QUESTION: what does an austrailian shepherd and chihuahua look like?
Anonymous - 1/6/2012 12:52:40 PM
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QUESTION: Are Aussies usually very vocal?
I have met alot who bark excessively.
Just want to be prepared for this behavior.
Thanks
Anonymous - 1/4/2012 10:23:48 PM
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My three aussies are very vocal but only when there is something or someone outside our house. Also If we start talking to them and asking questions like "Bath time?" or "Wanna go for a walk" they bark their heads off till it happens. But the barking never bothered me and they stopped right away if we told them to.
Anonymous - 1/5/2012 8:50:23 PM
Most Aussies are pretty vocal. You can work on training them to stop when told, but the trait is pretty strong in the breed and some just can't seem to help themselves. I always tell people not to get an Aussie if barking will really bother them.
paws4hisglory - 1/5/2012 5:27:25 PM
QUESTION: Hi there! I have a three year old Aussie Shepherd mix who is very active. My husband and I run him everday for three miles and feed him a cup and half in the morning and night, as well as treat after both meals. Basie, his name, has lost 9 pounds since November 2010, which is good because he was over weight back then and the doctor recommend that we feed him less. However, I have noticed that he is lethargic lately, especcially after running and eating. I don't wnt to feed him too little, but just enough so that he stays active and healthy. Any suggestions?
Anonymous - 1/2/2012 9:48:13 PM
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If he was my dog I'd have him thoroughly checked by the vet. It doesn't sound normal for an Aussie mix to be lethargic after normal exercise. I would have his heart and other things checked.
As for how much you are giving him, so much depends on the quality and formula of food, and what his ideal weight is. A cup and a half of Purina Dog chow is not the same as a cup and a half of Evo, for example. Evo has far more concentrated nutrition and dog chow is mostly filler and grain.
paws4hisglory - 1/5/2012 5:24:04 PM
QUESTION: Do all aussies have a docked tail. If not what determines this?
Anonymous - 12/29/2011 3:58:28 PM
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Some Aussies are born with full length tails and are docked shortly after birth. Some have the Natural Bobtail gene, which is a dominant trait. If so their tails will be shorter than full length, but can be anything from a short nub to half or longer. Most breeders still dock the tails to the normal shorter length.
In Europe docking has been banned so you will see more full tailed Aussies there. In the US, some people want full tailed Aussies to compete in various dog sports.
It is good to make sure a puppy is not docked too short, as it can interfere with their ability to defecate. Some vets and some breeders who do their own tails seem to think shorter is better, but it is not good for the dog. Leaving a few bone lengths in the tail still gives the standard look but doesn't affect the dog's ability to defecate.
paws4hisglory - 12/31/2011 5:43:26 PM
QUESTION: do ausssies need something to herd ? i really love them but i don't own livestock. i jog every day and want to do agility. and are they cuddly???
Anonymous - 12/23/2011 2:07:44 PM
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I have owned three aussies and they never needed to herd anything. When My siblings and I were younger we would go play with them and run around and their herd instinct would kick in but they have never NEEDED to herd anything. A daily jog should be good enough for them to get their energy out. We also once took our oldest out to a friends house who had cattle and he didn't know what to do with them. He just stayed on his side of the fenced and barked at them. They are also excellent at agility and are naturals. I taught my mini to jump and weave and I have no training myself in agility.
Anonymous - 1/5/2012 8:48:22 PM
We have a 1 year old Aussie and he LOVES to cuddle. Loves to be hugged and snuggle on the couch. He especially likes a belly rub and will paw you if you stop to soon. As far as the herding he hasn't shown sign of it yet besides getting upset if you go to another room and he can't follow you. But he is still young...
