All Activity

Just to reopen this on something practical that can actually be done. If the goal is to gradually re expose farmers to the fact that Australia has its own purpose built cattle dog, then demonstrating capability publicly seems more effective than arguing theory. Border Collies clearly have their place, but trials are one of the few spaces where different working styles can be observed side by side. I have been considering entering cattle herding trials at rural shows during breaks. Not as a novelty, but as a way to demonstrate what an original type Cattle Dog is capable of when allowed to work with initiative rather than constant direction. If people are ever going to take the offspring of such dogs seriously as future workers, this seems like one of the few visible pathways. I have watched a number of cattle trial runs and noticed that handlers speak very little. My dog works confidently and independently but he does respond to verbal input, such as coaching while working. I am unsure whether that would be penalised under trial rules or simply seen as a different handling style. Based on the working style shown in the video I posted earlier, would this be considered a valid or interesting approach in cattle trials, or are the courses designed in a way that favours a more guided, pattern based style of work?

To clarify what I meant without it sounding like a call for anyone to go educate farmers. Cattle Dogs and Border Collies tend to change stock behaviour in different ways. Border Collies apply pressure through eye posture and presence which suits situations where cattle are already responsive. They are highly sensitive workers and generally avoid physical confrontation because they were not bred to absorb or cope with being kicked. Cattle Dogs were bred for the opposite conditions. They work closer apply pressure through proximity and have the physical and mental resilience to cope with being assailed when necessary. Bentley type dogs in particular were selected for nerve toughness and the ability to take a hit and continue working without escalating stock. When a Cattle Dog is pushed too hard, worked too close or micromanaged cattle often show more stress and that gets blamed on the dog rather than the fit between dog handling style and job. The same dog worked calmly and allowed to make decisions produces a very different outcome. So this is not about one breed being better than another. It is about matching the dog the handling style and the job so the strengths of each can be used properly.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/rare-dog-breed-chow-chow-feared-stolen-in-perth/2d984eb1-8426-4912-803e-0aa944707543

We are watching this show and were just gutted when we saw the message come up at the end. I personally didn't think the winning art work looked much like Frank but it definately captured Annie beautifully. It was her time to shine.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-08/muster-dogs-frank-finger-annie-portrait-artist-of-the-year-tv/106073124

excellent work, dog patrol

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-07/seagulls-learn-to-knock-food-from-peoples-hands/106043826

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/lifethreatening-grim-warning-to-pet-owners-after-poison-allegedly-found-in-food-at-sydney-park/news-story/72d2219e26b758c174c9f4bc04c84ee1

Great - hopefully the rest of Australia will follow

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/greyhound-racing-legislation-passes-house-of-representatives/106090430

Not much detail as yet. Happened in Whyalla. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-04/sa-woman-dies-after-dog-attack-in-whyalla/106103542

Cruelty to animals is a sign of violence and DV. Plus lying and all his other red flags.

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/nathan-mckeown-hit-with-new-charges-after-arnie-the-german-shepherd-found-dead-in-ute/news-story/fc6f668cb81cad6430829785bbe0089d

Covering the crate also makes it more cosy and den-like for them... and they can settle faster. T.

Hi all, I posted here about 6 months ago totally stressed out because my 3-year-old rescue mutt (we think he's part cattle dog, part who-knows-what) was destroying my apartment every time I left for work. I'm talking shredded couch cushions, scratched up door frames, the works. My landlord was NOT happy. I got a lot of great advice from this community back then and wanted to share what ended up working in case anyone else is dealing with this nightmare. What didn't work for us: Leaving the TV on (he couldn't care less) Those thunder shirts (waste of money for us, though I know some people swear by them) Puzzle toys (he ignored them when anxious) What actually helped: Crate training - I know it's controversial but he actually seems to feel safer in there Exercising him HARD before I leave (like 45 min minimum) Practicing leaving for just 30 seconds, then a minute, building up slowly This is going to sound weird but I tried some CBD treats after reading about it here. Was super skeptical but honestly I think it takes the edge off for him. I use ones from Innovet that my vet's office actually had a poster about The biggest thing was consistency though. It took like 3 months of the same routine every single day before he started to chill out. He's not perfect - if I'm gone for more than 6 hours he still gets stressed - but he's not destroying everything anymore. Small victories, right? Anyone else have a dog with separation anxiety? What worked for you?

