Whisky the Aggressive Blue Heeler 

This is probably the most beautiful heeler I have ever seen.

Jeff, great job! most people don't understand how heelers operate. I hear all to often that they are aggressive when in reality they are just bored or not socialized early enough in life. these dogs are so smart you can actually train any bad habits right out of them. People often have issues with these dogs at doors, I taught my deaf and half blind cattle dog to go to a spot when someone comes to the door. Also i see most dog breeds freaking out on leashes when out for walks. that to can be trained out. But no training will ever work with a cattle dog if you haven't first tired your dog out. cattle dogs need mental and physical exercise every single day. at least 3 hours of it! sadly people don't know that and these dogs get a bad name. thank you for helping Whiskey, he is a pretty dog who deserved a chance. he actually seemed very calm for a cattle dog. lol

Fear aggression is a symptom of anxiety so I treated Whisky's anxiety first. Heelers and other working dogs like to have tasks to do so I got his owner to keep him mentally stimulated. Rewarding him for doing his tasks increases his confidence and helps a lot with the anxiety issues. I also got Whisky's owner to be much more in control of him when walking him so that Whisky didn't think he had to be protective.

I rescued a Heelers from being shot he was abused at nine months terrified of men unruly I gave him love and trained him 11/2 year later got his service papers and good citizens award is my loyal service dog best dog I ever had some times trust and love goes long way!

Whisky looks just like my blue heeler Dakota. Loved this video and so glad someone believed in Whisky. What a shame it would have been to have put him down.

With heelers it is sometimes difficult to differentiate aggression from protectiveness. They are an assertive dog by nature but as long as you lay the ground rules out they are usually not difficult to live with. One thing I question is teaching the dog to accept treats from someone at the gate.

I have owned three Cattle Dogs in my time; the first was a pup we got from a working pair at an abattoir outside Christchurch New Zealand, brought that dog back to the UK and six months quarantine. I don't know if the quarantine messed him up, he was aggressive towards other dogs all his life no matter how much training he got. He calmed down as he got older and lived to 14. The next dog I bought from a well credited English breeder, I still have him and bless his sole he has arthritis and has been through a few ops, pills daily but hanging in there. Tuff as old nails but likes to make sure his arthritic back is getting warm from mine as he sleeps on top of my bed... We bought a little girl heeler one year after the above, unfortunately she passed January this year, cancer, broke my heart. She was as smart as a button, always. The thing I would like to input into this post is that Heelers are not necessarily aggressive themselves, however I think other dog breeds perhaps see or most probably smell the wild dog Dingo in them? I am no scientists just an observer of my dogs over the past 30 years. I can walk my heeler who is perfect on the lead, walk past certain dogs out with their owners and their dogs go nuts. Would I choose any other breed of dog?.... Not a chance.

The whole goal was to create a video to show the other "trainer" he can be a calm dog. We had done about 3 months of behaviour training by the time I shot this vid. Therefore this isn't a "how to" video, it is purely to show to the other trainer that with the proper techniques (which are not shown in this video) that Whiskey can be a normal, calm dog.

Thank goodness finally got someone who knows what they are doing with these brilliant dogs.

Heelers don't like strangers period they don't trust strangers my Red Heeler is 2 now he has been socialize since his birth and still is wary of strangers or people petting him. Once he gets to know you he is fine...Heelers are not for the timid, They are stubborn and hard headed. I have a German Shepard and American Staffordshire Terrier or Pit and they were nowhere near as hard to train. They are big babies really and can't stand to be away from you, whoever said they aren't one person dog has not had one long enough. It's a bond that is crazy sometimes. He has to be touching you or the other dogs when we're sitting or driving They really don't like their feet touched either. The best part of him he is so funny and has no boundaries with the other dogs they tolerate him though. The worst is a Heelers bark sometimes it's like a Chihuahua. It is high pitched and goes right up your spine if you're not expecting it. He is the smartest dog I've ever had. He learned to roll over in less than 2 min. I have to watch him around little kids even though he has been around them all his life. These dogs were bred for certain traits he reveals them at least wanted times....he is getting better with age BUT buyer beware they are a lot of work and devoted to you therefore you must reciprocate the love. Otherwise they will make you wish you had❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. P.S. They climb trees too hee hee

My Heeler is 9; I adopted him 8 years ago. He's always suffered from major fear aggression - wish I could get him to accept others, but just never have. Whisky is beautiful!