Anonymous - 12/26/2011 1:21:56 PM
QUESTION: I have a new 9 week old aussie puppy had for about a week now....he whines and whines and whines he has food and water and has been let out to potty but he still whines from time to time. I tell him no no but then he will whine louder. Is this normal he dont act like he is in any pain or anything just sits there and whines. how can i get him to stop
Anonymous - 12/6/2011 7:53:28 PM
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It is possible your aussie is still stressed from going to a new home, and is missing his littermates or mom, or both. Try to engage him in some fun play, training (keep it positive and short), or other things to give him other things to think about. Usually over time, the behavior will change.
Of course if he hasn't been to the vet since you got him, that would be good too, so you can make sure there is no physical problem. Is the food he is on a good brand? Sometimes feeding a lower quality food will make them not want to eat it, and that could cause some stress or whining.
paws4hisglory - 12/9/2011 5:52:03 PM
First speak with his breeder to get a history of the Aussie's usual behavior, is he missing his litter mates and mom.. Were you provided with a blanket of teady from his old pen or house? Is he bored? Or does he have a noticeable health concern? Maybe some good walks and obidince traing in combination with positive reinforcment redrirect his attention; or go to the vet :)
Anonymous - 12/7/2011 11:36:18 AM
QUESTION: How much do Australian Shepherd's shed?
Anonymous - 12/4/2011 6:55:22 PM
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The Australian Shepherd breed does have a double coat so it will shed, but how much has more to do with health and especially nutrition, than anything else. I feed my dogs a raw diet with some premium dry food, and salmon oil and other supplements, so my Aussies shed far less than most. Feeding the mid or low grade foods will cause the dog to shed more, as it won't have such health skin and coat. Adding a human grade, fresh source of omega oils like salmon oil will help reduce shedding though.
paws4hisglory - 12/6/2011 5:41:33 PM
QUESTION: We have a beagle and Australian shepherd mix who's around 6 years old and we wanted to get a new puppy who is a miniture Australian shepherd, I was wondering if the two would be generaly good together
Anonymous - 11/22/2011 9:02:33 PM
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I have a large Aussie and a mini. They love each other to death. I never worry when I have to leave the house because they have each other. The mini Aussie is a fantastic breed. I want another but my daughter prefers another large dog. Don't worry at all you will adore the mini!!!!
Anonymous - 1/19/2012 1:48:07 PM
I have a purebread Aussie male. He get along well with my other dogs that are female( 2 beagles and a beagle mix) but was aggressive toward my Dachshund who was not fixed. My Aussie was fixed. If you are going to have another male in the house I would recommend getting him fixed.
Anonymous - 12/1/2011 3:35:16 PM
QUESTION: my minature austrailian shepherd is two years old he has been itching alot I had heard to give him benydrl will that be ok and how often if so
Anonymous - 11/14/2011 11:45:40 AM
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Before you medicate your dog, it would be a good idea to find out WHY he is itching. Masking the symptoms will do nothing to cure the problem and over time could make it worse. Also, many Aussies can be sensitive to certain drugs, so make sure to check the www.busteralert.org site to find out more about this. Some drugs could cause fatal reactions in some Aussies, so it isn't something to do without the supervision of a vet familiar with the breed.
paws4hisglory - 11/15/2011 1:30:42 PM
QUESTION: I am thinking about buying an Australian Shepherd - are they good with the whole family and not get very snappy or be good with other dogs?
Anonymous - 11/9/2011 3:48:27 PM
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There is a huge variation in the temperaments of Aussies, so it is hard to make a blanket statement as to how they will be with other dogs or family members. I suggest you check out this page: http://qualityaussies.webs.com/tpypicalaussietraits.htm for more info. Also, get to meet a number of Aussies so you can get a feel for the breed traits. If you do decide to buy a puppy, make sure you go to an experienced breeder who has dogs with good temperaments, as that is the only way to ensure you get an Aussie with a sound temperament. Some Aussies can be very over protective, and not all are good with other dogs. Many will chase and bite running kids, joggers and others.
paws4hisglory - 11/15/2011 1:33:38 PM
An Australian Shepherd will be great with anyone they know and get used to. Very loyal. Mine barks a lot at visitors but they can get used to that. He is fine with kids but I wouldnt suggest running around the breed because they enjoy chasing and playing.
