Attn:koolie Breeders And Owners

[BMAK]

for those reading this and think what happened to the question:

for those who have koolies or have owned,

*what are there temps like and personality and around new people or environments??

long story short: how do mature females coupe from being on a property go from that to into a city environment when they can go inside and have a large back yard...

EDITED DUE TO RESOLUTION THANKS AGAIN GUYS!

and links for me about how they go in the city

Edited February 7, 2011 by catherine.b

[Nekhbet]

I would be more worried about lack of socialisation. This dog sounds nervy and extremely undersocialised.

can this dog be rehabilitated or show signs or improvement within a two week period

Within two weeks ... no she wont be the 'average' dog. I would be sending her to an experienced trainer/behaviourist for proper assessment and work to see if she is able to be a pet or if her issues are critical period/management long term.

Sounds like she'd make a better farm dog then an indoor suburban pet. Koolies are a working breed anyway they need to be worked, a large backyard means nothing if they will only do bits here and there with her.

[BMAK]

Sounds like she'd make a better farm dog then an indoor suburban pet. Koolies are a working breed anyway they need to be worked, a large backyard means nothing if they will only do bits here and there with her.

she came from a farm from what i know.

i just want to know if she can transform to at least being affectionate.

[Nekhbet]

she came from a farm from what i know.

i just want to know if she can transform to at least being affectionate.

Maybe, maybe not. No one can ever tell you over the internet. She needs a proper professional assessment to give you a definitive answer. I have worked with a couple of dogs like this, some come round to a degree but stay semi feral, others dont at all.

Either way if your friend is not a professional I would say dont take this dog. If they want a pet, get a pet that has a decent temperament, not an unsocialised farm dog.

[Vickie]

*what are there temps like and personality and around new people or environments??

This question will be impossible for anyone to answer. Some of the most skittish and some of the most confident dogs I know are coolies. Their temperaments vary widely, as does their suitability as a suburban pet.

I agree she needs to get someone knowledgeable to assess & help her with the dog. The worst thing she can do is baby it all the time & try to show it affection. This is what most novice owners will do with a dog like thi and it will only make them worse.

Where is she located in NSW? We may be able to recommend someone to help her.

[persephone]

Doesn't really matter what breed she is - what DOES matter is the temperament with which she was born, her early socialisation, her age now, and the experience of the new owners.

* this girl is not used to having a collar or lead on

* runs away from people when called

* hides in corner doesn't use crate

* skittish

* flightish

* doesn't play with toys

* and has no obedience or understanding

The bolded bits I think are due to her upbringing.... she has probably not ever been TAUGHT these things!

What is known of her history?

Had she lived all her life at the farm?

Was she a happy confident dog?

was she a worker? if so , was she good at it ,and happy to be penned afterwards?

Did she show any of this behaviour at her previous home?

The situation does need to be carefully assessed by a professional.

two weeks is not enough time for a dog showing these behaviours to become a settled and affectionate dog , IMO.In fact, if she is of a sensitive and nervous type- two weeks in a new and stressful environment may do just the opposite

edit to say I agree with this :

Either way if your friend is not a professional I would say dont take this dog. If they want a pet, get a pet that has a decent temperament, not an unsocialised farm dog.

I don't think it's fair on the poor dog , or the new owners.

Edited February 7, 2011 by persephone

[Perry's Mum]

I have an 8 year old Koolie who came to me via Koolie Rescue from a farm where she had been abused when she was 13 months old. I live in suburban Canberra. Perry was mistrustful, nervous, had not been taught anything. We went to obedience classes and she learnt very quickly to come when called and to walk on a lead. She took six months to be happy being patted and stroked by anyone, a year before she would willingly go to anyone, and six years before she came and hugged me. She is a fantastic dog - intelligent, fun, demanding. She likes to have a job to do - if I have to go out and leave her at home her job is to look after the house, if I leave her in the car for 5 minutes, her job is to look after the car, she comes with me to help pick up the paper, check the mail, put out the garbage, hang out the washing - it is all work. She quickly learnt to play several games but the one she loves is her ball and she will play fetch for hours on end. She has no interest in other toys. If I am too busy to play with her then she is happy to stay in the house or garden as long as she can see me. Game playing is also work in her view and she takes it very seriously. She, and all the other koolies I know, have a huge need for human company - you cannot just put them in the back yard - they need both physical and mental exercise on a regular basis and I think the mental is possibly more important than the physical. The best thing I have done for Perry is take her to sheepdog school on a regular basis. The Koolie Club runs regular sheepdog schools at Binalong just outside Canberra and I can put them on the mailing list if they are interested. If they want to talk to someone who has been there and done that, PM me and I will give you my phone no.

There are lots of rescue Koolies who came from farms and are now happy city pets - for much of Perry's life she has been home alone during the day while I worked. She adapted to that within a few months. It takes time - and work, but in Perry's case it was well worth it. If you let me know where you (or the dog and owners) are I may be able to find someone local who can help.

Edited February 7, 2011 by Perry's Mum

[Ons]

my boy was a rescue coolie, he was about 6 to 12 months when I adopted him.

At first he was shy and didn't know how to play. With time that has improved and he plays with toys and is now a fairly confident boy except around alot of men but that is from being abused before I got him

I think coolies are very smart dogs and adapt very easily to new situations, Flash certainly has. I really don't know where he was living before me, came from Hawkesbury Pound, but he has adapted to a home and with normal sized backyard. He isn't a "high" energy dog as such but does need his daily walk but as Perry's Mum said they like to be busy mentally, he has to make sure that he knows where the other dogs and cats are at all times and not up to mischief. He also has to check out that I'm safe and know where I am so this keeps him very occupied. If he didnt' have all this activity he would be one miserable dog. He just wants to please and at the moment is happily lying on my feet.

My new coolie pup is very shy too but i am socialising and socialising her and she is getting better. I want her to be a confident young lady She loves playing with toys and running around. I think alot of coolies are shy and do need alot of work on this but sadly don't get it.

The best thing for a coolie is to crate train them, gives them security. My foster coolies have been crate trained and have adapted very well.

If these people have only just got this coolie I would give it a bit of time for the dog to settle. As I say, I think coolies are very adaptable but it does take time.

[BMAK]

thanks for your response guys so no one has any link about adapting to the city ??

This makes me think of a similar story with kenny the kelpie who i fostered for AWDRI he has obviously been beated around his hind quarters from men before he was rescued and was very tmid and a bit flighty but two weeks went by and he came out of his shell nearly 100% there was a lot of work involved on my behalf but he was just out of his comfort zone i thought what had i gotten myself into the first couple of days but he came around nicely and regret not keeping him for myself (he is the first dog in my sig loved him to bits).

[persephone]

Yep - two weeks is NOTHING if there are long standing issues to resolve

[Perry's Mum]

I am not aware of any links but I know several from working backgrounds that have happily settled into being suburban pets. If I had to choose a working dog as a pet I would choose a Koolie because they do have an off switch but at the same time they do require a level of commitment to work with them from their owners. I am very happy that I put the work into Perry - I would hate to be without her - she is a perfect companion.

[Nekhbet]

you wont find a link because there are so many different factors going into it. Plus it is a thing many people will usually warn against. If the prospective owners need to read websites on how to transition a dog, and considering this one has so many problems, is it really a good match?

Edited February 7, 2011 by Nekhbet