Callanish Heeler

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Callanish Heeler

Dog Behaviour Studies and Naturally Rearing Breeder This page is about the beauty of the Australian Cattle Dog - or Blue or Red Heeler.

Litters may be available - please inquire.

12/03/2024

Caramel - last man standing.
9 weeks old and looking for his new whanau.
He is a happy go lucky chappy with a sense of humor.
Stunning boy, inside out.

photo of parents in comments.
Moppelke and Novak

12/03/2024

Mint - last girl standing
9 weeks old now and looking for her new family.
She has s***k but is also extremely smart, great focus and willingness to learn.
A real gem

parents are Moppelke and Novak (photo in comments)

10/03/2024

Wallace & Ozzy

Two stunning boys I have bred.

Blue Wallace combines Australian pedigree lines (he is a grgrpup of Landmaster Memphis Blues) and a solid Hawkes Bay working line.

Red Ozzy has the same Hawkes Bay working line in him, with the red coming down from my late foundation Lady Minch ...and Bruce.
His grandsire is Hank who proves to be an amazing working dog and a stunning dog all over on top of it.

So, these two Heelers represent 4 generations of dogs I had and still have here.

They make me proud❤💙

08/03/2024

Family photos
Mom Moppelke watching over her kids inside. Granny Cusco in stoic sentinel position outside... and Dad Novak having a quick sheepish peek at his brood... stared at byMoppelke ... and back again to his bone.
❤

07/03/2024

Dangling the carrot🥕🥕🥕

'Happy' with full focus and patiently waiting...and then this sister sneaks in from the side. How annoying

Dont you worry... Happy got her carrot in the end🙂

07/03/2024

The remaining puppies are now 8 weeks old and it has gone quiet with 3 bundles of mischief already homed.
Caramel is making up for it.
Today he was a massive pest and like an overtired toddler - couldnt stop annoying his siblings.
[videos in comments]
Wee Chocolate hid behind a pile of rags and went to sleep. He had enough of this silly brother. Lime watched his antics with a puzzled look and lamely took part. Only redhead Mint teased him around a bit.
After 20 min of this clapping monkey spell - he all of a sudden dropped to his side and instantly fell asleep.
I think I heard 3 deep sighs from the others.

Red Caramel and Red Mint are still unspoken for.
They are two amazing little pups with big personalities

Send me a message if you would like more info about Caramel or Mint
💙💙
-----
[they are hearing tested and from pra tested parents, vet checked, vaccinated against parvo, wormed and were weaned onto raw meat with bone]

05/03/2024

Shared - food for thought

Veterinarian Dr Christina Chambreau:

“Our training was incomplete and confusing. We learned about long lasting immunity in immunology, but later in clinics were told to give yearly. We were not taught to learn and question – just to memorize.

“Since becoming an integrative veterinarian, I can say there is no disease that I have not connected to vaccines in certain animals. Behavior, asthma, autoimmune, cancer and tumors, skin, demodex, thyroid disorders, DM, DI, Addisons, Cushing’s, allergies, heart murmurs, lameness, a**l gland disorders, liver, pancreas, IBD, UTI, acute renal failure… I would say that the vaccines administered so frequently over the last few decades are the main cause of illness in our animals.

“Animal guardians are not being informed of recent studies and just follow recommendations without thinking for themselves and asking questions. Education is the key to changing how guardians, and then veterinarians, care for their animals.

“Like any profession, it is made up of individuals, mostly very caring people who believe their approach is the best. Some are just looking for money. Many are too busy to really think about new approaches. Since the internet, many are open to looking at alternatives. I had over 100 attend a holistic lecture at the local veterinary association and they were all very interested. A few followed through with more questions.

“I do think there are a lot of politics and lobbying by the manufacturers involved with the profession, as is true for most professions. The pharmaceutical industry promotes many vaccines and drugs of questionable efficacy or need, and it has too much influence in veterinary teaching. The government regulations are slow to change.

“The main cause of ill health in companion animals is a lack of understanding about the process of illness and healing, which leads to demand for quick fixes from drugs and vaccines. When people learn how to build up the immune system and how quick fixes and vaccines weaken the immune system, they begin to make different choices and find the veterinarians willing to support their choices.