Anonymous - 11/11/2011 2:32:53 PM
QUESTION: Do toy or mini aussies have the same drive as a full size? Do they make good house pets?
Anonymous - 10/22/2011 6:29:03 AM
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That really depends on what else they are mixed with. Most so-called toy Aussies will have toy breed dogs mixed in to reduce the size. Same for some so-called mini Aussies. The best thing you can do is really take your time and get to know any breeder you are considering, find out their breeding practices, meet their dogs and see what their temperaments, energy level and personalities are like, as well as finding out what health testing the breeder has done. At a minimum it should be OFA for hips, annual CERF eye exams, HSF4 hereditary cataract and MDR1 testing. A good breeder can also give you specific information on all that as it pertains to his or her dogs.
paws4hisglory - 10/26/2011 6:40:44 PM
QUESTION: Our Aussie is 7months old currently. We had an Aussie who died a year ago at the age of 13 and we loved her so much we got another. This ones tendancies are TOTALLY different. It's not a bad thing it's just confusing to us. One likes water one hates it, one loved fetch and playing games one hates it, one wouldn't walk on any type of flooring but carpet, one we cant keep track of bc she wanders all over the place. Is this normal that they would be sooo different? Also when trying to teach her tricks and we ask her to sit (which she knows very well) and then to do another thing she just flops down on the ground, like slowly slides down like she can't sit right, any ideas on this?
Anonymous - 10/22/2011 1:38:45 AM
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Yes, it is actually pretty common to see such a wide variation in this breed. I always tell prospective buyers to get to know the breeder and the dogs before they choose a puppy. Puppies inherit their temperament traits from their parents every bit as much as they inherit their looks, so finding a puppy from parents with as close to your ideal temperament is very important.
I am not sure from your description of her reaction to training, but it could be she is stressed by the sessions. Many dogs will do various calming signals or submissive behaviors if they feel stressed by any training or situation. You can see more at this site:
http://qualityaussies.webs.com/calmingsignals.htm
If she is stressed you may need to find new training methods.
paws4hisglory - 10/26/2011 6:44:39 PM
QUESTION: Can you get a Australian Shepherd if you don't live in Australia?
Anonymous - 10/19/2011 4:29:02 PM
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Yes, in fact, I'm taking care of my friend's dog that is a Australian Shepherd
Anonymous - 11/13/2011 12:35:06 PM
Anonymous - 11/8/2011 3:23:38 PM
QUESTION: Do Australian Shepherd puppies eyes change color if so at what age?
Anonymous - 10/12/2011 5:50:03 PM
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Puppy eye color does change but the rate or age at what that occurs will vary with the individual dog. If they are going to be blue, they are a clearer blue that lightens in shade as they grow. If they are going to be lighter brown or amber, they may appear greenish or hazel when the pup is young, and sometimes even bluish. If they are going to be darker brown, they will be a darker blue/brown shade when they are pups. Of course since many Aussies have marbled eyes (more than one color in each eye), they will look somewhat variegated when they are pups.
You can expect that what you see when the pup is 2-3 months old will not be the adult eye color, but it can give you a clue as to what that may be.
paws4hisglory - 10/14/2011 2:04:11 PM
QUESTION: Are Australian Shepherds right or left paw domanent
Anonymous - 10/7/2011 11:54:00 AM
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I would expect that trait wouldn't have so much to do with the breed of dog, just the individual dog. I have never seen anything like that being dependent on the breed of a dog.
paws4hisglory - 10/7/2011 6:08:19 PM
QUESTION: we have a 6 year old female aussie. blue merle. she seems to get plenty of exercise between us and the kids but keeps jumping our 6 foot fence to get out of the yard. didnt know they could jump that high. what would you recommend besides a higher fence?
