Australian Cattle Dogs (ACDs) (Heelers) are known for being independent "velcro dogs" that prefer to be near their chosen person rather than traditional lap cuddling, often showing affection through proximity, leaning, or nudging, but some individuals, especially when tired or young, can be snuggly, though they typically dislike being restrained or overly handled. It's a breed-specific trait; while many aren't big snugglers, they are intensely loyal and want to be involved in everything their owner does.
While their first love is any kind of activity, the Australian Cattle Dog is equally devoted to family, sometimes choosing one family member as her person and following that person everywhere, a trait that has earned ACDs the nickname "velcro dogs." ACDs cherish spending time with people and should not be left alone ...
1. Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds around, and part of the reason for this is the affectionate personality common to the breed. They're known for being loving and loyal, but they're also very smart dogs, making them quite easy to train.
ACDs do prefer a single person, but if others actively walk them, play with them, feed them, give treats, do tricks and training, etc. the dog will realize their day doesn't have to suck while you're gone...it will realize that maybe its number one person is gone, but these other ppl are cool too.
Australian Cattle Dogs bond closely with their owners, once the owners have earned it, and become remarkably loyal companions. For this reason, they do not like to be left alone for hours at a time. They are protective of their family and property.
Australian cattle dogs are known to be good at protecting their territory and humans. In Australia, they were used to keep the herders, their horses, and property safe. The Australian cattle dog was bred to be a quick decision-maker. This dog breed is a general-purpose dog.
Top 11 Dog Breeds That Are Extra Clingy
The 3-3-3 rule is a roadmap for the first three days, three weeks, and three months after pet adoption. It emphasizes patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement to help pets acclimate to their new environment.
The Australian Cattle Dog gets along with other dogs in his household, especially if he's been raised with them from puppyhood. However, because he is so devoted to one person in a family, there can be jealousy or squabbles between the Australian Cattle Dog and other dogs.
Dogs say "sorry" through submissive body language like tucking their tail, lowering their head, making "puppy eyes," licking, and rolling onto their backs to show they're not a threat, which are appeasement signals to diffuse tension after a conflict or misbehavior, often combined with whining or approaching and retreating. They recognize when their human (or another dog) is upset and use these signs to seek forgiveness, though it's more about reducing stress than human-like guilt.
Dog Breeds Most Likely to Bite
The "heartbreak breed" typically refers to the Great Dane, nicknamed this due to their loving nature combined with a significantly shorter lifespan (around 7-10 years) and predisposition to serious heart issues like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Other breeds, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, are also called "heartbreak" dogs because of high cancer risks, while some owners find giant breeds or those with specific conditions, like Cavaliers and Pugs (heart issues), or Irish Wolfhounds (DCM), heartbreaking due to their health and mortality, despite their sweet disposition.
Cattle Dogs are good watch dogs, and enjoy human companionship. They have high exercise needs, and are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. Australian Cattle Dogs have a life span of 12-13 years.
Also called sudden onset aggression, rage syndrome is a neurological disorder, not a temperament defect or training/socialization problem. Affected dogs go into a kind of seizure that makes them attack anyone or anything that happens to be in the vicinity.
Saint Bernards are one of the very calmest dog breeds—which explains how they stay cool, calm, and collected during the avalanche search-and-rescue missions they're known for. These chill dogs are often called “nanny dogs” because of their affinity for children.
Always watchful, these dogs show a devotion to duty and can be protective of their owners and possessions. Whilst they have an independent streak, they respond well to structured training, particularly if it's interesting and challenging. They thrive when they have a job to do.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
The seven second rule. Put the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it for seven seconds, it is too hot to walk for your dogs. This rule also applies to dogs riding in the bed of a pickup truck.
The time it takes for a dog to adjust to a new home can vary from one dog to another. Normally, it takes 2-3 weeks for a dog to adjust to a new home, but it can take up to 3 months for them to fully adjust behaviourally.
1 – Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are friendly fur babies that are great with children and are happy to say hello to anyone they meet.
A red flag dog behavior signals deep fear, stress, or potential aggression, going beyond normal misbehavior, and includes intense growling/snapping without cause, sudden aggression in a calm dog, persistent hiding, resource guarding (food aggression), freezing, destructive behavior linked to separation anxiety, or signs of extreme anxiety like trembling, lip-licking, and tail-tucking, indicating underlying problems needing professional intervention.
The #1 smartest dog breed, consistently ranked by experts like Dr. Stanley Coren, is the Border Collie, known for its exceptional ability to learn commands quickly (sometimes in under five repetitions) and obey them consistently, excelling in problem-solving and demanding mental stimulation. Other top contenders for intelligence often include the Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Shetland Sheepdog, recognized for their trainability and eagerness to please.