Training the Australian Shepherd Dog

 

Having an Australian Shepherd dog for a companion can be a source of pride and joy. You have to keep in mind that an active lifestyle is best suited to this kind of breed. An active lifestyle is best suited for an Australian Shepherd. To get the most out of living with an Australian Shepherd you have to take into account some relevant information about the breed.

Quick Facts

Aussies as they are commonly known comes from the native California use for herding other animals. Typical appearance of an Aussie is having a docked bobtail, medium built, strong deep chest and squarely stands on all fours. Maleness and femaleness is evident in Aussies.

Height: Dogs 20-23 inches (52-58cm.) Bitches 18-21 inches (46-53cm)

Weight: Dogs 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)

Living with an Aussie

Being a fun loving and easy going animals, Aussies love to play around. They love to play rough. They are eager to please their masters and form a deep affection with their human family. Their sixth sense works best for their master who expects a lot from their pet dog. Children love having them around due to their playful nature though they appear shy around strangers. Having an open or large space is recommended if you plan of getting an Australian Shepherd because of their energetic and athletic personality. This breed usually form a strong bond with their masters and suffers from separation anxiety therefore it is not advisable to leave them alone for a long period of time.

Training the Australian Shepherd

Since herding is second nature to Aussies, it is highly recommended to have them undergo training at an early age for them to learn how to control their high energy and be able to obey basic commands. This will make them aware of their master's expectations. It is advisable to have their exuberance under control especially around children. Australian Shepherd training should include exposure to a lot of people and other dogs and is best to start early on to hone their social skills and discernment between friend and foe.

An obedience training school is best suited for this energetic breed to properly channel their high spirits into productive results. They need to be involved in active workouts otherwise their energy will result to destructive behavior. They are happier being useful doing tasks rather than being a couch potato.

Aussies lifespan is12 years or more and their appetite is bigger that most dogs their size so be sure to feed them sufficient amount of quality food. Having an Aussie as a companion can be rewarding with adequate knowledge of this breed and ample training is provided. A well-trained Australian Shepherd can be the best dog companion one could ever have.