10-03-2024, 01:55 PM
Our current herd is an ACD and an Australian Shepard, though I raised and trained Labrador gun dogs for many years (x-trained for upland and waterfowl). My last Lab passed a couple years back.
ACD's are one of the smartest breeds like the Border's. Exquisitely smart and probably the fastest dog I've ever seen. Never saw a dog literally run down a jackrabbit before until the ACD. Ran right over the thing on a dead sprint; neither one of them knew what happened. We joke though that the ACD only blows his coat twice per year...six months in the spring, and six months in the fall!
Both the ACD and the Shepard are herders, and that works for us with the cattle. The ACD is a 'heeler' and the Shepard is a 'header', and they know how to work as a team. They're getting up there now in age, so slowing down a little, but when they were younger rabbits were no match for them as a team. The ACD would give chase from the rear, and the Shepard would vector across the circular distance on an angle and snag the rabbit on a crossing course. Instant lunch!
ACD's are one of the smartest breeds like the Border's. Exquisitely smart and probably the fastest dog I've ever seen. Never saw a dog literally run down a jackrabbit before until the ACD. Ran right over the thing on a dead sprint; neither one of them knew what happened. We joke though that the ACD only blows his coat twice per year...six months in the spring, and six months in the fall!
Both the ACD and the Shepard are herders, and that works for us with the cattle. The ACD is a 'heeler' and the Shepard is a 'header', and they know how to work as a team. They're getting up there now in age, so slowing down a little, but when they were younger rabbits were no match for them as a team. The ACD would give chase from the rear, and the Shepard would vector across the circular distance on an angle and snag the rabbit on a crossing course. Instant lunch!
