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.
Most Australian Shepherds enjoy the water and are quite amenable to baths. In hot climates, you may be able to bathe your dog outdoors with a garden hose, provided the water is not too cold. Otherwise, a rubber mat on the bottom of a bathtub or shower stall will provide secure footing and prevent him from slipping.
While some pet owners are content to let their dogs air dry, you shouldn't be. When you let your dog air dry, they'll be at risk for fungus growing between their paw pads and in locations where their legs attach to their torso. If your dog has long hair, their fur may become matted if you let them air dry after a bath.
After a bath most pet owners quickly towel down their pet, but you should try to get the fur as dry as possible, Robles says. Use a towel to gently squeeze the fur and pull out as much water as possible, she said. By the end, your pet should be damp but not dripping wet.
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.
Australian Shepherds are loyal dogs, and they make great companions. In addition, they are also good with children. Australian Shepherds are relatively easy to care for when it comes to grooming. They only need to be brushed once or twice a week, and they only need to be bathed every few months.
Don't pour water over your dog's head because lots of dogs develop secondary ear infections from moisture getting into the ear canal. 3. Don't get your dirty dog a “little bit” wet – If you don't have a hose or sprayer, just fill up the bath and slowly pour the water over your dog, saturating the coat and skin.
Ear Care. With the increased need for bathing and longer hair, clean and check your Australian Shepherd's ears routinely. By cleaning their ears, you can prevent infections or the buildup of dirt or debris.
Aussies are cotton ball fluffy when they're tiny and then they loose all that fluff and have this thin, soft, wispy chicken feather coat for a while during their adolescent phase. As they get closer to being 1 year old they finally get a long, slightly more dense and coarse adult coat (see pics below).
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.
An active yet easy-going dog, the Australian shepherd loves to romp with children and tends to get along well with other pets. Australian shepherds are great family pets, herding animals, police dogs and competitors in obedience trials.
Do Australian Shepherds like living indoors? Despite their working shepherd dog DNA, Aussie dogs love to cuddle up on the sofa and be part of home and family life. In fact, they are incredibly sociable, family-orientated dogs, and so they should live, eat, and sleep indoors with you.
Australian Shepherds Coat Characteristics
Australian Shepherd shedding is year-round, too, though you'll notice a surplus of shedding during spring and fall.
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.
In the case of the Australian Shepherd pup, tail docking is a procedure that benefits the life of the dog. A shorter tail prevents potential breaking later in life and ensures a cleaner and more sanitary lifestyle for the dog and its owner.
Your puppy should be taken outside at least every two hours. Once they hit 20 weeks, they may be able to hold it for four hours. Don't plan on leaving them home for much of the day when you first adopt them. It simply won't work.
Like many doggies, Australian Shepherds love to sleep. In fact, sleep takes up a good portion of an Australian Shepherd's life. In adulthood, they sleep about twelve hours a day! This is an energetic dog who needs to recharge as often as possible to stay in top form.
Mini Aussies can hold their bladders for long periods of time with proper training. Typically, dogs can hold their bladders for one hour for every month that they have lived, up to eight hours. However, owners should take their dogs for regular bathroom breaks to prevent kidney and bladder problems.
Usually air drying is not recommended because it can cause fungus growth in between the paw pads or under the armpit, and can also cause more serious problems like an ear infection. If a dog with long hair or an undercoat is left to air dry, it may cause matting of the fur and other skin problems like hot spots.
Even for dogs who don't mind getting wet, they may feel uncomfortable or even stressed during bathtime. Zoomies are a way of celebrating, releasing nervous energy, and trying to replace that terrible shampoo scent with something more natural (and—let's be real—probably gross).