Amber Murphy
Posted : 6/21/2007 6:42:57 AM
Well, the main thing she said is that Cattle Dogs are more intense than Aussies. Where and Aussie can be left alone(depending on the dog) without a lot of excercise or stimulation, the Cattle Dogs really need a lot of stimulation or they're more likely to be destructive than the Aussie. My Aussie is kinda a mix between the go, go, go and the couch potato. If it's too hot to walk or go to the dog park, she'll be annoying, but not to the point of an always go, go, go dog that needs to get out and do something. From what she said, the Cattle Dogs are always go, go, go dogs.
I also think the Cattle Dogs require a little more one on one training than say an Aussie. I mean all dogs can benefit from one on one training, but I believe the cattle dogs need more of it from what she said.
That's why once I have more time to actually take a half hour or so out of my day to work with a dog, I'll look into getting one. The downside to both these breeds is they're both very smart and if you don't find them something to do, they'll find something to do. Though I swear my Aussie is on the dumber side. She still hasn't figured out that if I'm stepping over her, she should just lay there. I can't tell you how many times I've kicked her because she's gotten up while I was stepping over her.
They're both great dogs, but I need more time before I even consider a cattle dog. I'd consider a Border Collie before a Cattle Dog until that happens. The funny thing is, I always wanted a Border Collie then I met some Aussies and fell in love with them. I guess my dog breed likes and dislikes are because of my working at boarding kennels while in high school and the first couple years of college. I got to see what different breeds were like and could go from there on what I liked and would want.
If you consider getting one, you could always talk to a trainer or even a Cattle Dog and Aussie breeder to get the pros and cons of each breed. Or just do research on your own. The only major con for me is that the Aussie has more hair than the CD so you have to groom the Aussie more. I would take her in to be groomed but the only affordable one is stupid and didn't do what I asked when I did bring my dog in. I asked her to cut the hair on Dizzy's butt but she didn't except for maybe a half an inch. So I just cut the hair myself, I butcher her butt hair, but oh well. I'd rather cut the hair myself than ask someone else to do it and not have it done.
Shiva