Your Australian Shepherd will need a minimum of two hours exercise every day, but the more you can give them the better. This should be split into two fairly long walks, with plenty of time to stop and have a sniff, along with the chance to run around off-lead in a secure area.
Giving an Aussie the stimulation they need
Of course, Aussies need plenty of physical exercise: no less than one hour per day, and preferably upwards of two hours. This goes for both standard and mini Aussies.
Australian Shepherd walking time
The length of the walk is only limited by your time and energetic working dogs like this can go all day long. Ideally, the minimum should be 45 to 60 minutes daily.
At least two to three hours of exercise—physical and mental—is necessary to keep the Australian Shepherd happy and healthy. Without enough activity, the Aussie can become high-strung, destructive, or snappy. As a working breed, they've got plenty of energy to burn, and they need your help to do it.
How much exercise do Australian Shepherds need? Australian Shepherds are extremely active dogs that require more than 2 hours of exercise a day. They require committed owners who are willing to give them lots of exercise if they are not going to be used as a working dog.
Australian Shepherds are an extremely social breed of dog. This means that they generally do not like being left alone. In fact, Australian Shepherds are one of the most likely breeds of dog to experience separation anxiety (we will talk more about this later on).
#7 Australian Shepherd
A dog with energy to spare, the Australian Shepherd has both the stamina and smarts to excel at off-leash activities.
Australian Shepherds need to vent their energy on a regular basis and to utilize their active and brilliant minds, otherwise they will become out of control and bored stiff -- which they usually express by barking and destroying. A bored Aussie will trash your house and yard.
Some may need to be walked just once a day while others need up to three walks, according to the American Kennel Club. Certain sporting and working dogs, like golden retrievers or doberman pinschers, need lots of daily activity and exercise. Toy breeds, like pekingese, are much calmer, according to the AKC.
On average, vets recommend walking the dog 3 – 4 times per day for at least 15 minutes.
How Often Should You Walk Your Dog? We recommend that you walk your pooch, on average, 3 to 4 times a day for about 15 minutes. However, frequency also depends on the particular dog's: Breed.
About the Breed
Being a medium-sized dog, Australian Shepherds, on average, weigh between 40-65 pounds and stand 18-23 inches in height. Their expected lifespan is 12-15 years.
Australian Shepherd
Despite their high energy, Aussies are usually quiet. They may bark to alert their owners of a stranger or an unfamiliar situation but other than that, you won't hear much from them. This fits the self-controlled personality that Aussies possess.
The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners. True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
Yes! Like most dogs, Aussies (and Mini Aussies) are active and outdoorsy, but still best suited to indoor living. Medium-large-sized homes with gardens are best, but they can do well in smaller homes, too. Just so long as they get everything they need to be happy and healthy!
Typical causes of anxiety in australian shepherd's might be: Separation anxiety – Fear of being separated from their owner. This often manifests itself by your australian shepherd pacing, drooling, biting, or being destructive while you're away.
Attention Seekers
Aussies can be very clingy.
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age. At this point, they're considered mature dogs who can better regulate their energy. That said, not all Aussies will tone it down at this age. It may take them reaching seniority for their energy to drop off.
Take good care of your dog, socialize him, give him positive experiences, and respect his unique personality. He'll reward you with a lifetime of love (even if he sometimes acts more excited to see your brother).
In addition to being herding dogs, Australian Shepherds serve as Seeing Eye dogs, hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Because of their high intelligence, Aussies are well-suited to do a wide variety of jobs.
Yes, as with any other dog breed, Australian Shepherds may come to develop a dislike of other dogs and may react accordingly. Several of the triggers that can cause Aussies to become aggressive with humans may cause them to become aggressive toward dogs.
As long as you devote enough time and energy to it, an Australian Shepherd will reward you tenfold with loyalty and hard work. Taking care of an Australian Shepherd, however, is no easy task: this dog breed demands a lot of attention and space to consume its energy.