“There is definitely an improvement in diet by many guardians, and more clients or public at large are realizing the benefits of the variety of healing methods available.”

---> indeed.

03/03/2024

Young Tui

Stunning young girl of nearly 6 months.

She has the very rare "seal" color.
Genetically a RED HEELER (Ay/at) with one gene for dominant black (KB/ky). And the factor for incomplete dominance for K.

Her mother Saguenay has the exact same combination. The father Creggan is a traditional Blue Heeler (with tan).

Tui is not a chocolate Heeler - (liver gene x2) - her nose leather is black.
Chocolate colored dogs have brownish noses.

The seal color is determined by one color gene plus incomplete dominance. When bred to a traditional red or blue Heeler - about half of the litter will be traditional looking reds and blues.
If they are used for breeding - the 'seal' is lost.
Seal is a dominant trait and cannot be carried.

What is often not understood is that the gene for red and blue (A locus) and the gene for dominant Black (K locus) sit on differend parts of the genes
Any trueblue (KB/-) still has the genes on A locus (red or blue). They are just covered over by the dominant black.

-----
further info to the parents of the litter to prevent spreading of misinformation.

Creggan, the Sire of the litter is 13 years old and obviously blind. He is pra/prcd affected and lost his vision a year ago. He is still the highest ranking male of the Clan.

Saguenay, the Dam, is 2 years old and pra/prcd clear (tested via Massey infogeneNZ). She is currently elevating from a young girl to the lead female.

All puppies of the litter are pra/prcd carrier. They have one normal gene (from mom) and one mutated gene (from dad).
The one normal gene is sufficient to keep the eysight until old age.
Unless other genetic defects like ie pll or pra/rcd4 would affect vision (both parents are full panel tested and clear for all other relevant diseases).

Saguenay and Creggan are not related - in case someone would like to query this.
Creggan is related to most of my dogs - yes - but Saguenay is a descendent from my foundation girl Minch and her line runs via Bruce to Hank-Belle, Joker-Chomp with Chomps parents Hui-Koda.

This pairing gave me one last chance to use Creggans genes for one last stunning litter of his.
He is now retired 💙

02/03/2024

Naturally Rearing Breeder

Means exactly what?

- In regards to FOOD

I do feed after the example Nature gives. Wolves, Dingos, African Wild dogs... are predominantly meat eaters.
But they also eat ripe fruit when present and when meat is not available.
Many observations were done of Wolves in the wild eating Blueberries for weeks - and they digest them well.
They always pick meat over fruit.
My dogs do exactly the same.
Also - pups and youngsters are fed first in a wolf family. So for the first year they get the meat - even when the adults are eating blueberries.
Pups will guarantee the survival of the family long term - so they are fed first and as well as possible.

I see canines as primarily Carnivores but overall Omnivores since they also eat fruit (and some raw veggies - thus my veggi garden is fenced as well as the orchard at times).

No wolf was ever seen to start a fire and roast a shank. Nor create a cooking device to boil grains, rice, potatoes or beetroot.
They can survive on a lot of food - but survival is not necessarily health.

After reading many books about wolves/dingoes in the wild I have tried a lot over the years.
All my pups identify meat instantly and the change over from milk to meat goes smoothly and without mess.
One of the main indicators is the poo of the pups. It gives a good idea about optimal digestion. Anything but firm poo I see as "needs improving".
And the only real food that - in my experience - gives firm poo all through is meat with bone. Chicken frames I find very handy - they have many parts even a very young pup can nibble on.

All my mothers regurgitate their own food to the pups and carry larger chunks to them.
When I see this start, I feed mom and keep her away from the pups for about an hour to let the meat mix in the stomach acid - and give it a factor of "pre-digestion". This mirrors Nature - since prey is usually found a distance away from the den and carried in the stomach.

I do feed fruit now and then to my adults. But do not mix with meat. As said - they usually wouldnt mix it naturally.
Fruit and plants digest quickly whereas meat takes a longer time.
Mix the two and none will get optimal digestion. With meat as the predominant part, digestion is slow and the fruit start to ferment and create wind and disturb the system.

All the scary stories of allergies against some meat or danger of raw and bones - I see as nonsense.

