Having an Australian Shepherd dog for a companion can be a source of pride and joy. You have to keep in mind that an active lifestyle is best suited to this kind of breed. An active lifestyle is best suited for an Australian Shepherd. To maximize the potential of an Australian Shephed, it is best to take into account some vital details about the breed.
Quick Facts
Aussies as they are commonly known comes from the native California use for herding other animals. Typical appearance of an Aussie is having a docked bobtail, medium built, strong deep chest and squarely stands on all fours. Masculinity and femininity is well-defined in Aussies.
Height: Male 20-23inches or 52-58cm.) Bitches 18-21 inches (46-53cm)
Weight: Dogs 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)
Living with an Aussie
Being a fun loving and easy going animals, Aussies love to play around. Rough playing is the name of their game. They are loyal and affectionate to their human family and always eager to please their masters. Known to have a sixth sense, they sometimes forge ahead doing something even before their master could order them to do it. Playful by nature, children would love having them around but they are reserve around strangers. A large or open space is good for an Australian Shepherd due to their energetic personality. This breed usually form a strong bond with their masters and suffers from separation anxiety therefore it is not advisable to leave them alone for a long period of time.
Training the Australian Shepherd
Since herding is second nature to Aussies, it is highly recommended to have them undergo training at an early age for them to learn how to control their high energy and be able to obey basic commands. This will make them aware of their master’s expectations. It is advisable to have their exuberance under control especially around children. Australian Shepherd training should include exposure to a lot of people and other dogs and is best to start early on to hone their social skills and discernment between friend and foe.
Enroll them in an obedience training school to properly channel their high energy into productive activities. They need to be involved in active workouts otherwise their energy will result to destructive behavior. They are happier being useful doing tasks rather than being a couch potato.
Aussies lifespan is12 years or more and their appetite is bigger that most dogs their size so be sure to feed them sufficient amount of quality food. Having an Aussie as a companion can be rewarding with adequate knowledge of this breed and ample training is provided. A well-trained Australian Shepherd can be the best dog companion one could ever have.
Posted under Dog Breeds, dog training
This post was written by admin on January 6, 2009
