If you live in a warmer climate or somewhere where it is not too cold, then yes your Australian Shepard can have a good life outside. The only thing to be mindful of is that they need shelter from sun and rain and will require plenty of space for exercise!
Like most dogs, Aussies (and Mini Aussies) are active and outdoorsy, but still best suited to indoor living. Medium-large-sized homes with gardens are best, but they can do well in smaller homes, too. Just so long as they get everything they need to be happy and healthy!
The optimal temperature for Australian Shepherds is often between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Most Australian Shepherds will be comfortable and able to control their body temperature properly in this temperature range. To reduce overheating in hotter temperatures, provide lots of cover and access to water.
In addition to being herding dogs, Australian Shepherds serve as Seeing Eye dogs, hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Because of their high intelligence, Aussies are well-suited to do a wide variety of jobs.
Aussies are people-oriented dogs who tend to follow their family from room to room just to be near them. They require plenty of attention. Being left alone for too long may cause the intelligent, energetic Australian Shepherd to create her own fun—often through destructive behaviors or barking.
An Aussie will have to build up trust with someone before he feels comfortable around them. Factors that can influence an Aussie's desire to cuddle vary, and include the dog's age, his background, any health issues he may have, and his personality.
Australian Shepherds tend to whine for all sorts of reasons, such as to get your attention or if they're sick or injured. If you can rule out a medical condition, then the next step to quiet your Aussie is to train them not to whine. Failing to indulge in their bad behavior will clue them in to stop. Good luck!
Their high energy can be a blessing and a curse. An inactive Australian Shepherd can become bored and even destructive when not exercised. This fun-loving breed requires a lot of exercise and needs to stay active; whether it's playing fetch or taking a long walk every day, make sure to keep your Aussie moving!
Australian Shepherds will bark at strangers, loud noises, and other animals as a way of getting rid of all that excess energy. More so, they can display the same type of behavior towards squirrels, thunderstorms, or even a passing car.
Dogs that have double or water-repellant coats, like Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundlands, may only need baths every few months. Bathing them more often than necessary can cause dry skin.
As a puppy, at least once every hour, maybe every 2 hours in some instances. By the time your Australian Shepherd is all grown up, he should be outside 3 to 5 times every day.
As long as you devote enough time and energy to it, an Australian Shepherd will reward you tenfold with loyalty and hard work. Taking care of an Australian Shepherd, however, is no easy task: this dog breed demands a lot of attention and space to consume its energy.
Australian Shepherds need to vent their energy on a regular basis and to utilize their active and brilliant minds, otherwise they will become out of control and bored stiff -- which they usually express by barking and destroying. A bored Aussie will trash your house and yard.
As medium-sized dogs with big personalities, Australian Shepherds are best suited to living in medium-large sized homes with some kind of outdoor space. That said, smaller homes and apartments aren't necessarily a no-no, just as long as you can get them outside for toilet time and provide sufficient exercise and play.
Female Aussie shepherds are said to be more sensitive and laid back than males, making them easier to handle. They can make great companions for those looking for an intelligent and loyal pet.
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age. At this point, they're considered mature dogs who can better regulate their energy. That said, not all Aussies will tone it down at this age. It may take them reaching seniority for their energy to drop off.
Australian Shepherds are known for their fierce loyalty with one person, that doesn't mean every Shepherd will act like that. Some Shepherds might not build a particularly strong bond with any one family member. Others might like one of you more than another, but they don't sit on you to show it.
Attention Seekers
Aussies can be very clingy.
One of the most common reasons why Australian Shepherds lick is because they want to show their affection for you. If your dog is constantly licking your face or hands, it's a pretty clear sign that they love you and want to be close to you.
Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they're left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety.
Aussies are remarkably intelligent, quite capable of hoodwinking an unsuspecting novice owner. In short, this isn't the pet for everyone.
Although we often think of purebred dogs for having the propensity for anxiety, any mixed breed can run the same risk. Always look at the parent breeds in your pup to determine if he will have a greater risk of anxiety. Some breeds that have a predisposition for anxiety are: Australian Shepherd.