(except at bath time). He wants to play all day long, but he is learning to entertain himself as he gets older. If an Aussie is not properly socialized from the moment they enter your home, they may become reactive to new people, animals, and even new surroundings. As a family dog owner youll want to know just how an Aussie will cope with life around children and other pets. Please help us out. The first owners got transferred and couldnt take her with them. She is dog aggressive, especially when I am with her. We use a car seat harness on our girl for walks. I got my first aussie 9 years ago. Australian Shepherds have to keep all their animals in one place. You must understand the source of your dogs aggression to take steps in managing it, and its common for Australian Shepherds to become hostile with strangers. The last scene shows them riding home in the car the dog wanted the guy to buy. This way you can confirm your dog was bred safely, ethically, and properly, and establish a healthy lineage of dog. Australian Shepherd dogs that were not socialized early, or experienced trauma, will likely have significant stress each time they encounter a new situation. She is a great dog, a bit aggressive at times but what a delight to be around. They require a lot of attention which might be a problem. If you choose an Australian Shepherd, reduce this risk by socializing and training your pup. Intelligence and co-operation are great starting points, but like other herding breeds, Australian Shepherd have a lot of energy and a lot of drive. The Australian Shepherd is a highly intelligent breed. You are also advised to leave your Aussie alone while they are eating, as these dogs like to guard their food. Please think seriously about how much you are willing and able to give these dogs before you get one. But, you do need to keep them busy. Otherwise, you can expect barking and even some destructive behaviors. I forget who ran that commercial but there was a guy sleeping in his recliner chair, his blue merle Aussie getting a flash of inspiration, pushed the chair out the door, to the street, all around town, the guy still sleeping. Be sure to introduce your Aussie to other dogs, other people, new settings, and even unfamiliar sounds. We need all the help we can get and welcome any suggestions. Only once in the 15 years that we had our female Aussie that she showed any sign of aggression. That was directed at someone who was being verbally confrontational with us. She had 3 homes in the first year of her life. Pent-up energy can cause a dog to experience restlessness and increased anxiety, both of which can cause a dog to display aggression. Do they tend to show aggression towards strangers or other dogs? That means that they have been bred for certain personality traits that are useful in a herding dog. A high energy dog can be a great companion for older children but may be a bit much if you have a toddler. If your Aussie is struggling with aggression and they have not received obedience training at any point, they may benefit from specialty training. I had a full size female Aussie and a female mixed cattle dog and Aussie together. The higher the stress levels in a dog, the higher the aggressive behavior will be displayed in the beginning. Australian Shepherds are not considered an aggressive breed by nature. This is because they are known to go into offensive mode very fast. Australian Shepherds were first used for herding. It is best to train Aussies from a young age to get the best of them this allows them to develop into wonderful dogs with energy to burn while also being well-behaved for their owners. Aussies are known for guarding livestock, herding livestock when needed, and even alerting their owners to livestock threats. Avoiding stress is extra important with this breed. I got an Aussie mixed with lab she was supposed to be mixed with German Shepherd. But on the plus side, they are highly sociable and playful, and love to walk, hike, jog, and play games like a frisbee. Theyre playful and active. Socialize your pup early so they feel happy and calm in strange situations. Holly never bites them, but she does that panic thing right at them, and then the evasive action starts! Shes really great with small kids but she does tend to jump on them. Are Australian Shepherds good with other dogs, Australian Shepherd temperament as family pets, Prevailing Clusters of Canine Behavioral Traits in Historical US Demand for Dog Breeds (1926-2005), The Use of the Socially Acceptable Behavior Test in the Study of Temperament of Dogs, Breed Differences in Everyday Behavior of Dogs. Its different for each dog. Additionally, Australian Shepherds, despite being somewhat stubborn, live to please their owners. This means inevitable collisions and falls. Raising a puppy and a baby together is something that many people find appealing. We have a toy Aussie that is now a year old. However, he is absolutely terrible around other people including my family and friends and will nip at everyone. Any advice? But she does have doggie friends it just takes time for her to accept them. This makes them a challenge for first-time or nervous owners. Training is key for these pups. When these dogs are well trained, they are excellent companions in that they are very loving and loyal to their owners. Do Australian Shepherds Make Good Guard Dogs? If your aggressive Aussie is not receiving at least 45 minutes of exercise each day, this could be the source of their bad behavior. She loves the dogs she knows but is very aggressive towards other dogs and does not like people in uniform. She was easy to house break. Needless to say; this is not a dog for a sedentary individual or family. When she sees them outside, she flys at them, doing this screaming bark at them! Otherwise, your attempts to correct can make things worse, or more painful for your dog. They will need sufficientearly socialization (exposure to as many different people, sounds, environments, and contexts while they are still young. Australian Shepherds love spending time with their owners. There have been 5 people outside of our family in our