Hello Everyone, I'm new to the group. I've been "lurking" for a few months. Thought I would introduce myself. I've made a few posts. I started my subscription to "Countryside" magazine about the same time I found this site and backordered many of the older issues. My name is Bart. I live in S.C. My wife and I raise goats, cattle, pigs, chickens, geese, rabbits, Australian Cattle Dogs, horses, cats, vegetables and hay. We have a small farm of our own and one with my parents. I work a full-time job (Civil Engineering) off the farm and I have another part-time job on Saturdays (Surveying). My wife and I have one daughter and are expecting twins in December. Thanks for letting me say "Hello."

Bart

-- Bart (Dominickwb@dot.state.sc.us), October 30, 2001

Answers

Response to Hello

Welcome ! email me off forum I would like to know more about your acd's.I have 1 now and would like another.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Welcome!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi Bart and family, Welcome to the forum. :-D

-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi Bart , and welcome. If you need advice on the twins let me know. Mine have reached the ripe old age of 13! Gone through the stitches and broken bones and they are now starting to settle down ( I think). Mine are identical boys, do you know what you and the wife are expecting? Good luck with them, you will sure need it!

-- Carol Koller (ckoller@netsync.net), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hey Bart, Boy, do you sound busy. lol What kind of goats? Welcome to you and yours. Stay safe, Iris

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi Bart,we have twins too! identical girls who are 2 we also have 2 other daughters 5and 4 so if your haveing girls I have enough cloths to last you all a life time. Nice to meet you .

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hello Bart, What part of South Carolina do you live? I was born in Mullins, SC and lived in Galviants Corner (west of Myrtle Beach). My wife (Melitza) was born in Charlestown, SC. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi and welcome!, How long have you had the ACD's ? I have 2, one is the sick pup, in the sore tummy thread, Their personalities are perplexing to me, they are the first dogs I've ever had that making momma happy is not their top priority, I can tell them 14 times not to do it, as soon as I leave the room they go for it again, when I get on to them they let out a LOUD sigh/groan and roll their eyes up as they turn their face away, and they will look back at me over the shoulder, like saying "You ruin all my fun", my children don't have the nerve to do that! So, I like to hear about others experience with them.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Welcome! I have 10 year old girl/boy twins. :-) I am expecting #6 next June. I also raise goats, chickens, geese, rabbits, & the occasional calf or two. This is a great place for information!

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi Bart!!! and welcome..You have come to the right place. Everyone here has been so helpful and fun..I am sure you will like it. Congratulations on the twins coming soon. Sounds like there are lots of parents of twins here for advice...that will be fun!!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Hi Bart and family welcome to the forum. you will like this place.Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), October 30, 2001.

Response to Hello

Welcome Bart

Isn't South Carolina the most beautiful state!! I live just west of Myrtle Beach also. My DH works in Myrtle Beach, and I get to stay home here in the country and take care of our animals and land. You sound like us... lots of animals, tending the land, and loving every minute of it. You will enjoy this forum, the people here are wonderful and so willing to be of help in answering all kinds of questions.

-- Carol Garber (plantlady51@webtv.net), October 30, 2001.

Fabulous! We also own ACD's (3 rescues).....they're wonderful dogs (for the right home of course).

-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), October 31, 2001.

welcome... I have only been here about 3 weeks and like it loads. We have had Austrialin Shepards for years. Are they the same as ASD?

-- Lynnda (venus@zeelink.net), October 31, 2001.

oops.....ACD

-- Lynnda (venus@zeelink.net), October 31, 2001.

Welcome Bart, man, you sure sound busy these days. My wife is pregnant too (due in late March), so I am on hormone alert already. Hope you learn (and teach) from the forum as much as I have.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 31, 2001.

