09/07/2025
Time for more ponderings.
It’s been mentioned a few times lately to me that people have tried ACDs and found them to not be very good work dogs. The issues they list are issues I don’t tolerate either.
I do question though the bloodlines they tried. When I instructed at DogsNSW herding years ago I saw many pet ACDs come along from many different lines, so was a very good opportunity for me to see how their brains were wired.
Why do people think that all ACDs are created the same?
Most would be considered ‘Show Line’ or ‘Bench Bred’ now. Do you think the police use dogs from generations of untested stock? Would you judge the ability of the kelpie breed by only watching the show line ones work? Working ability is a man made creation, from generations of selecting dogs which had the desirable brain wiring. For the most part, if you don’t use it, you lose it! If you had to trust your life to a dog, would you choose the proven, or the unproven one?
Luckily we live in a free country and can buy what we want, so if a dog from show/pet line is what you’re after there are some lovely ones out there, but please don’t judge the working ability of all ACDs off what those dogs might demonstrate.
There are working line dogs in literally all breeds which are used for a job. German shepherds, Belgian shepherds, kelpies, collies, labradors, spaniels etc. I question why some think the ACD is unique and ALL of them tick both boxes. The breeds which are esteemed working breeds have a very clear definition, with the working line breeders constantly testing and selecting for brain wiring.
So it’s definitely buyer beware if you want one to fulfil a role.
If someone advertises their line as suitable for working, ask to see videos or view their dogs working. See if how their dogs are wired is what you’re after. Accept excuses at your peril.
Don’t judge the breed because you expected all ACDs to be cut from the same cloth.
