Cute puppies!
Hamming it up!
Always involved.
Communicating.
Playing with a baby.
Hanging out with a baby.
Master is going to be home soon.
CHEESE!!!!!
Puppies are so cute, and Aussies are so beautiful, but whats it like to own one?
Think you want an Australian Shepherd to share your home? Here is some information to help you make a decision.
In General
An Aussie is a smart dog. I've owned many dogs and worked with many breeds in the veterinary field. I have to say that what makes Aussies special also makes them hard to own.
How are they like other dogs?
They need obedience training, veterinary care, tooth brushing, grooming, exercise and nutrition. They are loving and want to be loved. They look like a dog.
How are they unique?
They think for themselves. Its as simple as that. These guys were bred to work independently and make decisions. Working cattle or gracing your home, they'll be doing just that. As an example:
You: "Sit"
Your Golden Retriever: "Gentle Master said ‘sit’. I want to sit. I love master. Maybe I'll get a treat."
He sits, looking hopefully at you and your hands alternately.
Your German Shepherd: "The master has given a command."
He sits.
Your Maltese: "Ooooh, I think master has a treat. I'll bark and spin. If I look cute, I won't need to sit."
She barks and gets excited. Spins relentlessly.
Your Aussie: Pauses, sniffs the air. Determines there’s no treat. Tilts her head. "Is my "Master" serious? Is this an actual command? What’s he doing with his face? Is that his 'In Charge' look? Should I sit, or bark to insist on a treat?"
She stands, waiting for confirmation of intent. She may sit, after a pause, simply to see what you're going to do next.
What to know
All joking aside, you can train your Aussie to react quickly to commands. They are very smart and loving. It’s just that they are independent enough to want to understand the options and pick one. This is a very trainable breed, but they will take advantage of any weakness/leniency. If you are not consistent, the Aussie will be. In our house, they know who they can "demand" things from and who they cannot. They take advantage of these differences.
Barking
Your Aussie will bark. I'm 99% sure of it. They are super attentive and have great hearing. The mailman, the UPS guy and the lady walking the dog are all potential "wolves". They will bark if you tap the counter. They are great alarms. We've trained ours to stop barking on command. . .which they do for about 5-15 seconds. We're working on it. They also bark at visitors. Momma is nervous with visitors. She is very loving to people she knows, but scared of strangers. That is our fault. She didn’t have enough interaction or socialization with people outside of our family. We're working on that, too. Lesson: socialize your pup a lot.
Attention
They'll want a lot of it. They are great companions and will follow you around. If they haven’t had a pat in a while, they'll come get one. Proper ownership dictates that the owner must initiate affection. Aussies must have read this, too, because they know they own you and they will remind you of that fact by dictating when affection happens. There will be licking. There will be pawing. Teach your dog early that they cannot get in your lap, or there will be clawing their way onto your lap. They will accompany you all day long, wherever you go, including the bathroom. Sending them out is always very unfair. They will be focused on and involved in everything you do.
Excercise
They really need to walk and run and play. If you can't work them, they need to be active or they will make some kind of mischief. This is serious. So many problems can be solved by simple exercise. This dog cannot be left alone all day, even in a large yard, then be expected to be calm and happy all evening. They will need to retrieve a ball or Frisbee or join you on a neighborhood adventure. They are great in agility courses and this would really give them something to do. Excercise is very, very important.
Potty Training
I have found them to be a little difficult to house train. What I've learned:
-Aussies resent punishment. They probably tried to get outside and decided to use a remote area of the house when they couldn't get out. Seemed reasonable to your Aussie. Anger or physical punishment will create a resentful or submissive dog. So, hard as it is, compliment the correct behavior, calmly point out and gently scold accidents. I did not believe this entirely at first. I do now.
-Frequently let them out, esp. upon waking. They will use the carpet if they can't get outside. Simple as that. So give them access to the backyard often. If you live in an apartment, think twice. You'll need to walk them a lot as pups and almost as much as adults.
-Kennel train. This is a great way to teach them to hold it and to not simply create a good place to do their business.
-Keep thier potty area clean. They don't like to use a dirty area and may choose a cleaner area.
Aggression
They are used to being in charge, so they will want to lead your pack. Make sure you are the one in charge overall. Monitor the interaction with other dogs. Get proffessional training for obedience and socialization. Socialize them early and often.
Pecking Order
Our dogs came into our pack when we had a toddler. They have no aggression or control problems with our daughter. They respect her and accept her as "boss". We taught them that. Our baby arrived AFTER our Aussies. Same story. They are very patient with him, accepting and they have not tried to do anything but care for and protect him. There are no pack order problems here. Good to know, easy to do. If you aren't familiar with introducing your dog to a new baby, you'll want to get professional help. Aussies are smart and loving, though, so it should be very easy.
Smarty Pants
Communication
The Aussie knows what he/she wants, but lacks the opposable thumbs to do it. Instead, they will "tell you" in various ways. They will tell you when they need to potty, want food, want excercise, want to play, to tell you that Timmy is in the well, that a guy just walked by, the kids are running, theres no water, etc. Methods of communication include, but are not limited to:
-Barking
-Groaning
-"Showing": bringing you the dish (or pathetically licking it), sometimes paired with "The Look".
-"The Look": looking deep into your eyes, down to your soul, to communicate thier need. This is sometimes paired with a head tilt, especially if you try to use words. You will learn to communicate in this way, understanding whether you're meant to follow, go somewhere or do some specific task. Freaky.
-The "Come" command, reversed: a meaningfull dash from the other room, a pointed look at you to get your attention, then a dart back to the other room. A quick bark may accompany this action.
-Snuffing: this is that sound emmitted from the nose, a kind of "blowing out" of air, loudly. Used to show pleasure and displeasure.
-The Muzzle Punch: a phyisical contact that involves forcefully pressing a cold wet nose against the back of a leg, an arm, a face or a hand. Contact is brief, but intentional - like a punch. Used to communicate A) a greeting, B) you should move, C) you should show affection.
Timing
They have an internal clock and a strong connection with thier family. They know 5 minutes before anyone else that someone is coming home from work or the store. They know when you've missed thier dinner or walk. They know.
I'll do it myself
Deep in the dark of night, I heard the child gate open and shut. It makes a distinct "click, clinck" sound. To open it, one must use both hands and at least one thumb. Unless you are an Aussie. Apparently, by applying pressure in the right corner at the right angle, it can be opened as needed. Good to know. Wish our dog had shown me his trick at 5 pm instead of 2 am.
In addition to child gates, they will help themselves to sealed containers, lidded trash cans and things behind closed doors(!!) . They will also quickly devise an escape plan should any weakness be found in an enclosure. Any. Weakness.
A Job
Aussies need to have thier brains engaged, so give them something to do. What qualifies as a "job"?
-Taking a walk
-Bringing you an object (ball, Frisbee), repeatedly
-Training
-Putting things away
-Keeping you company while you garden, cook, clean, wash the car
-Raising pups - both Aussie parents are loving the process. Keeps 'em busy.
These are only a part time jobs - they must be combined in some fashion to "pay the bills".
On a volunteer basis, they WILL:
-Herd you down the stairs, out the door, into the next rooom, etc.
-Herd your children
-Chase your children
-Be an alarm
-Remind you when you are meant to do something for them
-Love, love, love you
If you'd like to read more about some of the "Aussie quirks" check out this site.