[scottm1]

hi all we have a 8 month old blue healer who loves to chase the ball is it possible to do this for to long or will he stop when he has had enough
thanks for any help scott

[skelaki]

Scott, if your Heeler is anything like my sister's Blue Heeler/Border Collie cross, you will have to be the one to stop when you feel the dog has had enough. Don't over do hard exercise, such as jogging or running especially on concrete at least until he matures at around 1 1/2 to 2 years of age.

Be sure and give him jobs to do such as obedience exercises, nilif, and anythin you can think of to teach him. If you don't, he'll figure out jobs for himself and you probably won't like the ones he makes up for himself.

[RlsPoodles]

Scott,
You have what is referred to as a high-energy dog. Speaking as someone who owns several high-energy & high-maintenance dogs, I'll tell you what I have to do when mine get going. I physically stop mine when they start panting heavily, and when they start to slow down. Depending on where you live, you need to watch them so that they don't get over-worked. A trainer once told me to give them a "cooling-off" period of about 10-15 minutes, and to make sure that water is available to him. I know that hunting dogs, and herding dogs are extremely stubborn, and oftentimes you have to force them to stop. They are possessed of a one-track mind when it comes to certain things.

I can give you several good links of places to go that will tell you what signs to look for as far as indications that you should have your dog stop.

Hope this helps you out, at least a little bit.

[petluver]

Scott,

What everyone said before is smart! And also, when it is warm outside, I don't think they should be playing, ie-chasing things. Because, like it was said, they will go until you stop them, and then it might be too late!