The Complete Guide To Australian Cattle Dogs

Written by experienced ACD owner and professional dog trainer Tarah Schwartz, this book will give new owners as well as those experienced with the ACD breed all the necessary skills and insights to keep your Australian Cattle dog happy and healthy from puppyhood through his or her golden years. Within these pages you’ll learn enough about the breed to make an informed decision about whether or not the Australian Cattle Dog is the right breed for you. Not only will you learn about the breed’s history as a working cattle dog, but you’ll also gain invaluable knowledge about their ability to compete in a variety of modern dog sports. If you plan on adopting a dog from a shelter, you’ll learn what to look for in your ideal dog. If you would prefer to buy a puppy from a breeder, this book will guide you through choosing a breeder and bringing your puppy home. Find answers to questions like: Is a Australian Cattle Dog the right dog for me? I brought my ACD home. What now? How can I best train my ACD? What are some common mistakes should I avoid? Whether you are a veteran ACD owner, or new to the breed, there will be something for everyone in this book. Chapter topics include: Choosing an Australian Cattle Dog Preparing Your Home for Your New ACD Being a Great ACD Owner Housetraining Socializing with People and Animals Australian Cattle Dogs and Your Other Pets Physical and Mental Exercise Training Your Australian Cattle Dog Basic Commands Training a Working Australian Cattle Dog Unwanted Behaviors Traveling with Australian Cattle Dogs Nutrition Grooming Your Australian Cattle Dog Basic ACD Health Care Advanced ACD Health and Aging Dog Care From your first day together until your last, this book will be a vital resource that you’ll be able to consult throughout your Australian Cattle Dog’s lifetime. Whether you have questions about training or healthcare, you can rest assured that this book will have the answers you’re looking for.

Written by experienced ACD owner and professional dog trainer Tarah Schwartz, this book will give new owners as well as those experienced with the ACD breed all the necessary skills and insights to keep your Australian Cattle dog happy and healthy from puppyhood through his or her golden years.Within these pages you'll learn enough about the breed to make an informed decision about whether or not the Australian Cattle Dog is the right breed for you. Not only will you learn about the breed's history as a working cattle dog, but you'll also gain invaluable knowledge about their ability to compete in a variety of modern dog sports. If you plan on adopting a dog from a shelter, you'll learn what to look for in your ideal dog. If you would prefer to buy a puppy from a breeder, this book will guide you through choosing a breeder and bringing your puppy home.Find answers to questions like: Is a Australian Cattle Dog the right dog for me? I brought my ACD home. What now? How can I best train my ACD? What are some common mistakes should I avoid?

The story that became a global sensation: Sophie, the Australian cattle dog who was lost at sea and swam six miles through shark-infested waters to a remote island where she survived in the wild for five months. It was just another day in paradise as Jan and Dave Griffith, along with their blue cattle dog, Sophie, motored out of Mackay Marina for a gorgeous weekend at sea. But when the sky suddenly darkened and the waves turned fierce, the unthinkable happened: Sophie disappeared overboard. Her heartbroken humans couldn't fathom the loss and could only hope their beloved pet didn't suffer. But this true cattle dog and devoted best friend wasn't going to give up that easily—and what followed is a remarkable tale of survival, luck, and persistence. From the first day the Griffiths set eyes on puppy Sophie through that terrible October day she was lost, to Sophie's time as a castaway and the reunion that almost didn’t happen, journalist Emma Pearse recreates the incredible journey of this canine Robinson Crusoe. An inspirational story of loyalty and the resilience of the spirit, Sophie offers undeniable proof about the unbreakable bond between humans and our pets -- and that if lost, they would do anything to come home to us.

This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Australian Cattle Dog serves as a complete introduction to Blue Heeler from Down Under. Regarded in Australia as the island nation's pride and joy, the Australian Cattle Dog knows no peer as a working herding dog, capable of controlling the most difficult stock in the punishing environs of its native land. Today the breed excels in various arenas beyond its bred-for ranching job, and the book traces the breed's fascinating origins and shows how the Australian Cattle Dog has become the most versatile dog on the planet. Beyond the history of the breed, the book includes chapters on characteristics and the breed standard encapsulating all of the virtues of this active breed, offering sound advice about which owners are best suited to own the nonstop AuCaDo. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome adults and puppies bursting with attitude and personality! In all, there are over 135 photographs in this compact, useful, and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training the quick-minded (and quick-moving) AuCaDo will help readers better mold and train their dogs into the most socialized, well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Chapters on showing and participating in dog sports as well as solving common behavior issues (such as barking, digging, etc.) will prove informative to the new owner. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

A guide to owning Australian cattle dogs as pets, describing the temperament and history of the breed, providing tips on preparing the home to welcome a puppy, and discussing training, socialization, nutrition, grooming, health concerns, and competitions.

