From an email:

''My husband is going to give my dog away and I am frantic. My Heeler,
Chico, bites his labs on the ankles and draws blood. He does this
Constantly no matter what we do to correct him. Even the shock collar
Didn't phase him. Chico is 1 1/2 years. His basic training went fine. We
Had hoped he would hurd our pygmy goats, but he is too aggressive there
Too and has mutilated one's ear and bloody's their legs with bites. I
Would like to mis-direct him to frisbee dog instead of herder if
Possible, but mostly I have to get him to stop the ankle biting before my
Husband relocates him.''

Training a dog to avoid a behavior when you aren't there is tough. When you are around I suggest giving the dog a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' to interrupt it and divert it with a chew toy. Even if he knows his obedience, he may still not see where he should fit in the pack. He is neutered? The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

If the dogs are loose outside by themselves, the above isn't likely to help. I doubt you will want to keep him shut up when you can't watch him either, which is another thing I frequently suggest. You could try a private trainer. I don't know if even a good one could solve this.

I support site rules discouraging asking and answering questions by email.

Labman, frankly this sounds like an improperly bred dog. This heeler is doing what comes naturally, herding the other animals, but his aggressiveness in his herding is much more intense than it should be. Unless this person gets hands on training help from someone who has a good working knowledge of how to train herding dogs, it is just going to get worse. She needs to speak with her vet about recommendations for a working dog trainer in her area. If her vet doesn't have a clue, he/she may be able to speak with another vet in the area whose practice covers farm animals. That vet will know what people have had success with training their herders. If she strikes out, she needs to do a little research to find a reputable breeder of heelers that can help her. The best place to start with that would be the AKC website's listing of approved Heeler breeders.

Good to have you back. Likely you are right about needing the specific herding training experience.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by labman

From an email:

''My husband is going to give my dog away and I am frantic. My Heeler,
Chico, bites his labs on the ankles and draws blood. He does this
constantly no matter what we do to correct him. Even the shock collar
didn't phase him. Chico is 1 1/2 years. His basic training went fine. We
had hoped he would hurd our pygmy goats, but he is too aggressive there
too and has mutilated one's ear and bloody's their legs with bites. I
would like to mis-direct him to frisbee dog instead of herder if
possible, but mostly I have to get him to stop the ankle biting before my
husband relocates him.''

Training a dog to avoid a behavior when you aren't there is tough. When you are around I suggest giving the dog a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' to interrupt it and divert it with a chew toy. Even if he knows his obedience, he may still not see where he should fit in the pack. He is neutered? The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

If the dogs are loose outside by themselves, the above isn't likely to help. I doubt you will want to keep him shut up when you can't watch him either, which is another thing I frequently suggest. You could try a private trainer. I don't know if even a good one could solve this.

I support site rules discouraging asking and answering questions by email.

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Biting on the heels is instinctive in blue heelers. I would Google training blue heelers. There was a tape course that costs a bit but is directed specifically at blue heelers. Fortunately I don't have the heel biting problem with Diggity. But she is an aggressive herder. I don't want to have to buy that course (a little less than $50) but if you're going to have to give up your dog, this guy seemed to know his blue heeler stuff. His name is Dan Rankin. Examples are scolding, hitting, & punishing doesn't work with blue heelers. They crave love. I've been pretty successful being the dominant one with Diggity but haven't been successful with training her not to bark at other dogs on the leash. I'm planning to ask that question because I'm cheap and don't want to pay for the course. I do believe that training Australian Cattle Dogs requires some different techniques than with other dogs. Good luck. Hope you don't have to give up your dog. How about giving up your husband :)