Is the ACD the Right Breed for our Family?

One of the questions from people that have never owned an ACD is: Is this the right breed for our family?

I wanted to give people that are new to the breed some insights that have evolved in the last few years from my standpoint.

Most of the people who wanted to buy ACDs a few years back were those who had farms, raised cattle and horses or enjoyed country living. The ACD has become very popular in the last few years and more and more people are discovering these great dogs. They have seen them on TV or seen someone who has one and researched the breed. A lot of the clients now interested are those with families (children) and some people live in non-rural areas. Most of these people have owned pets before, but have not been involved in the "farm" or rural lifestyle.

I am giving this advice from the experience of over 25 years in raising horses, cattle and dogs. My husband and I have owned and operated an equine facility and dog kennel which included such duties as breeding (including artificial insemination of horses), raising, training, boarding, extensive showing of horses, lessons, etc.

The ACD is not the average dog in many ways. Over the years, I have worked with several breeds of dogs and, in my opinion, the ACD is far and above the most intelligent, most loyal, most majestic dog that I have ever seen. I can't say enough about them. And over the years, in talking with many other ACD owners, they confirm that sentiment.

BUT, in order to enjoy the companionship of this great breed, there is a responsibility on the part of the ACD owner. The ACD owner themselves need to be a different type of dog owner. The ACD is not a breed for the faint of heart. They require a strong disciplinary hand from the beginning of their training. The ACD can be very hard-headed. They can be very stubborn. It is the responsibility of the new owner (and every person in the household) to be committed to the beginning training of a new pup. The new pup needs to understand that the humans are the "alpha" identities in the household. That is the only way that the ACD will respect and "adore" his human counterparts. If the time and consistent training is administered, the ACD will be the greatest canine companion in your life.

Unfortunately, we have had instances where a pup became the "alpha" identity in a household. They did not respect their owners (or more specifically the children) and that caused much trouble on a daily basis. The owners loved their dogs dearly, but they had to give their dogs up because of the situation.

I discuss "training" techniques with all new ACD owners. As a prospective ACD owner, I ask that you think about your ability to be a strong disciplinary figure for training a pup.