Question:
What are Australian Shepherds like to own?
?
2012-05-07 12:18:38 UTC
How energetic are they? How easy are they to train? Can they be trained reliably for off leash, or - like the husky - should you never trusted an Aussie? Are they very vocal? Can they be trained to be non-vocal? What sort of vocalizations do they make? (short sharp bark, howl, "husky" talk)
Fifteen answers:
anonymous
2012-05-07 12:24:14 UTC
How energetic are they? VERY energetic. Australian Shepherds are one of the most intelligent and energetic breeds there are, they need constant exercise and activities to stimulate the mind in order to stay healthy and stable. Aussies that are not trained and exercised regularly are prone to behavioral problems.



How easy are they to train? They are very easy to train. Aussies by nature are alert, attentive and active. They are easily trained because they have high intelligence and they also have a willingness to appease.



Can they be trained reliable for off leash activities? Yes, they are not as independent as Alaskan Malamutes but they are very Intelligent and if you don't take the time to train them properly the commands necessary for off leash training like come/stay, they can outsmart you and be an extreme hassle to deal with. Aussies are herding dogs by nature so off leash training shouldn't be to extreme if you are an experienced dog owner.



What sort of vocalizations do they make? Loud high pitch barking or yapping. Every dog is different. While some will howl, others will bark/yip.
sistersilly
2012-05-07 13:20:45 UTC
Although I no longer breed, I've raised and bred aussies for years. You won't find a more loyal, smart, athletically bred dog than the aussie. They are highly intelligent and curious. I've also been fortunate to have them on our family farm where they run free and are never leashed, chained or fenced. I don't even need a leash when I take my dogs on trips. They mind extremely well when taught correctly. I don't think I even own a leash. I have two dogs who travel extensively with me - one a jack russell and the other one of my male aussies and I never leash them. That's not to say this is for everyone. I have a great deal of experience in training dogs and do so without spanking them or other means of physical harshness. I am firm, patient and tolerant but do not spank. Tones of voice will make a world of difference when training. I've had several males over the course of 20-30 years and have yet to have an intact male leave the farm in search of a girlfriend. It would seem that once they know what territory is theirs, they have little desire to leave, but, they will defend it if a stray dog or cat enters their domain. Aussies do need a job to do or do need activity. These dogs are not for city folks who want a dog to lay still and be quiet throughout the day. These dogs are super smart, they learn quickly and are very easy to train if you know how to train a dog (of any breed). I've never had a destructive aussie (not including the young puppy stage as any breed of puppy can be destructive). And if you breed a merle to a merle, you will have health issues. Do not breed merle to merle - ever! The result can be a blind or deaf puppies and it can be heartbreaking. Aussies are loyal companions who love to follow you around just to see what you're going to do next. As far as barking, they will bark, but, they are not excessively noisy. I've had them bark at strangers entering my property but when told to calm down that it's alright, they usually stop. I've also found that aussies love to "talk" and are vocal in that way by almost moaning and making gutteral sounds. I love it when they talk. They will often "smile", too, by curling their upper lips up when they are very happy - I've had people mistake this as showing agression or growling, but, that's usually not the case. I love aussies and have owned many breeds throughout my life, but, I always have and will have australian shepherds. Hope this helps!
KoAussie
2012-05-07 12:59:16 UTC
Aussies are an active breed and require regular daily exercise.



They are fast learners, easily trained by knowlegable trainers, but inexperienced owners who aren't familiar with how to train a dog will find themselves frustrated in attempting to train any breed. This is why classes are highly recommended (required in my sales contract)



They are very reliable off lead once they have a solid recall. This is something that is taught.



They are not only stock dogs but also intended as guardians and so yes, they will bark alert at intruders. They may also bark in excitement and play, but not always. The tone of the bark will depend on the source. During play, it can be high pitched but alerts tend to be deep, throaty warnings. As an owner, you will quickly learn to distinguish between a true warning and play vocalizations. They can be taught to restrain their urge to vocalize, but should not be discouraged from using their protection voice.



They are not the breed for everyone. They carry a double coat and shed quite a bit. They are very people oriented and do best in frequent and close contact with their owners as opposed to being left alone outside. They require brushing on a weekly basis.



