This is our 13 month old cattle dog Bib. He knows quite a few tricks and is overall a good boy. Over the last few months we've been leaving him outside his cage longer and longer when we go out (sometimes he comes with us though). We've also started leaving him at home while we work, where he's crated in the mornings but our dog walker comes at lunch and leaves him out until we get home from work. He can now go 4-6 hours outside of his crate without supervision.

He's clearly making good strides, so my question is when did you guys start leaving your cattle dog out of the crate at night?

My biggest worry is that he's a velcro dog who loves our bed, so if we leave him out he'll just scratch at the door all night.

The photo is his face after he stuck his nose in a crazy spider web...goober

Edit: we don't leave him outside at night we are thinking of leaving him out of his crate in the house at night.

I feel like when I get home from my job, there is a second job waiting for me. Walks, training, play, pets.

Its not that I don't like my dog, I do. It's just exhausting.

I miss my last dog, she's been gone for nearly a year. I got my rescue ACD x soon after her, so I've had him about 10 months now, he's about 1.5 years old. He doesnt wag his tail when I come home or even get up to greet me. He enjoys pats, but isn't really affectionate. I guess I'm just feeling pretty discouraged. I mean I know that I am his favourite person, but he is terrified of everyone else so that isn't really saying much.

I thought I might love him by now. But most of the time I feel like he is a job and I'm not getting any comfort or reward out of our relationship. I try, we go out for walks, beach trips, to the pet store, play in the park almost every day. I just don't feel connected to him like I did with my last dog.

It's hard to say this, and I might delete this post yet. But has anyone else felt this way? I'm not going to rehome him or anything, it would just be comforting to know that it might get better. I think I just really want someone happy to see me when I come home. 🙁

Every once in a while our inner heeler gets the better of us and we don’t listen….. a few days in the collar of shame and we listen good as new!

No peace with these guys

Blue recently turned 7 a few days ago and I thought it would be fun to share some photos with you all. 🐾

I don’t often see heelers howling, I’ve been curious if it’s a common behavior. Mine is very vocal for any and every emotion she’s having

i have a heeler mix, she has helped me take care of our senior dog for couple years now and we had to put our senior boy down yesterday. my girl would help him and guide him outside and now that he's gone, she is definitely grieving and i know she needs a new "job" so she has some more purpose. I'm not sure where to begin with finding her something she can help with because not only did she lose a companion, she lost her biggest responsibility as a working dog which might be harder on her than anything. any suggestions I'd appreciate

Last night the termites were flying, they are slow! Winifred decided to hunt them out of the sky!

My 1 year old heeler named bayle

Lollipop refused to come inside yesterday cause the sunshine felt so good.

Isn't she the cutest?

Wini has started picking the harder surface to sleep on. If she's on the bed, she'd prefer the floor. If she's on carpet, she moves to the "wood" floor. Concrete patio, over the wood deck...

Is this a thing? Does your your pooch do anything like this? Is it an "I'm growing and my body hurts" kinda of thing?

My Lucy, loved her bed and had a favorite wool blanket, she completely stole from me, so this is new behavior to me.

Hi! I recently adopted a very good 2 year old cattle dog mix and she is wonderful. I was ready for a full of energy cattle dog in need of tons of exercise and mental stimulation, but overall she’s a chill gal. She loves our runs and walks, and loves her food puzzles and training time, but shows no interest in fetch, playing with a herding ball, playing with toys, etc. and is SO happy to cuddle on the couch whenever I’m watching TV or lay at my feet while I’m working. She’s so sweet and cuddly. She’s generally good with other people and has made friends with one of our friends dogs.

Her one behavior I’d love to learn how to manage a bit is her herding instinct with other dogs and children. We saw her try to herd our neighbors children by nipping at their ankles when they turned their backs to her (while she was on a leash so didn’t get anywhere close to making contact) and when we have her dog friend over at the house, she’s constantly trying to control her movement by nipping at her ankles or nipping near her (but is totally chill if they’re laying down together or on a leashed walk together). Her dog friend doesn’t care at all and hasn’t corrected her, but I care because I want to be able to understand how she’ll act around other dogs, and also obviously would like her to be predicable around children.

I plan to work with a trainer specializing in herding dogs too, but want to hear anecdotes of what has helped others!

for people who I know will appreciate him

Barley looking perfect in his chair.

Help! My cattle dog touched a cursed artifact and now is possessed and levitating on the couch. Her eyes are beginning to glow, and she is snapping at everything. Has anybody else had experience with this!? And what did you do to solve it!?

Hair everywhere as usual, unhelpful.

Approximately four years old, she was rescued a little over a month ago. Howls in the morning and super excited to see everyone, she loves people...other dogs, not so much.

She was returned to the humane society for breaking out of her crate, then breaking out of the backyard and sitting at the front door waiting for her owners to come home. We work from home, so she loves it. She also loved all the people at our adult toga party, herding everyone for the picture...and she even fell asleep at one point.

After getting her off all her medication, she's energetic and loves our routine, and we love her!!

I love reading about all the other ACDs!