ACDs are incredible dogs. I've had them for 20 years but please, PLEASE don't get one if you live in an apartment. It's not fair on the dog. These are high drive, highly intelligent, high energy working dogs. They need room and a job to do to be happy. They are hard headed, incredibly loyal and form bonds with their owners like no breed I've come across but they were bred and developed to work all day without tiring unless you are around all day to give an ACD mental and physical stimulation then please be fair to the dog and look at a different breed.. A lot of people are recommending them to you but I'm not sure if they have actual experience.

I hope one day you get one - you'll never change breeds again lol. Just make sure you are thinking about the dog as much as you're thinking about yourself

I rent but I don't live in an apartment. I rent condos and houses with yards and I keep very busy with my dogs. Pretty much the same as somebody having a house they own except I have to follow things like breed restrictions, no permanent alterations, etc.

Think I'd be okay? I see people do it and manage just fine as long as the dog is treated like a second job.

I know of several people who have Border Collies in apartments. One even ran a BC rescue out of her apartment. It can work fine *IF* you're dedicated It wouldn't be my first choice of accomodations but if that was my option then I'd absolutely still have high energy herding breeds.

Sorry, my mistake, for some reason I thought you were in an apartment. If you have a yard and are a busy person then I'd say go for it - but be warned these little dingo dogs will get so deep into your heart that you will be forever lost

Mine has a show career coming up but when he's old enough he's going into herding too.

They have very few health issues but before you commit make sure your breeder checks for BEAR hearing on all puppies and that the dog is a "normal" carrier for eyes.

Then hold on for the best ride of your life

Danna - most people commenting on this thread do have experience with that type of dog and do generally concur with you when the poster is unknown. But since Cathy is a long time poster with dog experience and headed to get more then I'm certainly comfortable recommending the breed. I have had Border Collies for 14 years now. Two have been from cattle working lines.

Sorry again . I thought you we're talking about Border Collies and I was discussing Australian Cattle Dogs. After being around both breeds for many years I don't see too much similarity when it comes to disposition and personality.
Sorry, my bad, I didn't realize we were both talking about Heelers

Danna- I can certainly understand someone assuming that "rent" means apartment.

Went to check out some ACD pups tonight. I found them after realizing that most people in my area call them heelers. Couldn't figure out why the heck I couldn't find any breeders before. I knew we had them in the area.

I like the parents. Dad in particular is pushy but responsive to direction. Mom is a bit softer but has nice energy and visible prey drive. The pups had just had a meal and were pretty much settling in for a nap when I got there so I got to spend some time hanging out with the parents while the pups snoozed. The litter over all doesn't really strike me as anything special except for one little guy. He was scrambling all over the landscaping and taking on mom and dad even after being accidentally run over a few times by his dad. Nothing seemed to phase him. I also watched him follow a footstep to footstep track for about 8 feet when the kids ran in to get their jackets. The kids dropped something metal on the concrete porch and he didn't even do much of a startle. Just headed over to investigate with ears and tail up. I'm impressed by the little guy.

The breeder though? Icky. They quite happily sold a guy a pup and let him take it home that day. These pups are 5.5 weeks old. The guy brought a dog owning friend who says he'll help him with the pup but he admitted that it was his first dog. To give the breeder some credit he did talk to the buyer about chewing, ankle nipping, and the high energy. He said that both of their dogs were very challenging to live with as puppies until about two years old. He also told the guy if they have problems to bring the puppy back. No questions asked and they will take it back. The breeder is willing to hold on to a pup for me to let it be with a litter longer but clearly doesn't really see the point. He follows the old belief that if they're weaned they're ready to go. The breeder doesn't strike me as someone who is doing things like letting pups go too early to make money but rather because of simple ignorance. They are "ready to go" in time for Christmas so I know the pups will get sold irregardless of whether the money comes out of my pocket or someone else's.

One of my Mom's rescue contacts is putting the word out so I'm going to give it a few days to see what he can come up with anyway.

Do you think the poor quality of the breeder makes this pup an absolute no? I really liked his temperament and how stable he seemed. Watching him track was cool.

Look hard at the sire and dam. Backyard breeders do not necessarily have poor stock, not at all.
If the sire and dam are succeeding as pets, that's what you want. If the sire and dam and pups can be in the house with kids that says something. That's the old-timey way to pick a pup, pick a pup from a litter where you like the parents.

In the modern world quality breeders are testing elbows, deafness, eyes, hips etc and the dogs they own come from dogs tested this way and selected to be trouble free. Maybe you can't pay for all of that---but it does offer some guarantees of less problems down the line. If the owners show in conformation or obedience or anything temperament is selected, you can't show a mean or fearful dog successfully.

If you buy from a farm where the dogs work all day and have little contact with people, live outside, etc you'll get more dog than works in a pet home. Some ACDs are real farm dogs who work without direction and never come indoors. If either the sire or dam are "mean", forget it.

I personally think males are easier, less "chippy".

Ingrid Rosenquist on this forum has some of the best ACDs in the country. She could offer you great advice on what to look for.

Tough one. The one pup sounds like he's showing nice confidence but personally, I would still pass. I want to buy from a breeder who is working to maintain or improve the breed they have instead of just producing puppies. That said, it could be a nice litter and a nice pup but with so unknowns and a breeder who is sending them out so young then I'd look further. The early weeks are pretty crucial to developing good dog manners and bite inhibition so I'd want a pup to stay with the dam and other pups until 7 w/o min and ideally closer to 8 w/o.

I'm heading back over today to take another look at the pups. I'm bringing a soft fleece tug with me. I had it yesterday but forgot it in the car. The breeder said he was willing to keep my pup with the litter for another week or so but if he's selling the rest of the litter that becomes kind of a moot point so I want to see how many pups are left.