exact same way! He's very me oriented. He loves my parents, who have had him all his life, but he's my dog and when I have him, he's completely different than he is with anyone else. He's decent when he's at my parents ranch but when I'm there, he's constantly either watching me and the horses, staring at my horse pens or waiting for me on the porch. When I bring him to my house, he'll play with another dog if we go on a hike and will occasionally wander away from me but never far at all. If I leave him in a vehicle, he stares at the last place he saw me until I return. And he's a snot about going out if I'm not home either. I had to leave him one morning to go into work for like two hours. He'll usually cuddle my roommates so I figured he'd be fine. Nope. The second I left, he planted himself in my room on the bed and stayed until I came home. Luckily he's housebroke so they didn't worry about him anyway. I'm overly vigilant with him since he's always so focused on me, but so far he's been ok. He will let our guy friends around me but we're always careful to not stress him out so he doesn't feel the need to guard me. He's watchful of children also, as in he'll try to herd them towards me when we're at the parks or whatever. I guess so he can watch me and them both, even though they aren't my kids? He's goofy but so good, so I put up with most of his quirks.
Mine doesn't get territorial at my house, but is watchful and protective when we're at my parents. He knows a couple vehicles that are allowed in the yard and who is supposed to come out of those vehicles. My brother lives away at college and they will bark when he drives in the yard but greet him just fine once he gets out. My parents actually have three, one I got them who's going to be three next month, then mine and his litter mate who will be two. The younger ones are better listeners when it comes to calling them off strangers' vehicles but the older one needs more work since he's getting more snappy at tires we've noticed lately. He's never bit a person ever, but the pack of them intimidates nearly every person that's walked into the property line, which is fine with us. They were really nervous and jumpy when the house on the next property was being renovated and moved in to, but they've settled down over the last three months to tolerate the neighbors. They have three dogs, a rottie, a pit mix and a Boston terrier so they ran their fence line 18" off ours to have a space. The dogs race up and down but they don't get aggressive while doing it. It's like a game and all six will quit when we call them. The one time their dogs got out, ours watched the fence but never tried to get through it to get to the loose dogs. So thus far, we've been lucky about them guarding their space (the yard, horses, chickens, even the cats) but we're also really careful with them to make sure we don't create any problems down the road. |
|
| |
|
Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | We have had several over the years. Some have been more territorial than others. We have a red heeler now and she is not too bad with strange dogs as long as the other dogs do not exhibit any aggressive or dominant traits. If they do she will put them in their place. One of our neighbors now has a black rott. She acts like she hates the dog if we are outside and plays with it if we are not. She is very tenative about strangers, takes a long time to warm up and let them touch her.
We had a blue female before this one. She was super friendly and non-aggressive. She loved everyone and everything. She was always escaping and going to neighbors for extra meals or to sleep on anothers couch. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | SC Wrangler - 2013-12-12 2:03 PM
We have had several over the years. Some have been more territorial than others.  We have a red heeler now and she is not too bad with strange dogs as long as the other dogs do not exhibit any aggressive or dominant traits. If they do she will put them in their place. One of our neighbors now has a black rott. She acts like she hates the dog if we are outside and plays with it if we are not. She is very tenative about strangers, takes a long time to warm up and let them touch her. Â
We had a blue female before this one. She was super friendly and non-aggressive. She loved everyone and everything. She was always escaping and going to neighbors for extra meals or to sleep on anothers couch. Â
That doesn't sound like a heeler at all! Buckshot will hardly leave my porch lol. Must have been a unique heeler!! So cool hearing about everyones heelers! |
|
| |
|
 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | Mine (my avatar) is laid back, spoiled rotten to the core. You could haul everything off, just don't take the couch or the bed!  He is super smart and will only listen to me, no one else. I can tell him stay he will. He knows if I go to my front pasture he isn't allowed past a certain point, he will sit and wait on me. He doesn't even bark when someone pulls up, my dashund does though and then Cruiser will go see while the little fart sits on the couch looking at him like well what do you see!
My other one was like this too, she was a blue heeler.
I want a outside dog, and I don't know what to get since none of my heelers have ever had that aggressiveness to them. I want one that will bark. Maybe if they were outside only dogs that would be better. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | scamper - 2013-12-12 3:05 PM
Mine (my avatar) is laid back, spoiled rotten to the core. Â You could haul everything off, just don't take the couch or the bed! He is super smart and will only listen to me, no one else. Â I can tell him stay he will. Â He knows if I go to my front pasture he isn't allowed past a certain point, he will sit and wait on me. Â He doesn't even bark when someone pulls up, my dashund does though and then Cruiser will go see while the little fart sits on the couch looking at him like well what do you see! My other one was like this too, she was a blue heeler. Â
I want a outside dog, and I don't know what to get since none of my heelers have ever had that aggressiveness to them. Â I want one that will bark. Maybe if they were outside only dogs that would be better.
He's adorable!!! Sounds like they have simularities! Buckshot will sit on his bed ALL day or in the truck ALL day, he's SUCH a bum!!! he has his hyper moments but mostly likes to sit around. He will not come in the arena when I'm riding either. Just love heelers! |
|
| |
Folks on-line