The biggest problem arises from mixing kibble with meat because people cant let go of the "balanced nutrients et al" idea.
Kibble lets the dog go extremely thirsty. The large amounts of water a dog then drinks dilutes the acidity in the stomach. And the acid in the stomach is the main barrier against noxious bacteria found in rotten meat, eggs etc.
No germs can survive the naturally high acidity in a canine stomach for long.
Chunks of meat and bone get liquified in the stomach. As do the germs.
To greatly dilute the acid in the stomach
(through excessive drinking) nullifies the effect of this acid-barrier. And parts of bone - stay too large. Unwanted germs etc will get transported into the guts (and too large pieces of bones btw) where they then can create havoc.
Guts are on the alkaline side and bacteria that are not supposed to be there can thrive and the result will be unpleasant.

Also - the body stores toxins in the fatty tissues when there is a surplus (because liver and skin filter are at capacity).
In chickens, cows, pigs etc pumped up with growth enhancers and meds, you find a lot of toxins in the fat and skin.
To my experience - removing fat gives a cleaner food.
I dont mind fat as such - but always consider it as the part with the highest toxic load. Or load of unwanted substances.

I dont cook any food. Heat destroys and there is no example in Nature where canids are cooking or heat treating food pre eating.

Air dried meat or hide is ok - No canid will walk past an old carcass that is bone and hide only and ignore it.

This is my idea about feeding my pups and dogs and I fare very well with it.
Meat is of variety and I dont dissect it into ingredients (proteine, minerals etc).
I dont think wolves consider what exactly is in a prey animal. They just eat it. And live long and healthy lives - unless the human and its inventions interfere.

02/03/2024

Little girl Mint (and big bro Caramel btw) are still looking for a new dog bed somewhere with a new family.
Mint ... is mint. A little sunshine of a redhead. Full of spirit and with a great personality.
private m for further info

02/03/2024

Delta, most senior female of the clan and Busta, new leader-in-waiting, were having a bit of a play with each other.
The age difference very obvious.
Busta, now 3 years and an adult male, is still in awe of Delta and doesnt quite know how to deal with the attention Dame Delta is giving him.

Delta for sure is very taken by this young man😃

Oh... and then there is Happy.
Happy is playing with fire here. As she does with every adult that moves fast.
She is a Heeler - and has only one focus. To heel.
She will have to learn the hard way soon that to leg bite an elder is simply not appropriate. Lets hope she can dampen her instinct down a bit one day. Knowing her line..... I doubt it.

She is the 4th generation of my strong heeling Minch line. With the Bruce influence on top of it, these dogs are born to heel and work cattle.
No dog of this line has ever worked cattle here but Minch
I bet this will get the rotten tomatoes flying at me for the totally ludicrous idea and assumption that a Heeler has a strong heeling instinct - even without actively working parents.
How dare I even think that Happy has the instinct to heel and work?
🤷‍♂️
Happys direct older sister Una/Narla proves the tomato slingers wrong. She works like a pro. And saw her first cow with one year of age when I handed on.
Here, she was a pest and couldnt help herself.
I see the same urge to work in Happy.
Just watch her on the video.

28/02/2024

Anyone for an Icecream?
Mint and Caramel flavour left.🍦🍧🍡🍨

The litter saw the vet beginning of the week and was thoroughly checked and cuddled.
All pups received Nobivac dhppi (which includes the parvo vaccine).

Red chap Caramel is the biggest and most cruisy pup of the litter. He will fit any companion and best mate situation.
His sister Mint is highly spirited and loves action and chasing legs. Would suit a semi working/farm company situation.

Pups can be viewed and more from this weekend onwards.

26/02/2024

Hello... from 'Caramel'

24/02/2024

Two days of Handfeeding to 'SIT' and a gesture [index finger up].
After two days and 4 feeds ...all come to my word sit. They do sit. And they also come to the gesture and sit.

No other words. Just that.

It gives these pups focus.
It teaches them to think.
It teaches them that calm gets rewarded
It teaches them to listen and to watch for gestures.
It teaches them who the main decision maker is and it teaches them not to snap later on.

A very simple way to achieve A LOT

💛💛

24/02/2024

Miss Lime
Bright as a button with amazing focus for a wee midget of a Heeler.