Blue Heelers are one of my favorite breeds along with Pits, German Shepherds, and Yellow Labs, happy to see one saved. All 4 are prone to boredom and that's usually when problems start. Sadly my Blue is 14 and has severe arthritis and can barely manage a walk to the end of the street and back, but he always wants to go and he won't even let the pit wear the saddle, no sir that's his job. (Saddle is a vest with bags that holds some water bottles, a fold down water bowl, and poo bags.) We used to go on hikes together, I want to start taking my puppy pit hiking to start getting him used to it, but I just can't knowing who would be at home wishing he was there. He still gets super excited when I get my gear out, even though he can't even jump into my truck anymore. Breaks my heart, but he will be with his brother soon (Y. Lab I lost 2 years ago after 16 great years.)

Heelers are tireless workers. They are loyal. They are serious and suspicious. We call them the fun police.

Seems like all this guy wanted was a job! Working breeds need to do something!

Good Job! Made me want to cry.

thats a great video I am so happy that you took the time a money to treat whisky I too have a blue heeler and he has issues he’s very very timid when I got him over a year ago he’s has gotten better but needs more attention Im trying my best I wii not give up on him

beautiful heeler!

My working dog is a heeler. He was a highly aggressive puppy and it took a lot of work to get him to grow up into a pleasant member of society. I'm quite glad he did though, he has turned into an excellent ranch hand.

I have a three year old male heeler not fixed. He has been aggressive one time at a dog park when he was on a leash and the other dogs were not. I panicked when he did it and the owner of the other dog told me to remove the leash and he would stop, as soon as I did he was fine and has never done it again. He's great with people never bites and loves to play. He works well with cattle and listens when you ask him to do something. When board he will drive our horse nuts not being aggressive just playing nipping at her heels and she just gives lazy kicks at him I can and do call him off easily. He has also been protective and a great alarm 2 times now he has alerted us to rattlesnakes the first was on the front porch the second up the road by our pens, both over 5'. He's very alert and comfortable with lots of people around I don't know what I'd do without him

My neighbor has trained my dog to bark because he teased her when I wasn't around as she was in the fenced backyard, and then he proceeded to yell at her after she did start to bark at him. I've finally taught her to ignore him but that was after telling him to quit harrassing my dog amongst other asshole neighbor things. She's a great dog just doing her job.

Cool looking dog.

Great video!

thank you for the video

Never give up

I've never seen or heard of an aggressive ACD or STCD untill now but I still havent seen :) Even mine bristles and snarls at people through the window or at strange sounds but if they get close in person she nearly wets herself and lays down to litteraly lick their shoes because she "loves" them so much.

good job!

Looks just like my Echo god rest her soul.

Anyone else notice the water in background was not moving even though it looked like waves??? Glad the dog is saved.

He needs some cattle to chase. Hundreds of years of breeding for that purpose. He is typical of many Blue Heelers. The same with a Border Collie or Kelpie. In Australia they are not agressive but they tend to go insane if confined to a backyard. They end up trying to round up the childrens toys out of boredom. Its obvious from many of there videos Breeders are by selective breeding taking some of these traits out of them for urban dwellers. Having grown up in Australia as a farm boy where there used to be lots of the true old Blues there is one thing you were always careful with a Blue to start with. Thats the true original Blue Heeler. I have found you have to be very firm with them. Show no fear and assert you are the Boss in the first minutes. Most of the ones I see in these videos have had a lot of the wary Wild Cattle Dog bred out of them. Better for an urban environment. How good they would be with wild cattle is another matter. Quiet cattle no problem. They are very loyal to there owners. My brother bought one very well trained Blue once from the RSPCA. He disappeared after 2 weeks. Finally he got a call from the RSPCA. He was found wandering the street where his previous owners lived 6 weeks later. They had moved. How he did that is a miracle. About 37mile away. When he got him back and gave him plenty of attention for 2 weeks after that he was fine and friendly and happy. Still a long time to adjust to a new owner. Some breeds will do it in days.

I adopted a 2 year old, beautiful half border collie and Australian Shepard, Moose. He was so aggressive that he killed my cat and put my best friends dog in the hospital. I had to take him back to the shelter and he was murdered. I hate that it happened, I loved Moose and he was perfect when it was just me and him. I will never get over his loss even though I had him for just 7 days. I am so glad that Whisky could be saved.

There are many informative videos on youtube, like this. BUT the music used is unnecessary and distracting and masks the message intended. To make video good, does not mean automatically adding music to them. Music has a place and does not fit in many situations and subject. Thanks for the attention.

Australian Cattle Dogs are protective by nature. They are very close with their owner and will protect him at all cost.