Anonymous - 9/24/2011 11:18:28 AM
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Usually when dogs try to get out of their yard, it is a clue they are bored and lack mental stimulation. A higher fence won't solve the problem alone, but will just challenge her to try hard to get out. You need to find activities to do with her that will give her an outlet for her brains as well as physical abilities. Things like Rally Obedience or other upbeat, fun training activities will really help her. The Aussie breed really needs more than just physical exercise to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.
paws4hisglory - 9/30/2011 12:47:01 PM
QUESTION: I have a 4 yr.old Aussie stray who was never "taught" to herd goats. We are considering getting 2 miniture goats next spring. Do you think he will attack the goats? He is a great dog, gets along with our bloodhound really well and other dogs too.
Anonymous - 9/20/2011 1:30:00 AM
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It is really hard to say how your Aussie with do with various livestock. Being good with other dogs is different as he recognized them as fellow predators, and dogs tend to view "prey" animals differently. It would be good if you learned what prey drive looks like and how to safely introduce and manage the two species. Herding behavior is really just modified prey drive, and it can flip backand forth between "herding" and "hunting" in the same dog depending on the situation. Some Aussies are good with larger stock and not smaller species, or vice versa. Getting unsupervised access is a very bad idea too, so secure fences are in order.
paws4hisglory - 9/23/2011 3:50:13 PM
QUESTION: What is the Australian Shepherd's eye color?
Anonymous - 9/12/2011 11:03:38 AM
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Anonymous - 10/7/2011 11:58:55 AM
Most Australian Shepherd's are bi eyed
Anonymous - 9/29/2011 2:05:49 PM
Aussies can have almost any eye color and combination known in dogs. That can include any shade of brown, amber and sometimes almost green, as well as blue. Sometimes more than one color is seen in one eye. That is called marbling or marbled eyes in this breed. They can have two eyes the same color, or one blue and one brown or amber, as well as 2 blue. Blue eyes are somewhat recessive but are not rare. An Aussie can inherit blue eyes as a recessive, such as what is seen in breeds like the Siberian husky, or as a result of the action of the merle gene which dilutes dark pigment to light.
There is a whole section devoted to color and marking genetics, including eye color, on this website: www.ashgi.org
paws4hisglory - 9/17/2011 9:52:50 AM
QUESTION: How many years do Aussies live?
Anonymous - 9/11/2011 11:20:19 AM
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The average lifespan in Aussies is usually around 12-14. However, many factors can affect this, including genetics, diet and environment, and other health care. Over vaccination, over application of toxins such as flea and tick prevenative, and feeding a poor quality diet can all shorten the life of any dog.
paws4hisglory - 9/17/2011 9:54:39 AM
QUESTION: If introduced at a young age to the creature, will an australian shepherd accept a small pet, such as a guinea pig, as part of the family?
Anonymous - 8/10/2011 10:53:58 PM
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Well, my dog is australian shep. husky mix and he fell in love with my two gerbils, he was very gentle with them and was very careful around them, especially in their ball, he loved to watch them! it was very cute!:) i am not sure how a pure bred would do though, i would say fine though, especially introduced at a young age!:)
Anonymous - 8/19/2011 10:47:31 PM
I think an australian shepherd would do fine! Because I have a chihuahua who is my mothers service dog and we introduced her to my guinea pigs at the age of one, but just make sure your Aussie won't nip at them.
Anonymous - 8/14/2011 11:17:13 AM
How well an Aussie will accept a small pet will partly depend on the Aussie. Most have the ability to if they are introduced as a puppy, but also part of it is how you manage the situation as the dog matures. ALL dogs have some prey drive so if a small pet behaves in such a way as to trigger that, it could get hurt. Not leaving the dog alone in the room where the guinea pig is housed is a good idea.
paws4hisglory - 8/13/2011 3:00:24 PM
QUESTION: Do you think an Australian shepherd would make a good flyball dog?
Anonymous - 8/9/2011 2:11:40 PM
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Most Aussies would enjoy the sport, but you should be VERY careful to pick one that has excellent structure. Flyball is a sport that is very physically hard on a dog and a dog with a poor build will break down fast. Make sure the parents have had their hips and elbows OFA rated, and you should get your dog done before really competing hard. Also, don't train regulary for it until the dog is mature, at least over a year old when bones are done growing.
