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With their feisty attitude and fluffy coats, it’s no wonder so many people are considering getting an Australian Shepherd puppy.
This active breed may be cute, but what do you know about the Australian Shepherd? Are you sure you’re willing to bring one into your home and family?
Before you head to your local rescue or shelter and adopt an adorable Aussie puppy, here are a few important things to know about Australian Shepherd puppies.
Australian Shepherd puppies thrive when properly trained
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Australian Shepherds are very intelligent. They are also a herding breed. Since they were bred to do work, you can expect an Australian Shepherd puppy to have a lot of energy. These properties make them ideal obedience students.
Australian Shepherd puppies normally go to training very quickly. As you teach them, it’s not only important to teach them basic commands like sit, stay, and lie down; you also have to teach them boundaries.
This intelligent breed always finds a problem for a solution. For example, if your Australian Shepherd puppy sees something on the other side of the backyard fence that they want to chase, they will find a way to get over or under – or by means of – the fence.
Training will not only ensure that your Australian Shepherd puppy is well behaved. It helps them stay mentally stimulated and prevent boredom. That will go a long way in curbing destructive behavior when they’re trying to have their own fun.
They need a lot of exercise
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Because Australian Shepherds were bred to be working dogs, they are normally quite slender in build. However, if your Australian puppy isn’t getting enough exercise, they can get overweight very easily.
To keep your Australian Shepherd puppy healthy and cared for, you need to make sure they get plenty of daily exercise.
A daily walk around the block won’t cut it for this breed. In order to stay healthy, many Australian Shepherd lovers recommend having a garden where you puppy can play freely for an hour or two a day.
Of course, just because you don’t have a backyard doesn’t mean you can’t get an Australian Shepherd puppy. Long walks and hikes can make up for a lack of space. You can even train your Australian Shepherd puppy to be your jogging partner.
They tend to get attached to one or two people
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Australian Shepherd puppies love to please which is why they do so well with obedience training. It’s also why they get fast fastened at the hips of their favorite people. Many Aussie parents say their puppies like to be as close to them as human – or canine – is possible.
If you’re looking to adopt a dog that you can cuddle with, the Australian Shepherd is in luck. Just make sure your Australian Shepherd puppy’s desire to be around you doesn’t turn into a need such as fear of abandonment.
They have many names
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The name Australian Shepherd is quite misleading as the breed is not even native to Australia. According to the American Kennel Club, the breed likely came from the Basque region of Spain. In the early 1800s, many Basques left their homes and traveled to Australia with their sheepdogs.
After some selective crossing with English imports such as the Border Collie, the breed of the Australian Shepherd as we know it today was created.
When these dogs were transferred to California from Australia, they were mistakenly given the title ‘Australian’.
This is also not the only name of the breed. The Australian Shepherd has many names. They were previously referred to as Spanish Shepherds, Pastor Dogs, Bob-Tails, California Shepherds, Blue Heelers, and Mexican Shepherds.
They are prone to heterochromia
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Before you panic,
”
heterochromia” is not a disease. What it means is that your Australian puppy can have different colored eyes. So one of your Australian Shepherd puppy’s eyes could be a piercing blue while the other could be a rich golden brown.
Australian Shepherd puppies can have golden, green, blue, brown and even marbled irises.
In fact, because there are several genes that affect a dog’s eye color, it is difficult to breed Australian Shepherd puppies for specific eye colors. But that’s part of the fun of having your own Australian puppy! Their eyes are always a surprise and they can even change from puppy to adulthood.
While this trait can be absolutely stunning, there is nothing wrong with having an Australian Shepherd puppy with two of the same beautiful eyes.
Some Australian Shepherd puppies are tailless
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If you’ve ever seen an Australian Shepherd, you may have noticed that their tail looked like a small lump or didn’t even exist. While your first instinct may shame the dog parent for tail docking, that’s not always why Aussie puppies don’t have tails.
About one in five Australian Shepherd puppies are born with the “short tail” often associated with the breed.
While we love rescue here at DogTime, if you choose to go to a breeder for a short-tailed Australian Shepherd, a responsible breeder gives you no guarantees.
It only takes one copy of the gene, known as T gene mutation C189G, for an Australian Shepherd to have a short tail at birth. If a puppy is born with two copies of this gene, it can be fatal for the puppy.
If a breeder were to breed specifically for bob-tailed Aussies, they would have a chance of producing offspring with two copies of the gene.
They are excellent therapy animals
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Because Australian Shepherds are so intelligent and love to be put to work, they can make excellent therapy dogs.
Aussies can also be trained to be any type of service dog, whether you are looking for an emotional support animal or a service animal to help with your daily activities or in times of a medical emergency.
Australian Shepherds are so capable that they are often trained to search and rescue dogs, also.
If you are planning to turn an Aussie puppy into a therapy dog, see a reputable trainer and talk to your caregivers to make it happen.
If you decide an Australian Shepherd puppy is right for you, check out DogTime’s adoption page that allows you to search for adoptable pets by breed and zip code.
Do you have an Australian Shepherd? What do you like most about your Aussie? Let us know in the comments below!
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