The breed is prone to some notable health concerns, including deafness, eye defects, hip/elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and auto immune diseases.



My recommendation to anyone unfamiliar with the breed is to spend several days interacting with them. Contact a reputable breeder and schedule a visit. Attend competitive events and talk to owners and handlers of the breed. Get a feel for their temperament and personalities to make sure this is really the right breed for your expectations and lifestyle.
Scary
2012-05-07 12:26:22 UTC
Aussies are great dogs but they are naturally an excitable bread. Excitement leads to excessive vocalization and more difficulty training. When selecting your puppy pay very close attention to it's temperament. Do not go for the outgoing puppy jumping all over you! Instead go for the quiet friendly one hanging somewhere in the middle of the group. Picking this temperament will ensure you get a balanced attentive best friend!
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2014-09-25 16:11:26 UTC
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bzzflygirl
2012-05-07 12:25:10 UTC
Very energetic, need a job or might destroy your house or develop issues.



Very easy to train and very smart, too smart sometimes.



Yes they can be offleash when trained as they are herding dogs meant to be offleash.



Yes they are vocal, a short deep bark, whining "talk" and shrill yelping.



Beware of herding people and nipping heels.
anonymous
2012-05-07 13:03:31 UTC
Hi, im not going to give you an internet researched answer im going to give you an answer from experience. my husband and i adopted a australian shepherd about 5 months ago and just when he was only 8 weeks old. i was very iffy about getting a puppy because i knew how much work it was going to take to train them, but to my surprise my puppy (bear is his name) caught on very quick when we were teaching him different things. what ive concluded as i go on this experience with my australian shepherd is they are VERY energetic and VERY stubborn. they are like a handful at times and also the most peaceful dog anyone can ask for. i have trained my dog to walk on and off a leash and does a good job for being just a puppy. My puppy bear is very vocal, he has the biggest mouth ever. you can train them to speak and to be quiet; and hes actually learned that quickly. my dog makes a short high pitched bark when he speaks but when hes in guard dog mode its a hollow bark. all in all what ive learned and discovered while having my dog for just a short period of time is that are very loveable and since im to mean grouchy parent he clings onto my husband more. you have to be very stern and make sure you dont allow them to do something they're not suppose to do in the first place *ie chewing on shoes* if you dont teach them in the beginning you will have a hard time getting them to stop. they love to chew on everything (thought i would mention that) my pup has chew up about for pairs of shoes between me and my husband so you are warned lol. make sure they have enough toys and items to take care of that problem. also, i suggest this breed if you are the exercise type. australian shepherds need LOTS of exercise especially since it could effect their health when they are older. my husbands family had an australian shepherd for twelve years and he just passed away this year from congestive heart failure. theres not alot you can do to stop these things especially since its common in their breed, but make sure that you give your puppy all its shots and vaccinations from the beginning. im still learning alot of stuff about them but i wouldnt give my australian shepherd up for the world. bear is smart and wonderful and i get so many compliments about him. hope this sort of helps!
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2015-01-27 13:44:31 UTC
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?
2012-05-07 12:20:03 UTC
VERY energetic.

Very easy to train.

Yes, they can be trained to be reliable off leash.

They can be very yappy. And yes, they can be trained not to be.



It's all up to you and how much work you are prepared to invest in the dog.
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2016-02-16 04:22:31 UTC
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2015-01-27 22:21:40 UTC
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anonymous
2012-05-07 13:08:35 UTC
my queens and shepard were by far the best dogs i have had the pleasure of owning to date.they are very, very easy to train since they are truly out to please their owners.put it this way,i tought my dogs to sit,rollover,lie down,stay in under a week.that may seem a bit fast but these guys were super smart.they are very protective of their home and their owners.as for the yapping it really depends on your dog as they are all in their own.mine were not big barkers unless to warn or get my attention for fun.i had mine even speak loud or quiet by saying shooosh.then had them learn my kind of sign language in less than a day.they could just kinda i guess mouth a bark and very loud when i made my hand jestures.so for a dog like these you must have large