23/02/2024

Moppelkes and Novaks stunning pups.
They are developing nicely. I'm rapt and very proud of this litter
3❤(girls) ... 4💙(boys)
4 of them are reserved (see individual photos) - 3 of them are still looking for matching new families

23/02/2024

Early morning fun

22/02/2024

Some Mad Melon fun photos

I bought boxes of locally grown spray free and delicious Watermelons. To dice and freeze the inner juicy red flesh.

What to do with the skin? Well... no problem when you have a bunch of melon mad Heelers keenly waiting at the kitchen door😁

18/02/2024

Moppelkes and Novaks pups

Same 'camera', different light. Half a day later..same cuteness

17/02/2024

Moppelkes pups moved into the pup house today. Very happy to move around and explore the new area. It was already getting dark when I took the photos - the quality is rather minor.
Still the cuteness comes through. There will be better ones tomorrow.

Enjoy❤

16/02/2024

Delta munching away on a bowl of watermelon.
5 weeks of antibiotics (three types), 2 general anaesthetics and painrelief...
Time to detox and flush the system.
Her wound is finally healing nicely and she enjoys her rehab exercise of running to the van and back... and repeat
😊

13/02/2024

❤❤❤ to all my friends who recently have lost a dog

The "Rainbow Bridge" lured many in the last months. I could just about grab Deltas tail and pull her back to be alive and at my side and on the mend.
Others were not that lucky and now mourn the loss of their best friend.
Our dogs are such important parts in our lives and it leaves such a hole when they pass over.

If you have your dog by your side - give him a cuddle.
If you've lost yours ... give him a pat. 'Cos when you think of them... they stand right next to you
❤❤❤

11/02/2024

The Learning Curve

When you walk through life with open eyes, are open minded and have a keen to learn mind and working brain, you become aware of "things" that dont add up.

You can shrug them off and say: Ah well, thats how it is. I do what was always done and stay in the safe zone.
Or you start questioning and investigating. You want to know the big WHY.

I know of many people who started questioning and to dug deeper. And very often they found missing links, causes and even solutions or could put genetic tests on the market.

The weird thing is - that knew findings/knowledge is often not appreciated and pushing frontiers and questioning established paths rather unwanted. With the extreme of getting avoided, ostracised, blackened and even harmed.

This is quite puzzling since the new findings are actually positive and helpful and ... lets talk about dogs... promote their health and welfare and longevity. Keep them from getting sick, develop cancer or other diseases and problems.

Life throws you challenges for a reason. To learn. The experiences that can teach you the most are often the most unpleasant.
You can run - or dive in and learn from them.
I always do the latter. I cannot do differently and my wanting to know and learn often reaches limits and also comes with setbacks and unpleasant hiccups and blows. They are a natural part of this Learning Curve.
If someone has never experienced them - then this someone most probably has no urge to learn. No urge to improve and to better the situation.
Perfect people are either that or they have a technique to brush such hiccups elegantly under the carpet.

I have no carpets.
Problems get dealt with to be able to move on.
To be open to learn more - and tripping over bumps of rubbish under carpets isnt helpful.

I have pushed frontiers and found new ways. Ways that contribute to the overall health of my dogs (as attested by three Veterinarians).
And this starts with the breeding of puppies and continues through all age groups.

I am part of the Natural Rearing Breeder Community. Likeminded breeder who all saw the difference after changing from the old way of feeding commercial/processed pup food and using chemicals and toxins to keep them healthy.
I had to find a compromise in regards to certain topics. I do vaccinate all pups against parvo for instance. Too many people still believe that (continuous) vaccination is the only way to have healthy dogs. And overlook the fact that they get sick and sicker the older they get or 'all of a sudden' present with arthritis, allergies, tumors and often even neurological problems.

Dna health testing is one thing when you breed responsibly - which has been done to all my dogs - there is more to raising healthy puppies and give them the best possible start into life.

The Learning Curve has an open end. It never stops. There is always more to learn.
I do it for the wellfare and health and wellbeing of my dogs, the dogs I breed and hopefully one day for as many dogs as possible

CH

11/02/2024

Blueberry
Going for a Siesta after lunch

10/02/2024

Callanish Reena - Woozl

Born on the 22/2/22. Nearly two years old.