Any dog that will do hard work or competitive sports needs to be the best strucure of all. There is a good book by Pat Hastings called "Structure in Action" that anyone doing agility, flyball, disc dog competition or other sports should read.
paws4hisglory - 8/13/2011 3:02:34 PM
Absolutely. Australian shepherd's are highly athletic and energetic. This breed loves to play!
Anonymous - 8/11/2011 12:26:13 AM
QUESTION: I have a 3 year old Blue Merle Aussie with terrible allergies. She takes Atarax 3x day, and has begun allergy shots. She gets a hydrocortisone bath weekly to relieve itching. I recently changed her to a grain free kibble made by Natural Balance for limited diet. My aussie also has pancreatitis. I trained her to walk on the treadmill to help supplement the exercise she is missing from being inside. Extreme temperatures in Texas and lack of rain has made allergies almost unbearable. I would like to know what your thoughts are on the "Raw Food" diet. Some people are telling me it is the best option for my allergy afflicted Aussie, and others are telling me it is not safe. I was enlightened about Nature's Variety, Instinct Raw Frozen Diets and wanted to know your opinion. My vet is not keen on me trying a raw food diet for my dog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Anonymous - 8/6/2011 3:27:54 PM
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I have fed all my dogs a raw diet for over 15 years and will never feed just dry or canned dog food. The benefits of a proper raw diet are tremendous. You do want to make sure you take the time to learn how to do it right though, to get the variety and balance.
I made a page on my website that has the basics of how I feed my Aussies. The link is:
http://qualityaussies.webs.com/feedingarawdiet.htm
There are many good sites on the internet with more info too. Many times when you switch to a raw diet, existing health problems are cured or at least diminished. It IS hard to find a vet that is supportive though, but don't let that stop you. Many are not trained in nutrition.
paws4hisglory - 8/13/2011 3:06:43 PM
QUESTION: I have a year old female Aussie, and i want to breed her. How old does she need to be so having puppies is healthy?
Anonymous - 7/27/2011 11:53:02 PM
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Most people say a female shouldn't be bred before she's two years old. It's VERY important to do all the health testing before you breed. Aussies can have a number of hereditary health problems. A minimum of things any good breeder will do will be getting hip and elbow x-rays for OFA, an annual CERF eye exam, HSF4 hereditary cataract DNA test, and MDR1 testing. You can read more on this site: http://www.ashgi.org/articles/screen_protocol.com
The site a great resource for all things to do with the genetic health of this breed.
Also, know it's good to learn all you can about whelping puppies in case something goes wrong. Your female may need a c-section, the pups may need to be bottle fed and so on. Make sure the stud dog has his health testing done and doesn't have any sexually transmitted disease like brucellosis or mycoplasma. A good stud owner will insist your female is tested too.
paws4hisglory - 7/29/2011 12:33:01 PM
QUESTION: I have a young Blue Merle Australian Shepherd whom is about a year. Although, she is fairly small for her age still. I'm unsure why. She runs a lot, but she doesn't enjoy jumping. I was wanting to do agility challenges with her, but she refuses to jump over or onto things. She's easily distracted and gets very excited when trying to teach her a command. When I show her a treat, she doesn't listen to me and she won't do the command. Can anyone tell me how I can get her to listen to me and get her to start jumping?