,large area for them because they need to run roam and basically plum ware ya out.you cant ask for a better friend,family member or worker.they will please you to no end.
?
2016-02-21 07:36:39 UTC
I would say an aussie because border collies are sometimes very nervous and timid.To me it dosnt matter which breed when it comes to having it around other dogs as long as a dog is socialized they should get along fine with other dogs.
Caroline
2012-05-07 12:33:58 UTC
Australian Shepherds are medium-sized working dogs with a robust, balanced, muscular build and a rustic appearance. The breed’s front legs are straight, and their feet are oval-shaped, compact, and have a set of well-arched toes. Australian Shepherds have a well-proportioned head with a moderate stop and teeth that close in a scissor bite. Their oval-shaped, medium-sized eyes come in a variety of colors that may be marbled or flecked. Their high-set ears are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tip. Many Australian Shepherds have a naturally docked bobtail. Australian Shepherds have a slightly way, weather-resistant double coat that varies in length depending on the climate they originate from. The breed’s hair is short and smooth across the head, outside of the ears, in front of the forelegs, and below the hocks. The backs of the forelegs have hair that is somewhat feathered. Male Australian Shepherds have more of a mane and frill than their female counterparts. The breed’s coat may be straight or slightly wavy, and it exists in merle, red merle, solid black, or solid red. White markings and/or tan points may exist in red merle Australian Shepherds.



Australian Shepherds are partly famous for their "Ghost Eyes". Some Aussies have yellow eyes around a black pupil. Also, Australian Shepherds exist in blue Merle.Australian Shepherds are a loving breed that loves to play. They are loyal and affectionate, and they get along great with children. Australian Shepherds are devoted companions that are protective over their family. They are playful, spirited, and lively, but their demeanor is very mild and easy-going. The Australian Shepherd has a natural desire to please, and he is highly intelligent and easy to train. They are very perceptive and intuitive, and they consistently know what is expected of them. While they are not remotely aggressive with people or other animals and pets, the Australian Shepherd takes its job very seriously and will be assertive when at work with livestock. This breed needs a lot of exercise and prefers having a job to do. When improperly trained and insufficiently exercised, Australian Shepherds can become nervous, bored, and destructive of property. They need proper socialization. Australian Shepherds don’t bark and they are quiet workers. They may be too energetic to make household family pets.



you may need to take daily jogs or runs about three miles long for a regular walk. Australian Shepherds are shepherd dogs and are used to wide open Californian ranches, herding cows and bulls. Proper exercise is very important in an Aussie. They may bark excitedly or alert you to any unusual activity and they can be noise sensitive. Show lines are much less driven than working lines; less intense, making good pets. These dogs must be trained early on not to nip at the heels and the backs of peoples knees, as this is their natural herding inclination. If you fail to do this, it will be hard to trust your dog around others, especially small children, who he/she might try to herd.

Size

18 – 23 inches

Weight

40 – 65 pounds

The gene that prompts the Australian Shepherd’s beautiful merle coloration is the same gene that makes the breed prone to blindness and deafness. This propensity is predominately seen in merle and merle crosses. Potential owners of this breed should check the hearing of Australian Shepherd puppies with merle coats. Australian Shepherds with natural bobtails can acquire serious spinal defects. Other major health concerns of this breed include cataracts and CEA. Less prominent concerns include CHD, nasal and solar dermatitis, Pelger- Huet syndrome, and iris coloboma. Some lines of Australian Shepherds have been seen with lumbar sacral syndrome, PRA, epilepsy, distichiasis, PDA, and PPM. It’s suggested that owners of this breed have their Australian Shepherds’ hearing and eyes checked. Typically, Australian Shepherds live for 12 to 15 years and they average 7 puppies per litter.



The merling gene responsible for the beautiful variegated coat patterns also affects the coloring of the iris resulting in the wide array of eye colors in the breed. Deafness can occur due to lack of pigmentation in the inner ear. Thus, dogs with a predominance of white coloring may lack the necessary pigment for normal hearing. Other breeds wherein deafness is common are Dalmatians, white Boxers, and Collies. Aussies with excessive amounts of white, particularly around the head and face often, but not always, are the result of a merle to merle cross. The crosses, known as homozygous merle, are vastly more likely to exhibit deafness and/or blindness. Beware a breeder that deliberately makes a merle to merle pairing. Responsible pet buyers should have ALL puppies, regardless of coat color checked for proper vision and hearing.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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