Australian cattle dogs live up to their name! They were first bred by cattle ranchers in Australia, but today their speckled coats and herding skills make them popular dogs around the world. This informative book introduces young readers to one of the world’s most intelligent dogs!

Herding Dogs: Progressive Training is the only book of its kind to guide the owner toward training the complete herding dog. Whether you are involved in farming or ranching, or simply want to explore your herding dog's heritage, you will find a wealth of information here. For those with competitive goals, Herding Dogs will enhance your knowledge with a philosophy that has the dog's individual breed and personality as the central focus. Vergil S. Holland teaches the handler to understand the dog's reactions before beginning this progressive training. Whether it is your dog's first exposure to stock or your older dog with a new problem, you, as a handler, will find solutions to each problem and sound advice on each phase of training. Special chapters on different personalities of the various herding breeds, with training modifications tailored to these differences, make it possible for you and your dog as a team to reach your maximum potential. Herding commands and terms are thoroughly covered, as are those of basic Obedience for the stock dog. Working various kinds of stock-sheep, cattle and ducks-is covered to meet the needs of every stock dog owner. Detailed diagrams and concept maps throughout the book highlight the individualized training methods for each type of dog and stock. A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Help! He’s herding the neighborhood kids!!
Herding breed dogs such as Border Collies, Corgis, and Australian Shepherds have incredibly strong instinctive behaviors to do the work they were bred for—controlling various kinds of livestock. These behaviors manifest themselves in modern herding breed dogs kept as companions or family pets in a number of ways. These include chasing cars and bicyclists, herding kids, nipping at vulnerable heels, barking incessantly, and acting as the “fun police” in dog parks. All behaviors that are entirely appropriate and necessary when dealing with sheep or cattle, not so great in a suburban neighborhood. Fortunately, these instincts can be redirected in a number of ways that keep these energetic dogs busy and happy as well as out of trouble. That is why so many of these dogs can be taught to excel in agility and obedience trials, love to retrieve, and make great running companions. In her latest book, author Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell offers solutions to solving and preventing problem behaviors associated with herding breeds living in the modern world. And no, even though your Border Collie or Corgi might love it, you don’t need to buy a farm!

As the owner of two obsessive but outstanding herding dogs, I found myself nodding along in agreement with this book from start to finish. Dawn offers tips to allow a handler to work with, rather than against a dog’s herding instincts and her easy-to-read writing style and the depth of information she shares makes this book a must read for anyone who works or lives with herding dogs.
Nicole Larocco-Skeehan, CPDT-KA and member of the Board of Directors, CCPDT

A super resource that explains how instinctive behaviors impact dogs in their every day activities. I especially like the training tips—very clear and helpful explanations to manage problems often brought out by a variety of herding instincts.
Lynn Leach, owner of Downriver Stock Dog Training and creator of the popular All Breed Herding DVD series

A wonderful mix of training information, management suggestions, psychology, and commonsense advice for herding dog owners. Easy to read and filled with gems of information for all dog owners—like eliminating annoying barking! I highly recommend this book for trainers and owners of any breed of dog.
Gail Tamases Fisher, CDBC and author of The Thinking Dog

If you have chosen to bring a herding breed in to your life and home this is the book for you! Dawn takes the reader through the history of herding breeds in order to help you understand the why behind some of the obsessive-compulsive behaviors your herding breed may be exhibiting. Better yet, Dawn then offers up specific exercises and training techniques to help herding breed owners become as valuable as livestock in the eyes of their herding dog. You owe it to your herding breed to read this book!
Gerianne Darnell, author of Canine Crosstraining: Achieving Excellence in Multiple Dog Sports

Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell is the author of Terrier-Centric Training, and From Birdbrained to Brilliant. She is the owner of BonaFide Dog Academy in Omaha, Nebraska.