Woozl is from my trueblue line that started with Cylvah.

Cylvah - Oxana - Busta - Woozl

She very obviously is a quarter Landmaster - has the typical plainface and eyes.

Like her sire and grandmother - she is a very rare trueblue with complete dominance for K.
The A locus does not shine through, her phaenotype does not give away whether she is [at/at] or [Ay/at].

Her first litter may give some insight.
No decision has been made in regards to a breeding partner.
Woozl is full panel tested via Massey and clear (n/n) for all tests.
She has full hearing, a beautiful full set of teeth with correct bite and amazing conformation.
A well rounded girl that will need a partner who compliments her all over.

She had a very silly looking spaghetty phase while growing up with bunny ears looking like a rope on legs. This has changed, she has filled out and is turning into a lovely young lady of very pleasant temperament.

💙

10/02/2024

Mitch
trueblue/seal
As a pup and now

09/02/2024

13 years - 5 generations of an established dog family

- Creggan (Sid&Lilly)
- Delta (Creggan&Minch)
- Kati (Delta&Bruce)
- Mitch (Kati&Max)
- Lea (Mitch&Gus)

-Creggan, now 13, still going strong and the most respected senior dog of the Clan
-Delta, nearly 11 and nearly back to her lovely/gnarly old self
-Kati, 5yrs and Missus Nonstop Incarnate
-Mitch, 3 years and in charge of all the insects
-Lea, 1year old busy body and fazed of nothing at all

This is the line of my foundation girl Minch, who left the clan 3 years ago - way too early

All females of this line are very strong characters with great heeling instinct. Too great sometimes😁

This also mirrors the constellation in a wolf "pack". Which is a family of many generations.
Very rarely does a wolf family accept the addition of a stranger.
Usually only when there is need and a position became vacant.
A great example was observed by Günther Bloch ("Auge in Auge mit dem Wolf" - Bloch and Dettling) where the Wolf family lost their female leader and 'Delinda' moved it.
An adult female from further away.
The chapter is called "Here comes Delinda - Superstar".
She was suddenly there and took over the lead and was accepted by Nanuk - the most senior Wolf and main decision maker and Leader.
Delinda had a straight forward nature and thus was a great match for the rather serene and more cautious Nanuk.
She was instantly accepted by all members. All respected her - She was the right wolf that came in at the right time.

Minch was such a dog. Born leader and respected by all the rest. Her partner Creggan rather cautious and serene -Minchs nature was like Delindas. Straight forward and with an enormous presence.
She left a big gap that got temporarily filled by Cusco.
But Cusco is of cautious nature and not The Born Leader.

On the male side there is a "Leader in waiting" - Busta. A serene and very social and Clan concerned young dog who already has taken over many jobs. It will be interesting to see who teams up with him in the future.
Delta - the oldest matron of the clan finds him overly attractive. But young Busta cant yet decide if he will be standing together with her or under her.
He still is in awe of her - and when she stands proud he often falls on his side and performs rituals of respect.
Time will tell.

I have 4 lines and the dogs of each line work together best.
It looks like there is an understanding between them which is missing from line to line.

Delta played with Mitches pups last year as if they were her own. Amazing to watch. She took grgranny position and had a lot of fun with them.
I have not seen her do it with pups of other lines through the years.
With them it was just a "head up and leave me alone".

There is so much "talk" going on in a dog family - I am glad that I have read Blochs books. They opened my eyes to canine language and behaviour.

And now there is the opportunity to compare. And learn from.
All will be available in the near future for people interested in the Callanish Heeler Project via subscription.
Modern media is great in offering such ways of education - and more flexible than an "old fashioned" book.