Hello and welcome! What I want to know is how does your wife handle the farm chores while you're working (and she's pregnant with twins!)? We have a dozen sheep, 2 dozen chickens, 3 dogs (2 Australian Cattle dogs), 5 farm cats and a 4 1/2 year old boy. My husband is starting a new job next week where he'll be travelling a lot and I'll be doing the daily chores myself. I'm fortunate enough to be self employed and work at home, but can't imagine how I'm going to get it all done with the added chores, especially with winter coming up (not looking forward to the cold weather!). Please tell your wife I'm interested in a post from her also.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

Australian shepards are more of a collie type, very good for sheep and in general more friendly, the cattle dogs harder in very way, heavier skulls so they can take kicks better than most dogs, and are often too rough with small livestock, I saw a program on animal planet (tv) about a man useing cattle dogs instead of ranch hands, he said the dogs (his anyway) are not like pet dogs, they don't like to hang out with people, they work with him and at the end of the days work they go off to themselves, they would take comands/praise for work, but didn't interact with the family after hours. He man said something to the effect that the dogs were employees, not pets.

I've had lots of different kinds of dogs, these have been the hardest for me to train or work with, they MUST have something to do, and I still....(what is the word I need)....shocked?....at how much they act like cats. I've had these since March, they are now 10 months old and have settled down alot, they are much more compliant as they age, and the one that has been sick likes me more than before he became ill, before he was obvious in his perferance for men, he would do what my husband or oldest son told him, and play with them, but his body language to me was like 'what nerve you have talking to me' We get along much better now.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

oops,..I forgot to direct that to Lynnda, the dogs started barking at something outside and I got a little rattled.....they are so loud!

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.

ACD's not wanting to hang out with people? Wow....that's a shock! Most ACD's are velcro dogs and can't get enough of people....particularly their owners. I can't even go in to the bathroom without a line of three ACD's behind me! They do tend to be wary of strangers however (most of them anyway) and they MUST be raised with a firm hand (not heavy.....but fair and firm). If you don't obedience train your cattledog then you're in for a LONG, ROCKY road ahead (that's why there are SO many of them in shelters!)as they are very dominant dogs and will rule the house if you let them.

No, they're nothing like Australian Shephards....first of all, Australian Shephards (also called Aussies) are an American breed, not an Australian breed. Australian Cattle Dogs (also known as ACD's, Blue Heelers, Red Heelers or Queensland Heelers ) truely originated from Australia and even include some Dingo in their bloodlines. They are tough herders (bred to herd the semi-feral australian range cattle) and can sometimes be to harsh on smaller stock. They are also very intelligent and independent thinkers.....hence, part of the reason they MUST be trained to respond to commands....if you don't direct them in life they'll direct themselves, and believe me......you DON'T want that! They are also VERY high energy and have a very high tolerance for pain (I've heard of several dogs that have continued performing in Agility or Herding even after a terrible injury without showing ANY signs of pain so the owner never knew until MUCH later there was anything wrong!) so they need LOTS of exercise and need to be watched carefully for injury.

We have our three rescued ACD's but have dealt with MANY in the past too as we've done a lot of rescue and fostering. They're not the dog for everyone, but if you have the time and patience for them then there's no better dog in the world!

-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), October 31, 2001.

Oh yeah.....also forgot.....ACD's are also known for a screeching, earth-shattering bark (or scream in some cases!). Not all of them have it, but believe me....if you have one that does have it you'll know!

-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), October 31, 2001.

Our daughter and family live in Lexiongton SC. Son-in-law in the army at Fort Jackson. They live off base though. Any where near you all ?? We just came back from a visit with them and the weather was wonderful compared to the mountains of PA. Great to have you in the "family".

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), October 31, 2001.

Thanks everyone for "stopping by" to say hello. I hope I was able to say "hello" back to everyone. Thanks again.

Bart

-- Bart (Dominickwb@dot.state.sc.us), November 01, 2001.

Welcome, Bart.

Lisa just about summed up Australian Cattle Dogs (at least the ones we have in Australia). They are called Blue Heelers (or Red Heelers, depending on the colour of the "ticking" that they have over a basic grey colour - blue marl or rusty red) because they bite at cattle's heels. Note that - it's basic - they BITE. It's how they get cattle to move - snap at their heels, drop flat to avoid the kick, then up and snap again while the beast's leg is overextended - the beast WILL move to get away from this sort of attack. This is what tends to make them too rough for smaller stock unless really thoroughly trained - if they snap at a sheep they can get a result that makes older wilder instincts click in, and you REALLY REALLY don't want that.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 01, 2001.