About Wendy Grudin Expertise I will answer any general or specific questions regarding Australian Cattle Dogs(conformation, behavior, showing in either obedience or conformation). I cannot give any comments or recommendations re:AKC judges,as that would be considered a conflict of interest.
Experience I have owned, bred and shown ACDs for the past 13 years, and I am a licensed conformation judge (AKC) for the breed. I have owned and operated an all breed training center for the past 22 years.
Publications Dog World magazine(cover article on the Australian Cattle Dog, March, 1995)
Expert: Wendy Grudin Date: 3/9/2008 Subject: House Training a Red Heeler
Question QUESTION: My red heeler is almost 4 years old and he is house broke but he has a bad habit of peeing on anything that is mine and not my husbands, he has started using the bathroom on my potted plants and i cannot seem to break him of this, what can i do i am desperate for some advice.
ANSWER: Hi Tami, I need to know more info. Is this dog an intact male? Do you and your husband treat him differently...is one of you more permissive with him than the other? Has the dog gone through formal obedience, or is he allowed to have the run of the house? Once I know the answers, I will be able to help you. Wendy
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QUESTION: My heeler is fully intact, my husbands is the rough houser and I make him do what he is suppose too. no training at all
he knows when he has done something wrong, he just gets upset at me and pees on my plants i just would like to know what I have to do to keep him from doing this
Answer Intact males tend to "mark territory". He is not necessarily mad at you...just trying to usurp you, so to speak. You need to catch him in the act and correct him(also clean the area where he made his mark with Nature's Miracle). Correct him by filling a spray bottle with 50% vinegar and 50% water...and spray him in the face.Do this as he is getting ready to mark.If you miss your opportunity, you have gone backwards in remedying the problem. If you are ready to correct, it should take a few days and then he should quit. Hope this helps.If you do not intend to breed him, I would advise you to neuter him.....stats show neutered males live longer, plus he will not be so inclined to mark. Wendy
