Aussie Answers |
Q. Do Aussies make good family dogs? A. Aussies make great family dogs for most families. However, like virtually all dogs, Aussies require considerable training to make them into the devoted family pet who plays exuberantly with children during the day but lies quietly at the master's feet in the evening. Aussies have retained strong herding instincts, sometimes despite many years and many generations away from their original sheep herding ancestors. These herding instincts are characterized by a desire to gather their family together and to be protective of their family. You may notice young Aussies nipping at the running heels of children and a tendency to circle any group of children, or other animals within the pup's "territory." All dogs, Aussies included, should have several months of foundation obedience training to socialize them and establish the leadership authority of the human family. Q. Are Aussies easy to train? A. Most Aussies are very easy to train and eager to learn. And, while you can teach an old dog new tricks, the training will be best absorbed if applied during the early months of life - beginning at two months of age. Association with unusual noises, surfaces, routines, and a plethora of different people will lead to a confident, outgoing, and trustworthy companion for the many years to come. Q. How long do Aussies live? A. A general rule of thumb is - the bigger the dog, the shorter the life span. Aussies fall neatly into the middle of the dog-size spectrum. Assuming no genetic or congenital complications and taking into account the many environmental factors that can lead to chronic and acute diseases, your Aussie should still be healthy and active on its 12th birthday. Many Aussies will live much longer; 15 years is not uncommon. Unfortunately, Aussies seem to decline very suddenly. Meaning it may only be a matter of months between the time when a daily game of fetch was happily anticipated and the day you must make the decision to let your Aussie die peacefully in your arms. Q. What kinds of medical problems do Aussies typically have? A. Like most dogs, Aussie medical problems can range from epilepsy and diabetes to heart disease. But thankfully, these cases are not the rule. The breed has been generally well served by Aussie lovers and breeders. A number of case studies have been done on Aussies for genetic traits such as the "excessive white" coat pattern which leads to blindness and deafness as well as other neurological problems, hip dysplasia and Collie and Aussie Eye Anomaly. You may be relatively secure about the health of your dog by carefully questioning your breeder about the types of routine medical screenings all breeding stock should have prior to being bred. In particular, ask to see the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or Penn Hip certificates of both sire and dam, and the Canine Eye Research Foundation certificates of both sire and dam prior to purchasing any animal. This suggestion holds regardless of whether you ever intend to show or breed your Aussie. After all, even a pet quality dog should be healthy. For more information about inherited diseases in the Australian Shepherd, click on the "It's in the Genes" link on the home page. Q. How often do Aussies shed? A. Like all long and double coated breeds, Aussies will shed heavily twice a year. Folklore often suggests dogs shed in the summer and winter. In fact, dogs shed in the spring and fall - that is, when the days get longer and shorter. The dogs are preparing themselves for the summer and winter. Owners whose dogs are still shedding in the summer and winter have been extremely negligent in the coat care of their animals. Vigorous and consistent brushing during the 3-4 week shedding period should dramatically reduce shedding during the rest of the year. Generally, bitches shed out more heavily than dogs. A bitch's shedding will often predate her estrus by several weeks. This gives advance notice to less-than-observant owners that it's nearly time to lock her up to prevent an unplanned litter. Q. Do Aussies need a big yard? How much exercise do Aussies need? A. In the best of all worlds, all Aussies would have enormous yards and still be walked twice a day by their owners. They would sleep indoors at night, attend dog school classes for obedience and agility, and have their own herd of sheep to tend to during the day. But that just ain't the way it is. Aussies are active dogs who need some kind of activity to keep them from looking for trouble. But an acre of land is not a requisite for a happy Aussie. A house in the suburbs with a caring and active owner is a far superior situation to living the life of a ranch dog with little, or at least no consistent, human contact. Patio homes and townhomes without covenant restrictions against medium or larger size dogs can also support the Aussie lifestyle, however, the owner must be dedicated to multiple daily walks as well as including the dog in errand running and other "out of the house" opportunities. A bored Aussie, regardless of how or where it is confined, can be a destructive animal. Couches are shredded, carpets ruined, even doors and tile floors are not immune to damage. Q. Are two Aussies better than one? A. Well, it's never much fun to party alone! All dogs love companionship. They are, after all, pack animals. Aussies are no different. But some simple rules will help in the transition from a one dog family to a multiple dog family (after all, once the decision to expand has been made, why stop at two?). First, never buy littermates. Whether of the same or opposite sex,) littermates who grow up together will always be more closely bonded to each other than to you. The problems really show when training starts. The dog left at home will typically bark, howl, whine, and generally carry on until its sibling returns. The sibling, meanwhile, will be distracted and anxious during training, concentrating more on its out of sight brother or sister than on you. Second, wait until the first pup is at least a year of age before introducing a second dog. This waiting period gives you time to establish a training foundation with the older dog. Quite frequently, the bad habits you've corrected in the older dog will also crop up in the new pup. It's much easier to figure out who's chewing, barking, marking, fence jumping, or digging if you have one dog you can trust. Aussies are quick to take on the role of disciplinarian when they are confident and well grounded in the house rules. A noisy barking pup may be corrected by an older, quieter dog, making your foundation training that much more consistent. Third, consider the sexes of the animals you propose to bring together. There are usually no compatibility problems between the sexes, but two of the same sex can be a problem depending on the temperaments of both individuals. You can have two dogs or two bitches living peacefully together but it will take more work on your part, early on, to ensure lifelong harmony. |
