Character of an Aussie
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, medium sized
dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is also a delightful and loyal
companion and great family dog. He loves to be part of the daily bustle, and
enjoys riding in the vehicle just to be with his beloved master. As a farm dog,
he diligently carries out his responsibilities, be they bringing in the stock or
finding a stray one that got tangled in the brush. He is easy to train, easy to
housetrain and eager to please but can be quite verbal at times.
Aussies have been used as Guide Dogs for the Blind, SARDA Search and Rescue
dogs, dogs for the physically handicapped and many go to do valuable work as PAT
dogs in hospitals and homes. Truly, the Australian is a highly versatile dog.
The Aussie (as he is lovingly nicknamed) is a very active dog that needs a great
deal of exercise on a daily basis to prevent him from becoming bored or
frustrated and developing destructive habits. Because of their high energy
level, combined with high intelligence, Aussies need to be given a "job" to
perform.
One of the most frequent reasons Aussies require rehoming is because their
owners didn't realize how much energy the breed has, and weren't willing to
channel that energy through training. Aussies are also quite demanding of their
owners time and attention and want to be constantly with them, following from
room to room in the house and go along in the car on errands. They can be highly
territorial and protective of their masters' possessions, which can cause
serious difficulties unless controlled with proper training. Therefore it is
recommend that you enrol with your local dog training club as soon as your puppy
is brought home.