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| Name: |
Abby
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Age: |
Eleven years old
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| Gender: |
Female |
Breed: |
Australian Cattle Dog
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| Home: |
Texas, USA |
This is Abby. She is my third "Blue Heeler." After my second one passed away at the age of 15.5, I waited about 8 months before I couldn't stand not having a Heeler around the house. I looked on Craig's list and found a woman offering up pups for a reasonable adoption fee. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a puppy mill or a professional breeder, but someone looking for homes for "excessive pups".
I talked to her and she went looking on Craig's list for one Heeler, but ended up with two during the transaction, a male and female (long story). The seller assured her that the female had been spayed. But ooops! He didn't exactly tell the truth and the woman ended up with the Daddy as well as the Mommy. Most of the pups had a distinct triangle black patch on the their side that the male Heeler had as well.
When I called, I asked if she still had her tail. No, the woman said quite pleased, she'd already had them snipped. Gah! For those of you who don't know, Australian Cattle Dogs should NEVER have their tails docked - but old wives tales or old (BAD) habits get spread and some people take their pups in the day after they are born to have them snipped! I almost declined to proceed from getting a pup from this woman, but then I thought that it wasn't the pup's fault that a human made a dumb decision to snip their tails - so why punish the pup by not adopting it?
So, we drove out to the country where the woman lived and took a look at the litter of puppies. Mom and Dad Heeler were there, which is always good and they seemed even tempered to me. Our two children were used to two female Heelers that were older (about 13 years) when our kids came into our lives. I told the woman to suggest a pup that was more mellow. So, we ended up with Abby.
Well, Abby is a Heeler minus some characteristics. First, she's very, very aloof. She won't up to strangers, but she won't go into Alert! Danger! Defend! mode either. When let into the house with strangers, she'll go by them, then look to see where I am. And if all is cool, look to see where I want her to go - mostly upstairs to the master bedroom to lay down on her bed.
As with many Heelers, she's a one-owner dog. And I am her only concern. She follows me around, but if her sister Heeler Pepper is following me around, then she'll stay back in reserve. Unless .... I'm petting Pepper than she trots over and demands equal, jealous petting. Speaking of petting, she's not too interested in being petted other than by me. For me, she'll lay down and show her belly. For others, including my wife and kids, a pat on the head is allowed, but that's it. Don't get all over me!
She is somewhat scared of stairs, especially slippery polished wood steps. She can be a chow hound who would prefer to steal from her sister's bowl, if given the opportunity, rather than eat from her own. She has a week bladder, which means letting her out between 2:00 - 4:30 am about half the time each week. But, she is always looking to make sure I'm okay and that I know she loves me, so there's that. Enjoy the pictures of my Blue Heeler Abby, named after Abby Cadabby of Sesame Street.
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