Australian Shepherds like to jump when they're looking to express excitement or happiness. This behavior is often seen when Australian Shepherds are greeting their owners or family members. They may also jump up on people in an attempt to get attention or playtime.
Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. You can turn your back and only pet your dog when all four paws are on the floor. Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They can't sit and jump up at the same time.
So, jumping up may be seen as a way for your dog to demand attention from you – or from your visitors themselves. Alternatively, it may be because they have learnt that jumping is an appropriate response when they're excited to meet new people; or because people aren't responding to their “get out of my home” signals.
At 2-3 years of age, Mini Aussies are considered mentally developed and will be better at regulating their energy levels. In other words, they will start to calm down! That said, Aussies are naturally active dogs and will remain so into old age.
Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they're left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. This is when dogs feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety over being apart from their owners.
Do Dogs Grow Out of Jumping? Unfortunately, dogs don't grow out of the "jumping on you" habit. If you let your puppy jump up on you when they are little and give them attention and affection for doing so, they will only grow into this habit.
Jumping is a natural behavior for dogs. Dogs will typically jump when they want your attention or if they want something you have, like a toy or a treat. If your dog thinks you have something he must have, he may jump on you and bite to get what he wants. Dogs will also jump out of excitement when meeting somebody new.
Your dog is likely jumping on people to get closer to whoever he is jumping on and to receive attention from that person. Your dog is probably trying to be friendly, which is a good thing, but he needs to be taught a better way to express his friendliness.
Why Are Shepherds So Anxious? Herding dogs, especially the Australian Shepherd, have an instinct to herd and are more prone to anxiety if they cannot corral those in their care. As your shepherd cares so much about you, she may feel severe separation anxiety when you leave the house, and they are completely alone.
Like most shepherds, Australian Shepherds were bred to be herding dogs. Years of selective breeding has imparted deep instincts into your Shepherd. The desire to herd is as natural to your Australian Shepherd as their need for a pack.
Lack of Attention Can Lead to Excited Behavior
Perhaps the most common cause of a hyper dog is a lack of attention. Dogs require a lot of hard work and love to ensure they stay happy and healthy.
Jumping up on people is a natural canine behavior. Dogs get to say hello face to face when they jump and even better, it's guaranteed to get attention. However, from a human point of view, jumping to greet is annoying and dangerous.
Social dogs naturally jump up when they greet people. Most dogs are shorter than the people they are greeting and jumping up brings them closer to face level. After all, when dogs meet other dogs, they are typically face to face, but dogs need to gaze upward to engage with a person.
No. These dogs are not naturally aggressive and make excellent family pets in many homes — they're active, loyal, and loving dogs. So if you're looking for a new canine best friend, an Australian shepherd could be one of the best dogs for you and your family.
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.
Australian Shepherds are known for their fierce loyalty with one person, that doesn't mean every Shepherd will act like that. Some Shepherds might not build a particularly strong bond with any one family member. Others might like one of you more than another, but they don't sit on you to show it.
Female Australian Shepherds
It is suggested that females are also more sensitive and laid back. Because of this, they are said to have an easier personality to deal with. They've often got their agendas and will let you know what they want.
Aussies are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can weigh between 35 and 70 pounds and have an average life span of 12-13 years.