Quote:
Originally Posted by robertpolyglot
I've only had one dog and it was an Australian Shepherd. She was a phenomenal animal. I'd like to get another one, but she would be alone during the day.
What have you noticed or what do you know about them? I've noticed that some are skittish and that some are aloof to people apart from their immediate family, though very few have been mean. How are they with little kids? (My friend has a dog that has been less than friendly with his newborns). They are extremely intelligent. How much yard do they need? They're not THAT big.
What have you observed about Aussies?
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Their qualities are their quirks!
lots of brains mean trouble or lots of fun ...they need someone to be home alot during the day or major activity after you get home from work.
They are brilliant and you have to be careful that their brains are used ALWAYS! Ours has been taught to put laundry in the hamper, ...we say "tricks" and he performs about five in a row, ....he picks up his toys ...but my gosh if a wheels roles by or a kid running he's on a chase. We got him older so this "recall" thing is something we've fought for years.
With brilliance comes obsessive behaviors that we are constantly mending. Currently we are working on less barking and recall(whistles seem to work)
nine times out of ten he likes all people and that one time he doesn't he probably has a good reason. They are good judges of character. Mine is a slight bigot but he warms up to most .... but children are all darling in his eyes. NOW, pretend to hit me and he will clobber you! My husband has to be careful not to wrestle w/ me in front of him as he goes bonkers.
He is also very insistent that we be together as a family. ...HERDING! If we are in different rooms he will randomly check on each of us.
When we first got him he would move(not chew) shoes into piles. He chewed one pillow and I said no and switched it w/ a chew toy and he hasn't chewed on our stuff since.
My Cody is again brilliant with kids. He softens around younger kids(7 or 8 and younger) and plays good w/ the older kids. Our neighbors kids come over to play w/ him and some of them have dogs but he's more fun! He will do commands for them and the wait for them to throw the ball. He is more into playing w/ a human though. ...like racing for the ball is even more fun then just casing it(that could just be him).
Just having a yard isn't fun. He needs to interact in the yard or go for a run. We don't have a huge yard but he is a mini Aussie(19 pounds and a little over weight). e do a walk in the morning, ball in the afternoon w/ training(brain stuff) and a run or long walk in the evening ...accompanied by random spots of tug games.
The standard Aussie is about 45-55 pounds.
They are amazing animals.
My friend has a female mini and she is fun but way to clingy for my taste, but that could be training more then breed influence.
He is sweet as ever and all are in love w/ him. We say that having a Aussie is like having a three year old that never learns to talk.... I will always own Aussies(only rescue pound puppies tho) but I wouldn't recommend them to everyone.
Keep an eye on the pound if you want one. Many are given up because of the energy. ohh and I have NEVER met an aggressive Aussie. They are high drive but soft to respond to correction or redirection. You spank them and they will get so upset..... scolding is sometimes to much as they never do anything out of spite.
hope that helps
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