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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
    
Location: Minnesota | My husband and I are looking to add another dog to our family. We currently have an almost 3 year old female chocolate lab. My husband uses her for hunting and he wants another hunting dog but I don't want another lab. I want a blue heeler and have for sometime but Ross keeps asking me if he could use a heeler for hunting and I honestly don't know. I know heelers are herding dogs but can they be/are they used for hunting too?
Edited by Ctrygirl14 2014-03-09 9:48 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | That would not be my first choice
What type of hunting? Birds? They would not make a good bird dog IMHO.... |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-03 1:12 PM
That would not be my first choice
What type of hunting? Birds? They would not make a good bird dog IMHO....
Yes, bird hunting. He already has our lab as a hunting dog so I'm not sure why he wants two. I'm wanting a heeler for around the farm with me. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Ctrygirl14 - 2014-03-03 1:16 PM
barrelracr131 - 2014-03-03 1:12 PM
That would not be my first choice
What type of hunting? Birds? They would not make a good bird dog IMHO....
Yes, bird hunting. He already has our lab as a hunting dog so I'm not sure why he wants two. I'm wanting a heeler for around the farm with me.
They are good farm dogs. From what I have seen, they can be one person dogs
I've never had one myself. I would think that would not be a great retrieving dog and might tear up the bird a lot. I don't know if you could find one with a soft enough mouth to retrieve birds.
I could be wrong though LOL. We have a part golden part mutt that is a retrieving machine... his mother (the golden) was an awesome hunt trial, agility, etc dog. |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-03 1:20 PM
Ctrygirl14 - 2014-03-03 1:16 PM
barrelracr131 - 2014-03-03 1:12 PM
That would not be my first choice
What type of hunting? Birds? They would not make a good bird dog IMHO....
Yes, bird hunting. He already has our lab as a hunting dog so I'm not sure why he wants two. I'm wanting a heeler for around the farm with me.
They are good farm dogs. From what I have seen, they can be one person dogs
I've never had one myself. I would think that would not be a great retrieving dog and might tear up the bird a lot. I don't know if you could find one with a soft enough mouth to retrieve birds.
I could be wrong though LOL. We have a part golden part mutt that is a retrieving machine... his mother (the golden ) was an awesome hunt trial, agility, etc dog.
That's what I was thinking but Ross kept asking if they are hunting dogs as well and I wasn't sure. I want the dog more for me and around the farm. He is always gone with our lab hunting and that leaves me here with our cat. The cat could care less about me lol. |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | Both of mine have terrible noses. If my red doesn't see exactly where it lands, chances are she'll never find it. Mine are pretty gentle with things but both of them are terrified of guns lol. They'd make REALLY poor bird dogs. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | No, not really a good hunting dog. I would think a Golden Retriever or English Pointer, maybe. Though you'll get different ends of the bird hunting with those. |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | oija - 2014-03-03 1:27 PM
No, not really a good hunting dog. I would think a Golden Retriever or English Pointer, maybe. Though you'll get different ends of the bird hunting with those.
My husband's first choice is an English Pointer. I know those are both good bird dogs but he already has our lab who loves to go hunting. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part that a heeler could be good for hunting and good around the farm with me. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | If you are looking for a companion.... my corgi is the best companion dog.
He's super lazy and loves to cuddle. LOL |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 920
| maybe part heeler with something but i wouldn't think a pure heeler would bring you back what you wanted. It would be a challenge. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I have a heeler and no I don't think she could ever make a bird dog. She's terrified of guns for starters. Loves to herd and is very protective of our family especially mommy. If you want a companion, I couldn't ask for a better one than my Zoey. If a gun fires though she runs to the house like a scalded cat. |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | Are your heelers good with others dogs? Other farm animals? |
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Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | If you train them right, they are. Mine don't bother the horses more than just barking at them. They do LOVE to chase the cats and will run off any other dog that comes onto the property unless they're with a person. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Ctrygirl14 - 2014-03-03 1:41 PM Are your heelers good with others dogs? Other farm animals?
Zoey is good with all our animals. Have taken her with me to friends that have sheep and goats and she's cool with them. She was brought up with cats so she won't hurt them but she does like to give chase every once in a while just because she can. We also have 2 Catahoula dogs one male and one female. The female houla and my heeler hate each other with the majority of the fights starting with the Houla but my heeler won't back down even though the other dog is bigger and wins the fights. We'll have to either get rid of the Houla or put her down because I won't get rid of my dog. My dog gets along excellent with any other dog though. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Ctrygirl14 - 2014-03-03 1:31 PM
oija - 2014-03-03 1:27 PM
No, not really a good hunting dog. I would think a Golden Retriever or English Pointer, maybe. Though you'll get different ends of the bird hunting with those.
My husband's first choice is an English Pointer. I know those are both good bird dogs but he already has our lab who loves to go hunting. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part that a heeler could be good for hunting and good around the farm with me.
Tell him yea sure a heeler can be a hunting dog, then if(and most likely when) he "turns out" to be a bad hunting dog... it's not like he would take the dog back(hopefully)!
Just kidding. Just tell him YOU want a dog for YOU and when he is off hunting! Heelers are very protective by nature and I think if their energy is channeled well they can be awesome companions! |
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | I LOVE my heeler.. She is the smartest dog ever and the best companion/protector. Do I think she'd be a good hunting dog, no.. She loves to track cows but I think would tear a bird apart. |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | I'm mainly just wanting a companion, a dog that will go everywhere with me. Our lab loves my husband. They are bonded over the hunting thing and I go hunting too but she loves my husband. She follows him everywhere and will whine and cry when he goes outside without her. I want a dog that will keep me company and it sounds like a heeler would be good for that. Ross doesn't NEED two hunting dogs.
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| absolutely not ! lol My family has 3 heelers, love them..... BUT they are not for everyone it will require training to get them to be good around your horses as there natural instinct is to "heel" something. Aggressive around other animals really just depends on the dog. Some will want to fight and some wont but they are very protective, one person dogs, that are hard headed. RESEARCH the breed before getting one and know what you are getting into ! Good luck |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Crowned Image - 2014-03-03 1:46 PM Ctrygirl14 - 2014-03-03 1:31 PM oija - 2014-03-03 1:27 PM No, not really a good hunting dog. I would think a Golden Retriever or English Pointer, maybe. Though you'll get different ends of the bird hunting with those. My husband's first choice is an English Pointer. I know those are both good bird dogs but he already has our lab who loves to go hunting. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part that a heeler could be good for hunting and good around the farm with me. Just kidding. Just tell him YOU want a dog for YOU and when he is off hunting! Heelers are very protective by nature and I think if their energy is channeled well they can be awesome companions!
Ha, I like that suggestion! That way you get what you want when the dog happens to flunk at hunting  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| I have a Blue Heeler. He herds our cattle, which came very natural to him of course, but I honestly think you could use them to hunt. They're technically not hunting dogs but mine kills coons and so does his daddy! I guess it depends on what you want to hunt! My boyfriend is big into Plott Hounds and coon hunts all the time, and I think he's been impressed with our baby's hunting skills. Lol. Unfortunately he likes to eat chickens and has brought home many dead animals before, but I think you could definitely hunt one! |
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