Hi Jeff, we have a blue heeler named Hank. He is wonderful, smart, sweet, loving, easy to train, and loves to play frisbee. He is neutered and almost 3 years old. We adopted him when he was 6 months old. Perhaps the cutest dog in the world and he immediately won us over. He had some destructive tendencies at first, just because he had been left in a yard with no interaction and thought everything was a toy. We worked him out of that and he is great in the house. He doesn't destroy anything, loves his interactive toys, and doesn't have any issues with separation anxiety when we are gone or excessive barking. He has, however, become very insecure. We fully accept that he is a shadow dog, and I think I encouraged this behavior too much. We are working to create distance so that he feels he doesn't have to guard or protect me all the time. We know that he isn't aggressive, just insecure. When we walk on lead, he does not like people or dogs in his space or near us. He will lunge at someone if they get too close. This really concerns me. We haven't figured out how to convey that there is no danger and that there is no need for him to guard us. When people first come into the house, he is very scared of them. He will bark to warn us, so we tell them to just ignore him and we make sure not to pet him or let him sit too close to encourage the fear. I know that we are the problem, but I am just at a loss as to how to help him become less fearful. I don't want him to ever hurt anyone out of a sense that he has to protect us and I don't want him to live in an insecure world. We try to get him plenty of mental and physical exercise, though it never seems like it's enough with a heeler. We try to do trick training every day and we do walks, parks, lots of frisbee and ball time, and car rides to get him out whenever we can. I know I have shared a lot, but we need some help. We worked with a trainer for weeks, and Hank would never relax enough to trust her. He was so cautious of her that she wasn't able to gain his trust or get anywhere with him. We don't go to dog parks anymore because he seems to hate having so many dogs around. He loves other dogs, but too many at one time just overwhelms him. He won't separate from us and just chases other dogs away. When we go in the dog park, all he wants to do is play with us and fetch a ball or a frisbee. Maybe the dog park isn't for us, but I hate for him to miss out on those social experiences with other dogs if we are doing something wrong. Any advice would be helpful! Thank you for listening ;)

Hal said that's what they said about my friend

Great video! I have a rescue heeler mix who the behaviorist basically said is Aspergers-like. We've been working with games like fetch and whatnot to boost his confidence. It's helping but he went after a dog today who went for his ball. (he also has fear aggression towards intact males but this wasn't the case today). He just scared him off today to let him know to leave him alone, but this is the first time it's happened. Is this a normal side effect of new-found confidence?

aaaaaahh, k. makes more sense now.

Loyal, listening dog, is confused by 2 handlers. But he's trying to 'get' the concept sweet thing.

Many self titled trainers think aggressive domination is the way to deal with high drive dogs like the ACD. They will push back when you push them hard and it becomes habit. I have one with submissive aggression tendencies and I've found that when I calm the situation instead of forced domination, the dog settles down and seeks my approval. All dogs personalities are different like people.

I have a blue heeler, she is very protective but not agressive unless someone does something

That's what they said about my red healer. He was a feral dog living in the woods up in lake abaque until he was brutally attacked by Wolves or coyotes. The dog catcher finally caught him after a year chasing him around. They brought him to the dog pound where he was attacked by pit bulls Rottweilers other large dogs until other day where he couldn't take anymore at which point he completely snapped started attacking everything and everyone. But he was just a scared little dog.. he was scheduled to be put down until I got there. They tried to talk me into other dogs but after hearing his story I said no I'm taking that dog right there. when they told me he was scheduled for death I got a tear in my eye.. I said no you're not killing that dog the dog is a f****** Survivor I don't care what you see I'm taking him peroid. They told me he's going to buy it he will bite you he's crazy I said listen b**** I don't give a f*** I'm crazy too and put that f****** dog in my truck cuz I'm taking him home you're not killing that dog!!!! Eventually after a lot of talk and a little intimidating. They put them in my truck and we drove off. He bit me actually bit me a lot. attacks my brother every time he seen him. But that was a good thing. I hand fed him for a month or two. he ended up biting me in the face and I shot him with my 45.. just kidding he's the best I've ever had now I take him everywhere I go with me we've traveled across the country he totally friendly except for with big dogs he loves everyone except for my brother he still bites him and he doesn't really like black people but other than that he's the best I've ever had

If a blue heeler is aggressive, then it's probably because they're bored & pissed off due to a lack of exercise from their lazy ass owner.

I have a 12 year old cairn terrier who is still active, a male. his sister passed away a few months ago, another cairn terrier. thinking of another cairn or a blue heeler. we have 2 sons... 5 and 9. looking at a heeler puppy.

interesting video, I also have Australian Cattle Dog in Russia, I want to just teach!

Well.. what was he like before?

I have a 6 month old blue heeler. Great dog except at off leash parks,not every time 1 in 5 visits,he gets aggressive with more submissive dogs. And when my daughter who is 9 has friends over ,he is aggressive with them. Never with adults. I'm calm with him and still socialize him lots. Any suggestions?

