Chief (ADOPTED!) is a happy, playful, very social little guy, around 18 months old. He has a very sweet, personable and gentle temperament, but he can be a handful with his youthful energy and zest for life. Chief is very compact & solid. He weighs 44 lbs., but most think he is only 35-40 lbs.
When meeting people and other dogs, it is clear that he still has a very puppy-like personality. Chief is extremely enthusiastic. He is very friendly with all people and will joyfully meet everyone, squirming and wiggling all over them. His tail never stops wagging. If given a choice of people to be with, he will choose to be with a confident male leader. Although, Chief has a lot of playful energy, when it's time to be inside, he will settle down quietly.
Chief is a classic cattle dog in every way. He has a wonderfully broad "block head," with the strong and stocky build of an old fashioned working cattle dog. He has the cattle dog traits of being fearless, energetic, eager to please, and a loving, velcro dog, who wants to be your partner in everything. Chief is super smart, very curious, and always ready for anything. This is NOT a dog to be shelved or left alone for 8 hours during the work week. Also, true to his breed, Chief often has his own ideas and can have selective hearing when called. Other times, he listens quickly and can be easily called away. He was interested in some chickens, but when called away from them, he was easily redirected and continued to stay away.
Our boy loves being around and interacting with other dogs. Chief tends to be submissive, especially when around confident, dominant dogs. He will continually lick the mouth of his canine foster sister, and will roll on his back if another dog reprimands him. He sometimes uses herding moves to urge other dogs to play with him, poking and prodding or nipping at their feet. He reads signals quickly from other dogs. If he becomes too much when playing and is told so by another dog, he will back off. Depending on the dog, Chief may quickly return to being a pest all over again, or realize that he should avoid a more dominant dog.
Chief will require some training, but will learn very quickly. Even when reprimanded, Chief stays happy and good natured. He is completely house trained. He walks fairly well on leash, but will excitedly pull at the start of his walk. Chief is NOT crate trained and currently does not want to enter a crate on his own. He also doesn't seem to have much experience with car rides, and needs to be restrained during a ride. When being playful with other dogs or with people, he can be mouthy. He does not bite, but uses his mouth to communicate what he wants. If you tell him to stop or yell "Ow!" he will back off quickly.
Because of Chief's strength, jumpy excitement, and mouthiness when being playful, we do not recommend him for a household with small children. We have not yet seen him around cats, but would guess that he would want to chase in his desire to play.
In summary, Chief is a fantastic dog for someone with an appreciation for and experience with true cattle dogs. Our boy is a very charming and lovable handful! He make you laugh and melt your heart. His adopters will need to meet his youthful physical and mental activity needs, as well as commit to teach him boundaries, routines and manners. He is well worth the time and work.