When it comes to an Australian Shepherd, you can't go wrong with a good game of Frisbee. Whether you want to train in order to enter competitions or if you just like watching your dog chase the disc around, Frisbee is an excellent way to burn off your dog's extra energy and spend some quality time with them.
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.
The versatile herding breed is well-suited for most dog sports – Agility, Dock Diving, Herding, Trick Dog, etc. “They are great at anything competitive,” says Anna. “They have a terrific balance of drive and willingness to please.”
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.
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!
If you're wondering how your Aussie is showing you his love, cuddler or not, here are some signs to watch for. Bringing you toys. If your dog is bringing you his favorite things, he wants to play with you and make you happy. Since he feels happy with his toys, he assumes you will, too.
Adult dogs lick each other in greeting, friendliness or deference. When your dog licks you, he may be showing his affection, or simply because your lotion or skin tastes good.
While you may brush off this act as a mere annoyance, it's actually your pup's way of trying to communicate with you. And it can mean something really sweet. If your dog puts his paw on you, it can be his way of saying "I love you." We pet our pups to show our love and affection.
Being left alone for too long may cause the intelligent, energetic Australian Shepherd to create her own fun—often through destructive behaviors or barking. While an Aussie may be left home alone for four to six hours at a time, crate training may be necessary for the dog's safety.
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.
It's also a great idea to take them to an off-leash dog park as often as possible so they can run and play with other dogs. Games like fetch, tug, and backyard football are also fantastic exercises for herding dogs.
As a result, they love to learn tricks and skills. They are very responsive to positive reinforcement, making toilet training and other training relatively easy to master. They're very active and energetic, and love to run and play with both kids and adults. Australian Shepherds love the attention that playtime brings.
Aussies need mental stimulation just as much as physical. There should be a healthy balance in this area or problems can arise. Australian Shepherd problem-solving is not only temperament trait, but a motivation.
In most cases, people do not realize that to a dog, a hug does not mean affection at all. They will generally grab things between their front legs when they are play-fighting, actually fighting or humping something. Not exactly a sign of affection, but rather a symbol of dominance.
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! Excessive licking can sometimes be a sign that your dog is anxious, uncomfortable or in pain.
Dogs Are Reading Us
They sense our moods, follow our pointing gestures, and read us for information about what's going to happen next. That means they stare at us a lot to gain knowledge about their environment. Essentially, they are waiting for us to do something that will impact them.
Take good care of your dog, socialize him, give him positive experiences, and respect his unique personality. He'll reward you with a lifetime of love (even if he sometimes acts more excited to see your brother).
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.
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.
Attention Seekers
Aussies can be very clingy.
Loyal. Aussies are very smart, loyal, and love having someone to be with at all times. Loyalty is a necessary trait for any service dog. Besides being extremely friendly and energetic, Aussies are usually very easy to train and can make great emotional support animals or service dogs.