Developed in Australia, the Cattle Dog has proven to be a worthy canine companion. They are loyal, obedient and protective. They are fantastic for herding livestock, making them a staple part of farms all over the world. However, your Cattle Dog has developed a taste for biting. It started off as gentle nibbling, that was entertaining, but it has quickly got more serious. You don’t want him biting neighbors, guests, or other pets, for that matter.
Training him not to bite is essential. If he bites another dog you could be liable for hefty vet bills. If he starts biting humans, he may have to be put down. If he bites the livestock he’s supposed to herd then he could cost you a serious amount of money. Not to mention the fact you have young children around. It’s simply a worry you do not need on your plate right now.
Training any dog not to bite when they are in the habit of it is a challenge. Cattle Dogs, in particular, are very protective, so if that is the underlying cause it will not be easy. Fortunately, all is not lost. With the right training, you can stamp out this behavior. You’ll need to use a number of deterrence measures to show him this behavior will not be tolerated. You’ll also need to channel his aggression into something more productive.
If he’s a puppy this should be a relatively new habit. This means you may see results in just a couple of weeks. If he’s older and been biting for many years then you will need longer. It could take up to six weeks to fully to do the job. Succeed with this training though and you’ll never have to worry about guests coming over again!
Before you get to work you’ll need to collect a few items. You’ll need a generous supply of treats or your dogs favorite food broken into small chunks. You’ll also need a couple of toys and food puzzles.
Try to set aside 10 minutes each day for training over the next few weeks. The more consistent you are with training, the quicker you will see results.
The only other things you need are patience and an optimistic attitude. With all those boxes ticked, you’re ready to get to work!
As soon as your pooch bites, take him by the collar and lead him out of the room. Don’t shout at him, you don’t want to scare him. Simply remove him and take him to a room where there are no toys and shut the door.
Leave him in there for 30 seconds. This is his time out period to let him know he has misbehaved. When the 30 seconds is up, you can open the door and allow him to rejoin you.
If he returns and bites again, then follow the same procedure. Take him back into the room, but this time leave him there for an extra 30 seconds. Once that is up you can bring him back again. Continue adding 30 seconds to his sentence until he gets the message.
While using the time out method, you can also reward him for gentle play. Try and talk quietly and stroke him while you are playing. This will help him keep calm. If he does stay calm, you can give him the occasional treat to reinforce the behavior.
Until you are confident that your pup will not bite, refrain from going to dog parks or other areas where a mishap will occur. When you are ready, take your pooch on a group walk with a trainer that has experience with dogs that have bitten in the past.
Many Cattle Dogs bite out of boredom. They are full of energy, so if they don’t get enough exercise they can act out. Make sure your keen dog gets a long walk every day. Try throwing a ball for him as you walk. The short sprinting will quickly tire him out.
Make sure your furry companion has his own space to escape to. This is particularly important if you have young children. Just like humans, dogs need their privacy. So, if he retreats to his bed, make sure he’s allowed to stay there.
Give your dog the odd food puzzle to play with. This is most effective in puppies, who may be biting because they are teething. They can keep him distracted for hours and satisfy that urge to bite down.
Spend a few minutes each day playing tug of war. You are channeling your dogs aggression in a safe way. Plus, you are showing him what is allowed to be bitten and what isn’t. Make sure he gets a treat at the end of play.
Don’t get your dog too worked up. Cattle Dogs often get into a heightened state of excitement and then bite. If you can see him on that path, turn around and give him a few minutes to calm down.
A dog that has been through a first level obedience training class will be more apt to listen and take instruction.
If its been a while since you have practiced commands like down, leave it, and heel with your Cattle Dog, start with the basics of sit and down, and then move along to the more tricky ones.
Practice the commands leave it and down. Knowing what it means to leave it, for example, may discourage a dog from attempting to bite when you see that the action is about to take place.
It is vital you react every single time with a command that will change your dogs mindset from “bite” to “obey command”. Get the commands so ingrained in your dogs head that it will be a natural reaction to obey. You need to ensure everyone in the house is on board with the training.
While you deter him with the above measures you can also reward him for gentle play. Encourage your pooch to play quietly and give him the odd treat when he is calm. A treat and praise are two things that dogs thrive on, so be sure to combine them with the commands.
How to Train a Blue Heeler Puppy not to Bite
How to train a Blue Heeler puppy not to bite is a common search term among new owners of this breed.
That’s because biting is a key component of a Blue Heeler’s make up.
Bred in Australia, this herding dog is loyal, obedient, and protective.
They excel at herding livestock, and they are vigilant in the protection of their families.
It only makes sense that Blue Heeler puppies often have bite issues. After all, they were literally born to do it.
Herding requires intense intelligence, stamina, the ability to adapt, and nipping.
Nipping is one of the ways a herding dog directs animals in the direction he wants them to go.
In addition, nipping is also a way to warn off potential threats to the family that have gotten too close for the Heeler’s comfort.
When you combine these herding and protective instincts, you have a breed that is literally tailor-made to bite.