I have a bule Queensland heeler just like that but he's not aggressive and he's my life he follows me that's what I do but the one thing I want him to do is protect me against from humans because he can protect me from dogs but not human so can you do a video on how to get your blue card in healer to be aggressive to humans when they come near you

Hi i have a blue healer to it is so cute and loves to play one time she jumped on my head and started playing with me when i was in bed her name is pepper

Where was the aggression?

Well done Jeff, I have a Deaf bluey and when I walk him he goes off his tree when anyone walks towards me, any tips on rectifying this trait, other than that he is very good Any help would be much appreciated.

the music and wind drown you out ... other than that..good work with saving his dog!

I have an intact, blue heeler, he was nippy, snarly, etc... until I bought him one of those thunder shirts that swaddles him. Since I got him the shirt, he has stopped itching all the time, stopped breaking out in I guess hives, etc... Now he just likes to sleep and relax.

Mine is aggressive bad :(

Hey Jeff, you got an email address or website I can have a look at or shoot you a message

In the first part about the stranger at the fence issue, wouldn't giving him treats create a false sense that all people at the fence have treats and could be dangerous? I an only asking because I an new to training. If you could explain I would appreciate it. Ty for the video very cool

Jeff Hallam, we have a 9 weeks old mix blue heeler and border colie, he is amazing. We have a 2 years old daughther and a 7 years old boy. He is good with the 2 years old, some times he gets a little excited, but the big problem is with our 7 years old son. Toby bites my son all the time, they play ball a lots, and run, but soon as my son stop he will bite, he will rip my sons clothes. We love the dog, please help us!! My English is not good, sorry

thats sad

I'm on my second cattle dog. Both have had the typical aggressive/hard headed tendencies. I was able to train both to be very obedient, non aggressive dogs without using treats (and show their tricks for company). I noticed in your vid you kept feeding Whiskey treats. My question is why do you use food and would you have been able to get Whiskey under control without rewarding with food? Not doubting or questioning your techniques, just curious and looking for information on why food is used versus other techniques. Thanks and nice work training that heeler.

Hi Jeff, I have 2 blue heelers, they are very excitable when the doorbell rings or someone knocks at the door. Once I let the person in they're usually excitable for a few minutes then they are totally fine. any idea's to help calm my boys when they get excited? Any advice is appriciated! thanks!

There are no bad dogs only stupid owners..

That times is many times better than my dog same breed and is female

this dog doesnt seem reactive or aggressive at alll, from the start, even before you worked with him...so what exaclty was his problem? this looks like a video of you meeting a calm dog, giving him some treats, then walking around with him (while hes already calm) and getting him to come, sit, etc....so wheres the actual behavior modification part? lol...i cant believe any trainer would say "put down". they probably werent really a trainer. do you have any "before" footage?

My gosh guys. Stop with the "my dog is aggressive, please help" comments. First, exercise your dog. No, that does not mean going for a couple 20-minute walks a day. At least two half-hour sessions of running HARD like playing frisbee, ball, etc in addition to daily walks. Give him mental stimulation. Get puzzle toys and Kongs. Do a LOT of training with him. Rally-o and agility classes are great. If you work all day, come home, feed the dog and flop down on the couch for the rest of the day, you are a terrible dog owner. Get a goldfish.

Can any 1 tell me how I know my dog is a blue Heeler. He doesnt have the white layer like this one. He is back with some brown spots and a little white

my female adores strangers - I'm afraid she will jump into a strange vehicle and I'll lose her. So we watch like a hawk. She particularly loves the UPS man who gives her treats. Other dogs other than the one she lives with? Not so much love there unfortunately.

I got a blue healer and he is The meekest dog on planet earth ! And I got him On Craig list ! Some sorry dumb Ass cut off his tail Before I got him ! His name is Ruger ! And he-is smart as a whip ! Maybe to Smart ! I have to put the gate lock up High or he will take it The last time I went outside the yard he took it when I hung it on the gate and I told him Ruger you lock Thief I want it back and he went and got it !

I see an Episode of "Dead Dog Walking" - something is seriously wrong here. This is never ever the result of "purely positive methods". Impossible! To mee it looks more like "learned helplessness" - very, very sad indeed.

I love my boy to pieces and he's wonderful but he is so terrible with other dogs

Screw the music.......More commentary on your techniques......All I got out of this was seeing a guy and his dog.

i hate that dockter even though that doctor says that dog should be to sleep that is rude rude

To much booze she can't handle it

The swelling, dramatic music is not necessary to get the message across. It's a distraction and no need to muster sympathy. Feeling sorry for a troubled dog does not help it. Helping it does.

Leave blues in Australia that's where they were originally bred also r ed dog leave the buggers here if u cannot handle them leave em alone An Aussie u can't train then as ordinary dogs they 2 aggressive