Australian Shepherds are reliable, beautiful dogs and the bond between you and your Aussie can be really special. They are popular as family dogs, but is an Australian Shepherd the right breed for you?
First things first: Australian Shepherd are not from Australia (as you might think). It is actually a breed that was created in the U.S. to herd stock for the farmers. They come in multiple colours (most common are the colours blue/red merle or black/red tri). The males are usually a bit bigger than the females, but their character is similar.
So before you run out to get an Australian Shepherd, here are 5 things you should know:
1. Australian Shepherds have a lot of Energy
Aussies were created to run and heard which is still part of the dogs temperament. They do not only need physical exercise, they require mental exercise as well. It isn’t sufficient to go for a run, you have to teach them something or ask them to do some tricks they already know to keep them mentally healthy and not bored.
Only a tired Aussie is a well-behaved Aussie – they need to go for a walk, bike ride or everything similar at least three times a day. If your dog isn’t fully occupied he or she will definitly find something to kill the boredom by destroying the newspaper, the new sofa or bark the whole day.
2. Australian Shepherds require Training
There are tons of videos of well trained Aussies who can get you a beer out of the fridge or do other cool tricks. But the willing to learn tricks can be a problem too, Aussies pick up everything really quick, whether it’s the command to sit and stay to get a treat or just jump on the kitchen table to get the treat all by theirselves.
So if you want to have an Aussie and do not have any dog experience I would definetly recommend to visit a good dog school (do some research in the internet and ask your friends who already have dogs).
3. They get very attached to their owners
I can’t go somewhere in the house without Posy following me and always stand by my side while cooking, cleaning, working, even when I’m in the bathroom. Unluckily there are issues with this behavior: If you do not train your dog, that he does not habe to follow you all the time and even has to stay alone at home sometimes, you will become a person that is home all day, because your dog can’t stand you leaving him.
4. Fur everywhere
Every dog looses hair, but the fluffy and hairy Aussies do shed a lot. You will have their fur everywhere and a lint roller will become your new best friend. Brushing them two to three times a week should regulate the hair but with an Aussie in your house you are having dog hair all over you and your furniture.
5. There are a lot of health problems
Unfortunatly Aussies are not the healthiest of the breeds. There are some common health problems including allergies, tumors, eye diseases and epilepsy. The only possibility to minimize the probability of having a dog with one of these diseases is to find a good breeder who checks the mother and the father before having the puppies. These tests are complicated and cost a lot which means that it might be more expensive to buy a healthy puppy from a good breeder. You should invest that money so you can enjoy your time together without weekly vet visits.
In conclusion, Aussies are great dogs and I love this breed a lot. But always keep in mind that they aren’t as easy to handle as a Golden Retriever or Labrador.
Hopefully, I could give you some insights into this breed and you enjoyed reading my post. Feel free to reply to it or even upvote :-)
Have a great day!