Anonymous - 7/25/2011 3:33:46 PM
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Have you had your Blue Merle Australian Shepherd thoroughly examined by a vet? Her reluctance to jump could be due to hip or other joint problems. Having hip and elbow x-rays done can tell you if your dog has hip or elbow dysplasia. Get the rest of her checked too. Most Aussies are active and athletic so the first thing I'd think of is she has something physically wrong. After that, I'd look at your training methods. Are they harsh or punitive? Those don't work well with any dog. Aussies work well with mostly positive, motivational methods to build trust and a partnership, not make the dog work because she's scared of a correction. A good handler works to build the bond with the dog so she WANTS to work for you and pay attention. My dogs constantly watch me as they never know when we'll be doing something fun, and when we DO train, I have their devoted attention.
paws4hisglory - 7/29/2011 12:37:52 PM
QUESTION: how can you tell how old a blue merrle aussie is - we got her as a stray and would like to know how old she is
Anonymous - 7/20/2011 12:05:45 AM
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You can't really tell how old your Aussie is. But if your really desperate to know look at their teeth and gums. Usually vets can tell almost about how old dogs are. Like if you dogs teeth are white and their gums look healthy they ate usually young but that's not true with all dogs. Hope this helped. :)
Anonymous - 1/11/2012 8:47:10 PM
A vet may be able to tell you approximately how old your aussie is based on her teeth and overall condition. However, some dogs' teeth get dirty faster than others so that isn't always accurate. Raw fed dogs have clean teeth into old age, and dogs fed regular dog food can have dirty teeth by a year of age. If the dog is well under a year of age not all the teeth will be fully in, so that could be a clue. After that it is harder to tell. Either way a dog found as a stray should definitely see the vet, as she's probably full of parasites.
paws4hisglory - 7/23/2011 11:04:01 AM
QUESTION: We own an eight month old blue merle Australian Shepherd. Since we got her at sevens weeks old, she has not stopped lunging and biting at our faces, especially if she disagrees with a command. We're careful to not put our face near hers, and reprimand her when she does lunge to bite. It's toned down since she's gotten older -- to the point where, if she is tired, we can lay down on the floor next to her, with our faces in clear range. However, there is still the uncertainity that at any moment she could be agitated or startled by a noise, movement, etc and bite our face. Is there any advice on how to break her of this habit?
Anonymous - 7/11/2011 10:40:16 PM
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To the last person who responded, not all merles have a problem with vision or hearing. The ones that do are almost always the product of a mating between two merle parents, and the affected offspring usually have too much white (called pattern white). That is often the first clue there may be problem. If they have white over and inside the ear, odds are higher they will be deaf. They may also have deformed eyes, either smaller, or with off center or misshapen pupiles or in some cases, no eyes at all! Even normally marked offspring from merle parents can have problems. Merles pups resulting from a tri to merle breeding are not at risk for this form of defect, though any Aussie with white over or in the ear can be deaf, and any can have other eye defects.
Living with a blind or deaf dog has special challenges but can be rewarding as well.
paws4hisglory - 7/23/2011 11:06:49 AM
We have a 5 year old merle Australian Shepherd and I had forgotton the problems we had with her when we 1st got her till reading your problems. Our dog turned out to be deaf and blind in 1 eye with very limited vision in the other one. in researching this it seems to be a genetic problem common in merles.Maybe something you need to check in yours. Our "little girl" and our family have adapted over time and she is a wonderful pet that even our other dogs have come to love. our border collie leads her around using his body hugged up next to hers. Still a wonderful dog even with her disabilities! She even knows before the others when a car pulls up outside. Extra sensitive to smells and motion.
Anonymous - 7/19/2011 10:39:53 AM
I will second that advice. Find a GOOD behaviorist who can work with you and your Australian Shepherd dog in person. Not the kind of so-called trainer that only uses force, but one that truly understands dog behavior and how dogs learn. This is a behavior that should have never been allowed to continue, and it is a sign of a lack of proper relationship between the dog and you. You should never be afraid to have your face near your dog's face. She may have other things needing work and a good behaviorist can set a whole new protocol for how you work with and train your dog. Odds are she is not happy either, dogs who are balanced and content do not behave this way.
paws4hisglory - 7/13/2011 11:18:05 PM
My suggestion to you is take your Australian Shepherd to a behaviorist and get the situation under control as soon as possible. Since it was not corrected when little, I don't know if the dog will respond or respect you as the pack leader. This could cause some severe problems in the future.