Have a lovely weekend 💛

08/02/2024

🖐from Delta in Napier
Happy to be out n about again

07/02/2024

Echo

06/02/2024

Moppelkes and Novaks litter

Aren't they the most charming at that age?
4 weeks old - eyes open...all can hear and with extreme delight are munching their first minced meat.
They already got the idea that wee will be done once outside of the pup den. Very smart little pups
💙💙💙💙❤❤❤

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Videos

Delta, most senior female of the clan and Busta, new leader-in-waiting, were having a bit of a play with each other. The age difference very obvious. Busta, now 3 years and an adult male, is still in awe of Delta and doesnt quite know how to deal with the attention Dame Delta is giving him. Delta for sure is very taken by this young man😃 Oh... and then there is Happy. Happy is playing with fire here. As she does with every adult that moves fast. She is a Heeler - and has only one focus. To heel. She will have to learn the hard way soon that to leg bite an elder is simply not appropriate. Lets hope she can dampen her instinct down a bit one day. Knowing her line..... I doubt it. She is the 4th generation of my strong heeling Minch line. With the Bruce influence on top of it, these dogs are born to heel and work cattle. No dog of this line has ever worked cattle here but Minch I bet this will get the rotten tomatoes flying at me for the totally ludicrous idea and assumption that a Heeler has a strong heeling instinct - even without actively working parents. How dare I even think that Happy has the instinct to heel and work? 🤷‍♂️ Happys direct older sister Una/Narla proves the tomato slingers wrong. She works like a pro. And saw her first cow with one year of age when I handed on. Here, she was a pest and couldnt help herself. I see the same urge to work in Happy. Just watch her on the video.

Two days of Handfeeding to 'SIT' and a gesture [index finger up]. After two days and 4 feeds ...all come to my word sit. They do sit. And they also come to the gesture and sit. No other words. Just that. It gives these pups focus. It teaches them to think. It teaches them that calm gets rewarded It teaches them to listen and to watch for gestures. It teaches them who the main decision maker is and it teaches them not to snap later on. A very simple way to achieve A LOT 💛💛

Early morning fun

After a good feed - wee Pistachio is on the snooze. The whole litter is such a placid one. They seem to thoroughly enjoy this handling ... they dont really wake up. Enjoy!😊💛

10 min of what I would call early morning "neck muscle exercise" Der Novak

THE MOUTHGRIP [please excuse the quality... I cant share the vid from 2017 and have taped off a screen] This is not an adult Heeler aggressively dominating and biting young pups. This is the oldest male getting pestered by pups of 7 weeks and one around 4 months. The instinct in the younger ones is: Lick mouth to have mom regurgitate food (or any dog regurgitate food. Which is the norm in Wolf families. Not in dogs.) The pups behaviour is entirely food oriented. Creggan tells them off loudly and with the mouthgrip (in a gesture) so they can learn to read and respect these gestures. The older pup is weaned and has started to use the same moves to show respect to the more senior dog. Creggan tries to ignore as he would with an adult...but then reacts to teach the pup to tone down its intensity. He picks up HIS intensity until the pup gets the message, (often squeaks, falls to side) and then leaves. The growing up dog will always pay respect in such way to a more senior dog (or human) - the intensity gives you an idea of age, status and learning curve. If two adults of the same age meet - all that may remain is a "face to face" and a lick of face once, twice or three times. Position confirmed. The senior dog always raises level of intensity until the pup finally stops You can see this behaviour between dogs and humans too. A dog tries to show respect by seeking the face of the human to perform this ritual. Which leads to frantic jumping up onto the human. Who tries to stop this by making the dog stay down or sit. And gets very annoyed that this never really works. By watching the video you can see what it needs to teach a pup to tone down. The biggest problem in a dog/human situation is that they cannot reach the face. So the urge makes the jumping extremely frantic. There is a simple way to stop this jumping short. First you go down with hand in front of face and let the pup perform. Then growl loudly. mouthgrip, get up and ignore. once this is understood and

Two entire males playing BUSTA - 2.5 years, adult, PAST puberty NOVAK - 8 months, boy, hormonally PRE puberty Video taken July '23. Very different development stages.

Happy, the Cattle Dog Like her sister Una/Narla - she is a purebred Cattle Dog. In body and spirit. A big debate is going on if a Heeler must have actively working parents to have the instinct to work cattle. Lets put it this way - if someone is not able to see the fine talent in this wee girl, then I really cant help him. Sister Narla is highly talented and works beautifully. Even tho she never saw cattle until one year old. She had enough practice on some of my dogs who found her a super nuissance. Happy is from my two strongest working lines. And it shows already