How much exercise do Australian Shepherds need? Australian Shepherds are extremely active dogs that require more than 2 hours of exercise a day. They require committed owners who are willing to give them lots of exercise if they are not going to be used as a working dog.
A Miniature Australian Shepherd requires a moderate amount of exercise—at least one hour per day. Luckily, these pups aren't particular with how they receive their workout, so a walk, run, jog, or hike can all do the job. These pups also enjoy off-leash running outside (in a fenced-in area) and some indoor playtime.
Australian Shepherd walking time
Ideally, the minimum should be 45 to 60 minutes daily. This can be just once a day, although two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
To groom Australian Shepherds, we recommend using the best brush for Australian Shepherds. Brush your dog at least once a week to prevent matting and remove the loose undercoat.
Aussies shed year-round with two heavy shedding seasons in the spring and fall. These two types of shedding occur because Australian shepherds have a double coat. The Australian shepherd's coat features a dense undercoat and a slightly coarse topcoat (sometimes referred to as the outer coat).
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.
Australian Shepherds are extremely active dogs that require more than 2 hours of exercise a day. They require committed owners who are willing to give them lots of exercise if they are not going to be used as a working dog.
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.
Height: Ideally, males should be 14 to 18 inches tall at the withers; females, 14 to 17 inches. Weight: Approximately 20 to 40 pounds.
The affectionate, clever Australian Shepherd makes a loving family dog for experienced dog owners. They are friendly and loving with their family, but have an extremely high energy level and require vigorous exercise every day to wear them out.
Miniature Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without enough mental and physical exercise. They need a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and thus easily bored.
They, like some other animals, have their one chosen person, which is probably you if your dog sits on you all the time. When the Australian Shepherd chooses their person, they begin to exhibit loyalty towards you, even to an extreme degree.
While Australian Shepherds can be very affectionate, loving, and cuddly dogs with their family members, they may not act the same way at all with someone they don't know. This dog will enjoy snuggling with the people he trusts.
Shaving your Australian shepherd's coat could expose its skin and increase its risk for getting a sunburn. Always leave about 1⁄4–1⁄2 inch (0.64–1.27 cm) of your dog's coat when you're trimming it to protect its skin.
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.
Most dogs love them and they can be a wonderful part of our day. That being said, it is not necessary to take a walk every single day. Many dog caretakers feel like they are failing their dogs if they skip a daily walk. In fact, it is usually nothing to worry about, and sometimes it's exactly what your dog needs!
Oftentimes, everything from a dog's temperament to its aptitude for obedience training is passed on closely from generation to generation. Over a long enough time, this pattern of passing down traits can engrain specific traits in the breed as a whole. This is how the Australian Shepherd's “wiggle butt” came about.
They are not overly stubborn or spiteful, but can become that way if you don't give them enough attention or if they get bored. There is no such thing as too much activity or training with an Aussie; they can handle more than you are able to throw at them.
5. Australians are Tough. Anyone who has ever watched a game of AFL (Australian Football League) will know how tough Aussies are. Growing up in a country where pretty much every animal could kill you, from spiders and snakes to jellyfish, tiny octopuses and even cone shells, you'd have to be!