Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, and similar dogs were bred to love water, while the Australian Shepherd wasn't. For the most part, they were bred to keep their feet firmly on the ground. If you count “natural swimmer” only as dogs that naturally love the water, these dogs do not fall into that category.
The beach is a dog's paradise and can be a blast for your Aussie. Swimming, romping, digging, running and fetching the ball or disc, indeed a beach has it all for a dog, but taking your Aussie to the beach requires careful and practical planning.
Aussies have a waterproof, double coat. Their coats are medium length but can be straight or wavy with some feathering.
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.
Your Aussie will bond to his family and be protective of and loyal to them. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that even though Aussies have strong guarding and herding instincts, they are sweet and cuddly indoor dogs that can even be kept in apartments.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Adult dogs require anywhere between 12 and 14 hours of sleep each day. Puppies, just like babies, require loads of sleep. It's normal for your puppy to sleep 18–20 hours per day. Older dogs need more sleep than their younger selves.
As a rule of thumb, Australian Shepherds can hold their bladder for one hour per month of age. So, a two-month-old puppy could likely hold it for about two hours, while an eight-month-old could hold it for eight hours.
After rinsing off the shampoo, apply the conditioner to the coat. This should act for about 3 minutes before rinsing it out. Change of coat in the Aussie: When changing the coat, it is best to brush your dog's coat daily with the dog brush.
If you count “natural swimmer” only as dogs that naturally love the water, these dogs do not fall into that category. However, if you're counting any dog that can learn to swim with some ease, then the Australian Shepherd will likely be included.
Australian Shepherds are devoted, loyal and gentle dogs. Most are reserved with strangers, but they do love people and thrive on the company of their families. They get along with other dogs but will often try to herd them – a behaviour which is often unpopular with cats.
Australian Shepherds will act very protectively around their owners and immediate family. Outsiders may make the Aussie cautious and guarded and sometimes even aggressive depending on whether you've socialized your dog.
If you are a first-time owner, you're probably wondering, at what age will my Mini Aussie calm down?! All puppies and young dogs experience a period of extreme activity. In Aussies, it should stop at around 2-3 years of age.
While adaptable, the loyal and devoted Australian Shepherd does best with its people nearby. They are often demanding of attention and they do not like to be left alone.
The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners. True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
The bottom line. Australian Shepherds are bundles of fun, but they are also highly sensitive dogs. You should never leave an Aussie alone for more than four hours at a time, and try to make the most out of every day to prevent boredom and loneliness when they're left to their own devices.
That's not a good idea. A dog needs human contact. A dog needs to be let outside to do his or her business. A dog needs someone to tend to their food and water dishes.
Ideally, adult dogs shouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours. There is some wiggle room, provided that your pooch has access to enough food and water, as well as a place to go potty if they need to.
The average Aussie goes to bed just after 10:45pm, which is more than an hour earlier than the late night Spaniards, the University of Michigan's global sleep pattern research found. As well as the early nights, Australians are the first to rise along with Americans who both get up just after 6:45am.
The most common reason for this is the comfort. Dogs love small spaces because they feel contained, which is enjoyable for relaxation. They may also enjoy the temperature that is created in that small space as well as the fresh carpet. If this is the case with your dog, there should not be any reason to worry.
Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot, making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the 'speak' command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.
They have a mouthful of shiny new teeth, and they need appropriate puppy toys to use them on. By around 6 months of age, they have their adult teeth and the need to chew abates, but boredom can give them a reason to take up the habit again.
When your puppy has learned to be very gentle with his mouth then you can teach him to stop biting you completely. To teach him to no longer bite at all, whenever he tries to put his mouth on you, say "Ouch!" in a high pitched, loud voice, and ignore him for ten minutes, like you did in the past.
Dogs lick their paws as part of self-grooming routines, however excessive licking could be a red flag. While paw licking is a common behaviour, some additional reasons your dog is licking their paw include anxiety, stress, obsessive behaviour, flea allergies or boredom.