Balderdash Australian Cattle Dog / Blue Heeler Stafford, VA

TO CONTACT THE FOSTER HOME, email myacdrafosters@gmail.com. DO NOT use the Petfinder form. Inquiries don't reach us.


Balderdash!

“Never underestimate the value of being a helluva guy.”

Balderdash a.k.a. “Bolder” isn’t just a helluva guy he’s a helluva good guy with a can-do attitude and a brilliant cattle dog grin. Unlike most cattle dogs he’s SUPER CHILL. He’s got spectacular house manners; he does not counter surf or get into the garbage (but anything that hits the floor is fair game). He loves activity but mostly at a leisurely pace. We get maybe five minutes of zoomies after work and then it’s slow & steady wins the race. He’s a big galoot, a bit of a klutz, and full on velcro, his foster Dad calls him “Hip Pocket.” He has a beautiful loose leash walk, prefers shorter (½ to a ¼ mile) daily walks supplemented with mental enrichment activities. He is willing to plod along on casually paced hikes that take half a day. He enjoys his crate and enthusiastically hops into it as soon as he hears the Greenies bag rustle. He’s been left alone, uncrated, for up to 8 hours at a time. He enjoys crashing on the couch while he waits for his person to come home from work.
Like most cattle dogs Bolder is super smart and he LOVES to learn new stuff and he’ll do ANYTHING for food. He knows Sit, Sit Pretty, Paw, High-Paw, Down, Wait/Stay, Leave It, Kennel, Place, Touch, Crawl and has a lovely recall. He’s learning Show-me-belly, heel off leash and Relax-on-the-Mat. He’s extremely responsive and attentive; he’ll watch and respond to your body language. He bonds closely with his family, likes to cuddle on the couch and sleep by you at night. The explosive joy and delight Bolder exhibits when you come home from work will turn your worst day into the best evening. Bolder loves all people but most especially HIS people. He’s devoted and constantly shows how wonderfully awesome he thinks you are. He embodies pure joy and love.

Unfortunately, Bolder is obviously terrified by dogs he doesn’t know. He becomes extremely tense, he barks, lunges, growls and pulls at his leash. If the strange dog gets too close he will turn, grab his leash and attempt to wrench it away from his handler. If not properly managed he would probably attack an unknown dog. I have been working with Bolder and he is making great progress. When exposed to strange dogs he will turn towards me. We use “touch” repeatedly to redirect his attention and his reactions are steadily improving. I control the amount of exposure and I do not allow strange dogs close to him. I am confident that if Bolder finds owners willing to work with him, protect him, and give him enough time, he can be brought to a point where he can safely walk into a vet’s office or PetSmart. He’ll probably never want to meet strange dogs or play at the dog park but being a barky, lungy, scared, angry dog is not who he truly is or wants to be. It’s just what he felt he had to do to protect himself. His forever parent(s) must be willing and able to help him with this.

That being said, with very slow introductions he gets along brilliantly with easy going dogs. We took just over a week integrating him into our home. He plays beautifully with his foster brother and foster sister; there isn’t the slightest trace of aggression between them. They share toys, curl up together, and even share food. They willingly take turns getting treats.

He’s a little shakier with the cats. He’d likely chase a cat that runs from him, especially outside. He seems mostly okay with mine. Balderdash is a little more in-your-face with the friendly cat and has learned it’s best to avoid the not-so-friendly one. At almost 60 lbs, even if he’s just playing, he could easily hurt a timid kitty.

Balderdash is 6 years old, neutered, up-to-date on all vaccinations, and microchipped. He weighs almost 60 lbs but needs to shed about 10 of those. He comes with medical records dating back to mid 2017. Bolder needs a relaxed family willing to bond and work with him. Because he can be fear-aggressive, he will not be adopted to a family with small children. He’s being fostered in Northern Virginia. If you have questions regarding Balderdash please contact his foster mom at myacdrafosters@gmail.com.

If you are interested in adopting Bolder please submit an application here: https://www.acdra.org/adoption-application