Anonymous - 7/13/2011 3:09:30 PM
QUESTION: How long can Aussies be by themselves?
Anonymous - 7/11/2011 2:10:19 PM
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You shouldn't leave any dog unattended for long periods of time. Since Aussies are a high energy breed of dog, you shouldn't leave them home alone for long. They might have seperation anxiety and destroy things. Hope this helped! :)
Anonymous - 1/11/2012 8:51:41 PM
That depends on many factors, such as age, training and the dog's individual temperament. I don't think it's humane to leave a young puppy alone a lot of the time, nor making any dog wait to go potty for too long (a few hours for a puppy, 6-8 hours for an adult.) Also, how well exercised the dog is when you ARE with it will matter. The Aussie breed is one that does best with an owner who has plenty of time to devote to the dog, such as people who work from home or who can take the dog to work. They are not good dogs for people who are gone a lot or too busy to spend plenty of time with the dog. They are a working/herding breed that was bred to be a working partner on a farm or ranch, meaning there was plenty to do to keep the dog mentally and physically active. They like to have a purpose, not just sit around waiting for something to happen. Aussies can be very destructive if left alone while bored and lonely.
paws4hisglory - 7/13/2011 11:20:52 PM
QUESTION: I have C.O.P.D. would the Australian Shepherd be bad for me as far as health conditions. And what about shedding?
Anonymous - 7/10/2011 7:45:21 PM
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Aussies do shed and some people have issues with the saliva of the dog. It's hard to say for sure how you would react to an Aussie though. I would suggest setting a time to visit someone who has one or more Aussies and spending some time in their home, around the dogs. Maybe this will give you more insight into your reaction.
paws4hisglory - 7/13/2011 11:23:34 PM
QUESTION: My Aussie is 5 months old. My question is do they like water? I have a pool in my backyard and he appears to dislike the water and swimming. In general do Aussie avoid the water? Thanks.
Anonymous - 7/3/2011 9:39:09 AM
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My dogs a aussie/husky mix and he absolutely HATES the water!
Anonymous - 8/19/2011 10:49:23 PM
Some of my Aussies love water, swimming in deep water over their heads, and some don't even like to get their paws wet. It seems the ones that like it best were introduced as puppies, even to just a kiddie wading pool. Some of mine really enmoy chasing the stream from the hose or playing in the sprinkler too, and I set a kiddie pool out on hot days. We also go hiking near a creek or to a pond belonging to a family member. All of these things are fun for my water loving Aussies!
paws4hisglory - 7/13/2011 11:22:26 PM
In my experience with the Aussies, they have not had a problem with water except they didn't like the pool and i believe it is because they could not actually walk into it. They are fine with the creeks and lakes that they can make their way into.
Anonymous - 7/13/2011 3:07:33 PM
I don't think so normally. It's like with cats, some hate water, some love it, and some put up with it. Your Aussie could just be afraid of the water, perhaps from an experience from being with you or the owner before. Or he could just hate water, and only drinks it. Has he ever gone up and tried drinking it? He could have tasted chlorine or salt in the water and not liked it. If you don't put any chemicals in it, maybe its one of the reasons above. Hope I helped!
Anonymous - 7/13/2011 11:57:35 AM
QUESTION: I have two Australian Shepherds, ages 8 and 5. They get along great and with the dogs they grew up around because they go everywhere with me. My 5 yr old female is having issues with new dogs now whether they are puppies or adults. She pays them no attention and acts like they aren't there until they sniff her then she tries to attack them. Any suggestions on how to fix this, i would hate to have to start leaving her home.
Anonymous - 6/23/2011 1:29:39 PM
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That is the kind of situation where it would be good to work with an experienced dog behaviorist who can see your Australian Shepherds body language in person, as well as the types of situations that trigger her reaction. All dogs give cues about how they feel about things and I am sure your female is, but it's not the kind of thing a person can suggest solutions for over an email format.
paws4hisglory - 6/26/2011 4:04:06 PM