Knowing this is key because if you don’t train your puppy out of his biting habit, you’ll end up with a full-grown dog that has no problem biting.
Even if he only bites out of play, that kind of behavior can lead to accidental injury to other people or animals.
That scenario could lead to anything from paying vet bills to having your dog taken away.
That’s why we’re going to be talking about how to train a Blue Heeler puppy not to bite.
It’s absolutely vital that nipping is nipped in the bud sooner rather than later.
Is Your Heeler Puppy Biting Excessively?
If your heeler puppy wont stop biting, rest assured that you are not alone. Due to their ancestry, these puppies have a reputation for being quite a handful in the biting department.
Teaching a heeler puppy to stop biting requires lots of patience and determination. And, considering their high intelligence, you must also out-smart them. Fortunately, there are many strategies to use to redirect their behaviors and provide outlets for their natural, instinctive behaviors.
Blue heeler, red heeler (basically, heelers of different coat colors), Australian cattle dog and Queensland heeler: these are just several names used to depict the same breed. In order to better understand why a heeler puppy wont stop biting, you need to look back into this breeds history and what these dogs were selectively bred for.
As the name implies, an Australian cattle dogs country of origin is Australia, and more specifically, Queensland—Australias second-largest state, which is where these dogs were particularly popular.
These highly intelligent dogs are related to Australia’s famous wild dog, the Dingo. The history of the breed informs us that heelers were obtained by crossing imported herding dogs with Dingoes. Sometime along the way, other breeds may have been added into the bloodline (like the Kelpie and Dalmatian, as its been suggested). DNA analysis may be needed to have a clearer insight into this mixed bag of genes.
The term heeler, which is just another name for this breed, refers to this breeds working style. These dogs were selectively bred for controlling and herding herds of cattle with force, by nipping and biting stubborn cattles heels to get them to move.
The Australian Cattle Dog Club of America adds some further details: this is a breed that likes to think for itself. It was crafted to move stubborn cattle by “coming in low from behind, biting the hock of the weight-bearing leg, and ducking to avoid the kick that often follows. An uncooperative bovine doesn’t discourage the dog; rather, the Australian Cattle Dog just becomes more determined to get its job done.”
Personality-wise, the American Kennel Club describes these dogs as being “alert extremely intelligent, watchful, courageous and trustworthy, with an implicit devotion to duty. “
In a nutshell, cattle dogs have the potential for being ideal working dogs and may be quite an asset for those who have a farm. Indeed, still as of today, many heelers are employed on farms with lots of acreage where these dogs can work and romp to their hearts content.
Heelers thrive when provided a job to do.
When Do Blue Heeler Puppies Stop Biting?
Blue Heeler puppies will never completely stop biting, but their habits can be managed with training and redirecting. This habit is partly due to their breed background and related to what they learn and how they are trained.
Biting for a Blue Heeler is part of who they are as a dog.
Bred to herd cattle, biting or nipping has historically been a natural part of their occupation and lifestyle.
When they would herd the cattle, they would do it by whatever means they needed to do so.
This management of the herd might include them biting or nipping the cattle to keep them in line.
Aside from this, the Blue Heeler is an independent thinking dog breed.
Combine that with determination and skill, and they are sure to get any job done well, including controlling cattle.
By fair means or foul, the Blue Heeler would historically work using their biting and nipping to control the herd and successfully do their job well.
If one within the herd had its own mind, the Blue Heeler would continue with its methodology and eventually win the day.
Unfortunately, this innate nature can make their biting or nipping hard to manage at times.
In comes obedience training and the right tools to get the job done.
Breeding out of the way, puppies of every dog breed bite and nip from time to time.
This is especially true during teething time when their teeth are developing.
This need to bite or chew something is not related to their breed background.
It is related to their need for relief from pressure, pain, and discomfort that comes with developing teeth.
This process of teething, which starts early in their puppy months, can last for quite a while.
It can be challenging for some pet parents to manage, but having the right chew toys can help.
It is also helpful for the pet parents to have the right mindset and attitude about this phase in their puppy’s life.
Stress, anxiety, anger, or harsh treatment can be harmful and send your Blue Heeler puppy the wrong message.
If a Blue Heeler puppy bites their loved ones during this phase, a simple NO BITE is warranted.
Once that is done, the pet parent can remove themselves for a time.
With time this phase should usually end, but the Blue Heeler puppy will never completely stop biting.
This must always be kept in mind, and training should be geared towards this end.
They should learn to be true to their innate breeding and nature but respectful of others.
They should have an outlet for their breeding where they have a way to herd and work within the family or community.
FAQ
Are Blue Heelers known for biting?
How long does it take a Blue Heeler puppy to calm down?
As soon as your pooch bites, take him by the collar and lead him out of the room. Don’t shout at him, you don’t want to scare him. Simply remove him and take him to a room where there are no toys and shut the door.
How do I get my heeler to stop nipping?
As soon as your pooch bites, take him by the collar and lead him out of the room. Don’t shout at him, you don’t want to scare him. Simply remove him and take him to a room where there are no toys and shut the door.