...and with a job Nice story.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-01/last-dog-on-christmas-island-shiloh/105722366

Tell who? So if I can follow this. You posit that Heelers are out of favour, replaced by BC. But the BC isn't built with the strength or nerve? Making the herd sketchy and stressed? And the meat a poorer quality. Is that the basics?

i think it just gets worse every year despite their reports.

Sounds familiar. Does Australia Post repeat this story every year?

I understand the information coming from you was that the ACD is too full on, can harass cattle and that there could be issues with their training or handling from a modern farmer is this correct? Let me break this down, one qualification at a time with the outcome on the same line for easy understanding. High energy: Required Strong herding instinct: Required Improper training: Warranty issue towards trainer? Improperly managed: Owner issue The old-style ACD was bred for quiet, controlled cattle work and that’s why they put the Dingo in. A good heeler only bites as the final word, not the first. The issue today isn’t the breed changing I believe it to actually be the handling culture. ACDs need clear boundaries to stay calm and precise. When people avoid giving firm correction, the dog ends up making its own decisions, and that’s where trouble starts. Heelers haven’t become rough workers, the expectations and training style have. In the video I've sent, did you see any signs of harassment like the ones we can see here (handling issue): language warning on the breeder's comment, not to required to hear it Stressed handler > stressed dog > stressed cattle. This chain reaction is well documented in livestock behaviour research, including CSIRO and UQ work such as the McGreevy and Starling study (https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/12/102). Calm handlers create calm dogs and calm dogs create calm cattle. High arousal anywhere in the line makes stock harder to move. I also reckon that if a dog is constantly worried about being kicked, that becomes ongoing stress in itself. Breeds that rely heavily on eye, like the Border Collie, can be more sensitive to sudden pressure or impact. They are brilliant workers but they do not take a heavy knock the same way a heeler will. Heelers were bred to handle knocks, shoves and the odd kick and keep working. That is part of why the early breeders used the dingo type. Quiet workers with resilience who do not lose their head when the stock get lively. Cattle stress affects meat quality. MLA’s dark cutting research shows that clearly. Calm stock produce better beef. So understanding how handler behaviour and dog behaviour feed into that chain is not a small thing at all. You tell em yeah?

looks like this the only wire haired pointers but not grffen's https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/breeders/wirehaired-slovakian-pointer.asp cute, less messy face

I agree that people should be allowed to keep dogs in apartments but there are some specific issues that apartment-living dog owners need to consider. High-rise apartments tend to be very low-stimulus environments in comparison to stand-alone houses, where dogs can see birds, other wildlife and neighbouring people and dogs. Toileting and off-leash exercise are potentially problematic because people usually can’t install dog doors or even take their dogs out into their own back yards. I think welfare organisations could help in a more practical way by publishing specific guidelines for people keeping dogs in apartments. The guidelines might include pros and cons for people who are considering getting a dog, suggestions for managing dogs in apartments while providing a good quality of life, and a contingency planning checklist that covers planning for unexpected delays getting home, owner illness and times when the dog has diarrhoea or is otherwise unwell etc.

This from someone who fought hard to have pets allowed by default in rentals and strata situations... does she now want to say that people in apartments shouldn't have pets because space is limited? At least AWL actually visited the apartment and spoke with the owners about the situation, and will most likely follow up in a few weeks to make sure that they are still doing the right thing. According to sources, RSPCA declined to act, giving the excuse that the dog had food, water, and shelter... how would they know that any of those were sufficient if they didn't attend? Seriously, I've personally seen RSPCA act on much less serious breaches of animal welfare than this dog's situation. T.

Reportedly, the owner’s excuse was that the dog was sick. What sort of person leaves a sick dog outside on a hot day? Also, the air conditioning unit would very likely have been venting even hotter air onto the balcony.