THE LIFE OF A WORKING
CATTLE DOG
By Beverly A. Morgan
Hero’s of the west can come in the size
of 35 pound furry blue cattle dogs. Their
stories of heroism in a day’s work are
worth telling. My blue heeler, Daisy, has
given me this story to tell. I hope that
something I share here will move and mo-
tivate you whether you are a breeder, a
rancher, a pet owner, a competitor in fly-
ball or agility, or have an ACD for some-
thing else not named.
Daisy
Introductions:
Raymond and Beverly of The Fox Ranch have spent most of their lives partnering up with
red and blue heelers on their cattle ranch. They are hard working, simple folks who filter
their working dogs rigorously. Only the best workers are kept or bred. The end result of
their breeding program hero quality working heelers with no vices.
The blue bitch I bought from them, Daisy, came from unregistered, purebred blue heelers
that were ‘just good workers’ as Raymond or Beverly might put it. When I saw Daisy, she
was a little less than a year old and sitting in the back of Raymond’s pick up. Raymond
and I had met up out in the wide open prairies so I could have a look at his latest litter. He
pulled a crate out of his pick up that had pups in it. The pups were let out of the crate and
contently hung around our feet as we enjoyed visiting. While were visiting, I found myself
drawn to his adult bitch in the back of his pick up (Daisy). There was ‘just something
about her’. Soon I found myself haggling with Raymond to buy not-for-sale Daisy. As fate
had it, we struck a deal and I loaded up Daisy as I Raymond and I said our farewells.
Little did I know as I drove away with Daisy that she would, as a working dog, save my life
not once but three times as well as a stranger’s life. In Daisy’s lifetime, I have thanked
(Continued on page 23)
SPOTLIGHT on Dogs with Jobs
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