About Aussies

Life with an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are very active and athletic dogs. They love to run and jump and play. Mainly they want to be with their owners and be active with them. They are intelligent, versatile and easily trained. They can excel in many areas of performing such as obedience, herding conformation, agility, fly ball, and tracking. They approach each task with enthusiasm.

Aussies are primarily a working dog with strong herding and guardian instincts. They make exceptional companions. They can have boundless energy. Because they have exceptional intelligence, training and daily exercise are vitally important. It is vital that you and your Aussie attend training classes during the first years of your life together. Not only will the bond and affection between you deepen but your Aussie will be well socialized and will accept strangers into his life easier. You will have a well behaved dog as he will know what you expect of him and will know social skills when he is out in public. Generally the more time you spend together the deeper the bond between you and your dog. He will know what you expect of him and you will be proud of him.

Most Aussies can be demanding of their owner’s time and attention. They ideally would spend all of their time with their new owner following them from room to room in the house and going along on all errands. Aussies can be territorial and protective of their masters’ possessions. This is why training is vital. With training you gain control and can demand proper behavior.

Early socialization is a big key to living, playing and obedience with an Aussie. It is not good enough just to take your Aussie with you everywhere. Training requires active daily focus on puppy training. Train him to behave and understand what you want him to do. Dogs like children need rules to live by. They need Positive reinforcement when they do what you want them to do. Never use hitting, kicking or negative behavior to tell your Aussie you are unhappy with what he is doing. Communication is the key. He must understand what is expected of him. Professional teachers of puppy classes will assist you with learning how you communicate with your dog. Consistency in commands is also important so the puppy learns what your spoken words mean. Above all loving kindness gets you a long way with training.

You as a new dog owner have a job. Every dog, Aussie or not, needs direction and providing it is your job. Dogs need physical and mental exercise and proper positive training, which encourages good behavior and strengthens bonds. People with well behaved dogs have consistent rules and pay attention to them when they are being good and not just when they are misbehaving. Many go on to train for competitive dog sports as it is a lot of fun. Competition can be stressful and they can sometimes respond in inappropriate ways. Again, proper training and preparation can help minimize the stress your dog experiences in new situations.

A person who sits at a job all day comes home just as tired as a person who digs ditches. A dog who is mentally stimulated with games, learning tricks, and activities will more likely fit harmoniously into family life. You don’t need a flock of sheep for your Aussie to herd--- just time together with your Aussie as your main attention. Your Aussie will give you unconditional love for his lifetime as you are his world and focus in life.

COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Does an Australian shepherd need to live on a farm?

Aussies love to live in the country as they love to run and play and large farms allow for such activities. However I met an Aussie who lives on Nantucket Island and stays on his porch watching all the tourists walk by his home. His owner takes him to make his deliveries and run errands daily. He walks by his owner’s side never straying. He gets the exercise he needs and loves all the people he meets. If you are committed to exercising your dog and making sure you both spend time together daily--- a farm is not a necessity. What is vital is you allow him out to play and to get some of his energy off. He was designed as a working dog that could herd all day without getting fatigued. Most important to your dog is that you spend time with him in play.

Does an Australian Shepherd shed all year around?

Does an Aussie like to swim?

Do Aussies not like strangers?

Aussies lose their coats once a year. The Aussie coat has two parts. The top hair or guard hair remains year around. The undercoat is what sheds out usually in the later summer months. The dog gets a new coat for the fall and colder weather. Brushing once a week will keep the hair in the house to a minimum. Taking your dog to a professional groomer when he starts losing his winter hair can save you a lot of daily pick up. A groomer can strip out the undercoat and leave your dog more comfortable. Since you need to do this only once or twice a year the cost is minimal compared to the convenience of having it done.

Most Aussies I have had love to swim. Keeping them out of ponds and swimming pools can be a challenge if they like the water. We have a pond that has large snapping turtles in the summer months and ice in the winter. I am always afraid they will get out on the ice and fall through, plus I don’t need a confrontation between the turtles and my dogs. Therefore my Aussies know they are not allowed in the pond. It’s a matter of training. Generally they stay out of the pond.

Australian Shepherds are reserved around people they do not know. They will not go up to a stranger and allow them to be petted or loved on because they are strangers. An Aussie wants to know the people they greet. Once they realize they are not going to be aggressive and are friendly, they make friends. It is said once an Aussie meets someone he rarely forgets that person the next time they meet. The dog simply wants to know those he interacts with. This is why socialization of young dogs is so important. Greeting and making friends is an invaluable experience for the young dog teaching a skill that will last a lifetime.

Do Aussies like children?

Australian Shepherds that grow up with children usually love children and accept their behavior readily. An Aussie who is not exposed to children may not like little children. The higher pitch of their voices, the activity level of their actions being at the dog’s eye level is unnerving to some dogs. Children tend to put their hands on the dog’s head obscuring his vision and confusing him. Children, along with the dog, must be taught how to interact appropriately with each other. For instance, it is best to let a new puppy approach a child rather than having the child rush up to the puppy. Speaking calmly to the dog is better than lots of squeals and high-pitched noises.

Children should always ask if they can pet a dog. The owner will know if the dog is child tolerant. Strollers with children can be threatening to many dogs. It is best to allow space between a stroller and child and dog. Safety for all concerned is best. No one wants a child to irritate a dog to the point of scaring the child or dog.

I do provide them with a plastic children’s wadding pool to play in and they have been known to be in our family pool on occasions. I also have some Aussies who dislike swimming. So it depends on the individual dog. I was once walking six week old puppies around the farm for daily exercise and we came to the pond. To my surprise they all jumped in for a swim. All but two turned around and headed for shore. After realizing the remaining two did not know they needed to turn around and head for shore I saw they were getting tired. I jumped in to rescue them. Puppies are adventurous and you must be willing to help them when they do not realize their vulnerability