The Australian Shepherd Dog has incredible skills for obedience, physical exercise, and herding, making it one of the most outstanding dogs in different canine sports. Early training and socialization of Healthy Aussie Puppies harness their intelligence and energy.
Appearance and Characteristics of the Australian Shepherd
Using your imagination, you might think that Australian Shepherds are a dog native to Australia. However, they were actually of the American origin. Among their physical characteristics, we can highlight the following:
- Australian Shepherds are medium-sized dogs, with a body longer than it is tall and with powerful muscles.
- It has very stylized and beautiful lines, with a broad chest and a somewhat tucked-up belly.
- The head is rather small, but well-proportioned to its body.
- The nose color tends to match with their coat color. Black and merle dogs usually have black noses, and red dogs typically have liver-colored noses.
- Its eyes are almond-shaped and can also vary in color, from blue to brown, passing through amber; some even have a combination of these colors.
- Its ears are high, triangular, and medium-sized.
- The Australian Shepherd breed standard allows for either a natural tail, which is long, or docked. Fortunately, the cruel practice of docking a dog’s tail is illegal in many countries.
- The Australian Shepherd’s coat is medium length and can be either straight or wavy. They have a double coat and the undercoat can vary depending on the weather conditions in which the animal is found.
The Australian Shepherd is a dog whose characteristics stand out for being versatile, intelligent, friendly, and very easy to train. The male’s body structure reflects power, but not coarseness. The females are a little more delicate.
Behavior and Temperament of the Australian Shepherd
In terms of temperament and behavior, the Australian Shepherd is a hard-working and intelligent dog, with a strong instinct as a guardian and herder of sheep or cattle. A loyal companion, he has the stamina to work all day and a good-natured nature. He is rarely quarrelsome and when he meets someone for the first time, he can be a little reserved. These dogs have a very stable temperament and a great predisposition for herding and guarding. His sense of curiosity is immense, as is his intelligence.
Their guarding nature is not incompatible with a charming personality. The Australian Shepherd is kind and affectionate, as well as very loyal. Although they are not aggressive, they are shy and reserved with strangers. To prevent this from developing into a real problem of fear and aggression, it is essential to teach the dog to socialize from puppyhood.
Due to its high intelligence, the Australian Shepherd can be trained very easily from early years. Healthy Australian Shepherd Pups need to be kept physically and mentally stimulated to keep them active. However, it is very active, so it is often difficult to train it for quiet activities; in contrast, it does very well in canine sports.
If properly trained from early ages and given the necessary amount of exercise, the Australian Shepherd is an excellent pet.
Australian Shepherd Education and Training
Training is one of the biggest responsibilities of a dog owners. In fact, thinking about how to properly train an Australian Shepherd seems like a world full of complexities for some. The good news is that there is a special secret: your dog’s education depends on a connection between you and him. So, his learning depends on the understanding and communication that develops between you and your Australian Shepherd. To train your dog, we have some tips for you:
- Company: This means your Australian Shepherd needs a community. It is enough if his pack is limited to his owner and himself, but he needs company and affection and above all if the affection comes from you. Don’t make the mistake of locking him in a room indefinitely or ignoring him or tying him up in the yard.
- Discipline: The Australian Shepherd has a very well-defined Leader-Follower hierarchy. Your dog must be your follower, not your leader, and to achieve that you must show him that you are the one in charge. This does not mean yelling at him or spanking him to punish him. True discipline is based on firmness and tranquility.
- Routine: An Australian Shepherd dog needs a routine, that is, a schedule of walks at the same time, meals at the same time, exercises, etc. When the Australian Shepherd knows how his day is going to be, that makes him calm and confident.
- Exercises: we are talking about an animal that in the wild is gregarious and a hunter. This animal, your dog, is full of energy! And he needs to expend it in favor of his own relaxation and also yours. It is important that you understand that an excess of energy means a hysterical dog.
The four points above essentially summarize the pillars for training the Australian Shepherd.
Feeding and Care of the Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds need a protein-rich diet not only because of the nature of its coat, but also because of the physical activity it performs. Its high energy level makes long walks in the countryside, runs and physical exercise become routine activities.
The Australian Shepherd’s coat is very distinctive. It is a double coat, with a surface coat of moderate length and a strong texture that is resistant to weather conditions. This resistance is completed by the presence of a dense, soft undercoat that acts as a waterproof and insulator, and whose quantity varies depending on the time of year. However, essential care of the coat is minimal, and regular brushing is usually enough to keep it in optimal condition.
As with other double-coated breeds, both coats must be worked on separately. The undercoat must be opened for proper aeration of the skin and, at the same time, to facilitate the evacuation of dead hair, and it must be brushed using a rake or king coat to prevent it from matting.
It is important to remember that the undercoat is the coat that sheds the most, so if it is worked on properly and regularly, the animal will lose less hair and the formation of uncomfortable and annoying knots will be avoided. As for the top coat, work with a brush with long metal bristles and a comb, always working in the direction of the hair growth to prevent it from breaking.
As for the Australian Shepherd’s hygiene needs, an occasional bath every month and a half or two months is sufficient. A specific shampoo should be used for this, with a good moisturizing base that keeps the hair healthy and flexible.
If you bathe frequently, it is not necessary to lather thoroughly every time. Simply work your hair with your hand in the direction of its growth, thereby minimizing the loss of essential oils that protect the skin and give life to the hair roots.
Furthermore, this breed hardly needs grooming. If the dog is intended for show use, it can be shaped with thinning shears, accentuating its angles or removing hairs that stand out from the general appearance. It is only necessary to monitor the hair that grows on the feet and between the toes, and keep these clean and well rounded.
It is important, however, to pay attention to the hair that grows inside the ears. Being a working dog, the Australian Shepherd tends to accumulate dirt in this area and even retain small foreign bodies, which can lead to annoying infections and otitis.
We hope this informative post has helped you know the unique qualities of Australian Shepherds. Now, you can discover the joy of owning a Shepherd pet. At Autumn Creek Aussies, we specialize in breeding healthy, intelligent Aussies and provide beautiful Royal Australian Shepherd Creek Pups. Embark on the journey with us and experience a timeless companionship!
