Can anyone make any comments or suggestions about Koolies and road sense? I read somewhere that they are not famous for it. My first dog got hit be a car when he was a year old (in fairnes, not his fault), but I am so paranoid of them near roads now we are in Sydney. They are not overly interested in cars, don't chase them. But I'm just not sure they have the common sense I see in other dogs (I see a lot of ACD's actually), trotting along on footpaths with their owners, off lead, perfectly calm and sensible. I'm jelous too, ha ha.

Can road sense be trained in or should I just forget it?

Hi Shaunagh
I always take my girls for a walk on lead and take them off at parks when there is no other dogs around. They are Australian Obedience Champions and Agility Champions and are well trained but I wouldnt take that chance. My friends from many years ago had an Australian Obedience Champion called Lass. Old George and Lass use to walk all over the place with her off lead. He also had another dog but she stayed on lead though. They use to win quite often in her days. One day cant remember what she did but she got hit by a car. She lost her sight in her right eye and a smashed jaw which they spent thousands on and lots of bruising. They were an old couple with not a lot of money and they nearly went broke because of that. We were very surprised about it as she always walks in the heel position with old George.Her obedience days were over. So as I said I wouldnt chance it as you wouldnt just know what could happened even very well trained dogs with Obedience Champion titles can get killed
cheers
Danni

i agree i don't think koolies and cars mix very well at all

I think any dogs and cars don't mix. My last boy Zorro was excellent around cars and traffic. But he was killed by one, broke his neck clean. I always walk by dogs on lead and don't encourage them on the road, is a no go zone. I just don't want a repeat of what happened last time, he was a wonderful dog and I still miss him. Zorro was a border collie x bull terrier.

Just never take that chance.

Unfortunately road sence doesn't arrive until after a bad experience! And even then it doesn't always sink in! In sydney or any town the chance of getting away with a near miss, is next to none! Don't chance it, there are so many uncontrolable factors that could cause a disaster! For example, you may teach a dog to stay off the road and walk on the side walk, but what happens if someones big dog runs out while your walking along! Road to your dog may look like the safer option!

Thanks folks, it's what I thought. Do people know about those dogs I'm talking about that just puddle along off leash, at heel, all the way up the road. I swear there are dogs like that by the dozen all up and down even places like King St Newtown, and alot of them working breeds too. My dogs almost pee themselves with excitement just because the traffic light changes, let alone something more dramatic.......oh.....Alby will tend to go out of his way to stick his nose under other dogs fences to torment them too. If they were on the other side of the fence it would be a disaster.

Sigh....just a wistful wish

It's not that koolies can't walk off lead, they are just as capable of walking through a busy intersection and not once put a foot wrong.
Especialy one that has been with you non stop, they will become your shadow, follow you anywhere.

I walked my girl from one end of the Sydney expo to the other through around 55'000 visitors legs with out a fault, people couldn't believe she could stick through such a crush.

But I have to side with the others on this, I wouldn't take the chance, she is too preciouse to me to take the risk.
My dog stays on lead when near roads, no argument.