Character description of the ASCA:
"The Australian Shepherd is primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is an intelligent, exceptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained: performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. This unusually versatile stockdog works with the power and quickness to control difficult cattle as well as the ability to move sheep without unnecessary roughness. Although an aggressive, authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable."
Is an Aussie right for you?
Getting a puppy can be a 12-15 year commitment. Often people fall in love with the Australian Shepherd because they immediately enchant with their appearance and their intelligent character is already a legend among many dog owners. Unfortunately, there are always families who end up having a lot of problems because the Australian Shepherd is not suitable for their lifestyle. Before getting an Australian Shepherd, you need to do as much research as possible about the breed and then decide if it is the right dog for you. We are happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Just give us a call, come visit us, spend time with us and our dogs. So you can already get a good picture of whether this breed suits you.
The Aussie was bred to be a farm dog, not just to work on the cattle, but also to be a companion and guardian of the family and family property. What makes him happiest is being with his family, be it at work or at home. Since the Aussie has to be able to implement the signals of his owner quickly and without errors while working on the cattle, he is very adaptive, intelligent and always wants to please. This is also called "will to please". But be careful! This does not mean that raising an Aussie is a piece of cake. Being close to his owner at work makes him a dog who is very attached to his owners - this close relationship is his legacy. In the early history of the Australian Shepherd, they were even used to guard the children while both parents were in the field. Valuable equipment and cattle were safe on a farm when an Aussie lived there.
Many Aussies show friendly interest towards everyone, but in general they tend to be more reserved and cautious towards strangers. Because Aussies are more prone to bond with their families and owners than some other breeds, they can develop a strong protective instinct. It is therefore particularly important to invest time in their socialization and training.
Since these dogs were bred for livestock, their intelligence and energy must be used elsewhere if they are not to be used on livestock. In our experience, they can be enthusiastic about anything sporty, be it obedience training, trickdogging, agility, mantrailing or lunging. But they are also satisfied when they can simply take part in an active everyday life. Long walks, hikes, visits to the beach, mental work - they like almost anything as long as they are allowed to be with their owners. When Aussies grew up with children, they often become playmates. We are often asked whether you absolutely need a large house with a garden in order to be able to keep an Aussie. We can answer this question with a clear "no". Dingo has lived with me in the smallest of apartments and was just as happy as he is now in our house. Both dogs can be real couch potatoes, sleep longer in the morning than we do and are always by our side at home and very rarely alone in the garden, even if they have the opportunity. The Aussie just wants to be with you. He wants to do exciting things with his owner, he wants attention and he wants to be busy.
It is very important, especially in the first year, that you teach your Aussie to be able to keep calm. An Australian Shepherd also needs 18-20 hours of rest a day and this should be offered to him from the start so that he can become a balanced companion. Often, people find themselves in a vicious circle. The dog is exhibiting undesirable behavior and they think it's because he's not being busy enough. Because of this, they do more and more with the dog and the behavior tends to get worse. Then it is very often because the dog simply does not get enough rest or is exposed to too much stress in everyday life. The Aussie can be a real sensitive personality You should therefore never train with a hard hand and punishments! As willing to learn and intelligent as they are, you can reach your goals much faster with calm and patience,
However, you should show consistency, because the Aussie likes to ask whether a rule really applies always and in every single situation. If you are looking for a dog who shows an intense desire to be very loyal to your family, then the Aussie will be a wonderful companion and great work partner for you. One should be aware of his territorial instincts and that he can be protective of his owners and his home. But it is up to you which dog you end up with.