house since March; she has to be plied with treats by all but one of them for her to settle down. She fell in love with them the minute she saw them in person. Australian Shepherds bond well with their family. Especially when your dog is territorial, like the Australian Shepherd. And that drive acts like an energy pump increasing the dogs inclination to be active busy, and generally race around a lot! Herding can involve nipping at ankles, which could upset other dogs. They compare the temperaments of working and non-working dogs. When a dog has been exposed to stress over a long period, learned aggression becomes the dogs ideal choice. This is what you need to know regarding their traits, tendencies, and characteristics. The best way to reduce aggression to strange dogs, as seen earlier, is to socialize, socialize, socialize! So, they can take really well to training! If my wife and I argued, the Aussie female would put herself between us. Biting out of aggression is unlikely, but can happen just like with any breed of dog. Hi! Of course, it also depends on how much effort and time you put into training your dog. Some of the most common causes of stress-related aggression include new pets in the home, the sudden disappearance of an owner, severe separation anxiety, new people in the home, and any other drastic shift in a dogs life. But, when raised together, you may find that your Australian Shepherd gets along with other dogs. He is only 9 months old. If you want an adult Aussie, from a rescue group or shelter, you can more clearly see what kind of dog you will be getting; so it can be useful. Something most owners want to know up front is whether Aussies are an aggressive breed? Looks to me that youve been made an expert on the aussie personality & traits. When your shepherd is stressed, they can become cranky and irritable. As long as you socialize your Aussie from the moment they enter your home, most Aussies will understand healthy protective behavior. Do Australian Shepherds Need a Companion? Required fields are marked *. They will play with their water dishes, chase birds on the beach until they nearly pass out, jump into pools, follow you into the shower, and play in the sprinkler spray. But keep putting time and effort into training, even as your dog grows. This is not to say that you need to own sheep to own an Aussie (though it may help). Start this as early as possible. Any thoughts? How have you found the traits of this breed? He obeys and has never once bitten me. But of course, under certain circumstances, any breed is capable of being aggressive if provoked or threatened. This is even more important. However, they do have a natural instinct to work; so can try to herd, be bossy, or even nip smaller animals and sometimes, even their owners. Feeling cornered or trapped or encountering a stranger who poses a threat are perhaps the main ones to consider. Bichon Frise Lifespan How Long Does This Small Breed Live? Its understandable to want other people to like your dog too. If your normally gentle Aussie is suddenly displaying aggressive behavior, we always suggest reaching out to your veterinarian for further guidance. Australian Shepherds are a wonderful breed, but they can develop aggressive tendencies if certain needs are not met. Aside from early socialization and training, Aussies need to be kept active because they can become very bored quickly, which might not make your dog angry and aggressive, but it might make him destructive. I socialise her everyday and trained every week for the first year. He used results of theCanine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Socialization has not been easy. The Australian Shepherds history directly impacts the personality traits seen in the breed today, so being aware of their background can help you better understand your furry friend. I am a Licensed Vet Tech with 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine, specifically in emergency and critical care. Back to more Australian Shepherd articles >>. Australian Shepherds were originally bred to work alongside ranchers in herding livestock. Shes so sweet she loves people she licks the cats she used to play with the yorkie! If you have a big family, or want a dog to take everywhere, youll need one that is friendly. They gave her to a neighbor of mine to try to find her a good home. I absolutely love my Aussie but he is extremely protective of me. Plus they love spending time with their owners! This can just involve the basics, but Aussies are smart enough to pick up on an array of commands and tricks. Our cat steels food from him as hes eating and he doesnt bat an eye. And those Australian Shepherd personality traits are still carried in most Aussies today, even though your puppys ancestors may have been pets for several generations. They loved to run and play together. Mine is also much more wary of men and I have had her from 3 months. He was raised with another older dog the first six years of his life and a kitten who grew into a cat when he was five with a second kitten/cat added after our older dog passed away. If you want a loyal breed that loves spending time outdoors, you may enjoy the Australian Shepherd temperament! Theyre also a very clever breed that is easy to train. Stress brings about a hormone called cortisol to enter your dogs body. Its also about confidence, and the willingness to have a go at solving new problems. He is not good with other dogs or people approaching the house. They may not always defend the livestock head-on, but they will make the noise needed to get their owners attention. This will help them to build their confidence and behave more appropriately at any given moment. My Aussie is a great dog and we love each other but she is fairly aggressive even to me at times if, for example she doesnt want to take a bath, etc. Aussies are very cautious of strangers; This, coupled with their love for their owners, makes them a very protective dogs. Aussies are not for the faint of heart and really need owners who are able and willing to do a lot of work with them. 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