Australian Shepherds are intelligent, loyal, and energetic dogs great for active owners who can provide jobs and training, excelling in activities but requiring significant grooming, exercise, and mental stimulation, with potential downsides including high shedding, herding behaviors (nipping), stubbornness, and wariness of strangers without early socialization.
The cons of Australian Shepherds include their high energy levels, which require significant exercise and mental stimulation, as well as their tendency to herd, which can lead to nipping behaviors. Additionally, they may be prone to certain health issues and can be challenging for first-time dog owners.
A high-energy, athletic dog, the Aussie needs a great deal of exercise on a daily basis. At minimum, he should have a large, fenced-in yard to run around in for at least an hour or two daily. Aussies bond closely with their owners and love to accompany them on long walks'¿or, better yet, hikes.
Bringing an Aussie dog to the family is not difficult, but taking its proper care is quite challenging. The first few weeks are spent on helping the pet acclimatize to the new surroundings. Its training also begins on the very first day so the Aussie understands house rules perfectly.
In regards to their relationship with their owners, teenage Australian Shepherds begin to push the boundaries of their world, just as human teenagers do! This means that Aussies might challenge authority by responding differently when directed to do something. They can seem distracted or even outright oppositional.
Australian Shepherds are considered among the highest maintenance breeds due to their extensive exercise and grooming needs, as well as their need for human companionship. Although Aussies are fun dogs with a lot of love to give, if you're looking for an easy-to-care-for dog, this breed is not for you!
Anatolian Shepherd
These shepherds are independent thinkers with a calm yet assertive demeanor. They form strong bonds with their humans and are naturally protective. While they're not as high-energy as other dogs, they still need plenty of mental and physical stimulation.
Despite their working shepherd dog DNA, Aussie dogs love to cuddle up on the sofa and be part of home and family life. In fact, they are incredibly sociable, family-orientated dogs, and so they should live, eat, and sleep indoors with you.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
While there's no single "number one," the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever consistently rank as top friendly dogs due to their gentle, outgoing, and loyal temperaments, making them excellent family pets good with kids and other animals, though they need plenty of exercise. Other top contenders for friendliness include Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Pugs, known for their playful, affectionate, and people-loving natures.
While both genders are notably active, males are much more prone to boredom. If there's nothing for your Aussie to do, then he may get a bit restless and feel confined. They don't just want to play; they want to play with their humans. For active families, a male might be the perfect choice.
Playpens and dog crates are all excellent enclosed spaces that are safe and comfortable for puppies. Placing safe toys, beds, and blankets will help this space feel more comfortable and inviting for your puppy. It is also a good idea to slowly acclimate your puppy to this space using crate training methods.
How often should grooming be performed on an Australian Shepherd? Brushing 2-3 times a week minimum, daily during spring and fall shedding seasons. Baths every 6-8 weeks unless they've discovered something gross to roll in.
Also called sudden onset aggression, rage syndrome is a neurological disorder, not a temperament defect or training/socialization problem. Affected dogs go into a kind of seizure that makes them attack anyone or anything that happens to be in the vicinity.
They do sometimes tend to pick a favorite person, but are generally affectionate to their entire families. A working dog at heart, the Aussie has a built-in affinity for herding. In fact, he may even try to herd his human pals!
Aussies are totally bonded to their family and will protect whether you want them to or not. My first female Shelby started that behavior after she had puppies. Caesar would play with all the kids in the neighborhood. But if he didn't know you and you were in my yard.
Red flag puppy behaviors signal serious issues beyond normal puppy antics, including aggression (growling, snapping, biting, lunging), extreme fear/anxiety (intense cowering, hiding, refusing treats, constant escape attempts, shutting down), resource guarding (guarding food/toys with aggression), and severe separation anxiety (destructive behavior when alone). Recognizing these early and seeking professional help from a trainer or vet is crucial, as these often stem from trauma or lack of socialization and won't just disappear with age.
The 3-second rule for puppies (and dogs) is a guideline for positive greetings and interactions, suggesting initial meetings or petting sessions last no more than three seconds before pausing, allowing the dog to choose to re-engage, which helps build confidence, reduce overstimulation, and prevent negative reactions like fear or aggression. It teaches dogs that social contact is on their terms, using short, controlled sniff-and-greet intervals (3 seconds), then disengaging, and repeating as needed, while also being used for petting to let dogs signal they want more.
The 3-3-3 rule is a roadmap for the first three days, three weeks, and three months after pet adoption. It emphasizes patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement to help pets acclimate to their new environment.
To say "I love you" in dog language, use soft eye contact, raise your eyebrows, give gentle massages (especially ears), lean into them, and engage in play or shared activities like walks, which build trust and affection through shared experiences and physical connection, releasing oxytocin for both of you.
Dogs say "sorry" through submissive body language like tucking their tail, lowering their head, making "puppy eyes," licking, and rolling onto their backs to show they're not a threat, which are appeasement signals to diffuse tension after a conflict or misbehavior, often combined with whining or approaching and retreating. They recognize when their human (or another dog) is upset and use these signs to seek forgiveness, though it's more about reducing stress than human-like guilt.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
There's no single "number 1" laziest dog, but the English Bulldog is consistently ranked at or near the top for its low energy, love of naps, and tendency to be a couch potato, followed closely by breeds like the Basset Hound, Great Dane, and Shih Tzu, all known for being relaxed companions. These breeds prefer lounging and short strolls over strenuous activity, making them ideal for laid-back owners.
When looking for your new 'man's best friend' why not consider one of the following dog breeds:
In general, German Shepherd puppies should be fed three to four times per day, and adult dogs should be fed twice a day.