First thing's first: try to avoid having your Australian Shepherd's bed in your bedroom. You don't want to encourage their dependence on you or let them think of themselves as the leader of the pack. Instead, opt for somewhere like the living room. Choose a quiet area, out of the way, which is airy and well ventilated.
A memory foam orthopedic bed is best for most Australian Shepherds. It conforms to your dog's shape while supporting their aching joints. You should look for a waterproof orthopedic bed or waterproof cover for your elderly dog if they are prone to bladder leakage due to aging.
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!
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.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
They worked with livestock and provided companionship for families while protecting them. Australian shepherds love working and being with their families. They're a very devoted breed and highly intelligent. Australian shepherds bond with their owners and family and take their role as guardians seriously.
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.
Ideal Environment for an Australian Shepherd
In fact, many Aussies happily live in city apartments so long as they have plenty of enrichment like puzzle feeders, games, and access to outdoor space to run around. Plan on at least an hour of exercise daily, and that doesn't mean leisurely neighborhood walks.
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.
Australians are the worlds earliest population to call it a night, according to a new study. 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.
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!
A dog crate is both an extremely useful training tool and a perfectly good spot for your furry friend to lay his head. The most obvious benefit of having your dog sleep in a crate is that you won't have to worry about what will happen if he stirs in the middle of the night.
The Aussie's desire to cuddle
Dogs in general are known for being happy, cuddly, sweet, and soothing for a human to pet. Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all.
Most dogs will be content sleeping in a dog bed, crate, or even on the floor. In general, dogs should sleep indoors with their people.
Australian Shepherd
Despite their high energy, Aussies are usually quiet. They may bark to alert their owners of a stranger or an unfamiliar situation but other than that, you won't hear much from them. This fits the self-controlled personality that Aussies possess.
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.
Giving an Aussie the stimulation they need
Of course, Aussies need plenty of physical exercise: no less than one hour per day, and preferably upwards of two hours. This goes for both standard and mini Aussies.
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age.
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.
If your dog follows you into the bathroom, it's likely a result of their animal instinct and pack mentality. Canines who do this are referred to as “Velcro dogs,” due to their desire to be attached to your side. They may follow you around, even to the bathroom, to protect a part of their pack.
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.