AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD TEMPERAMENT AND PERSONALITY

What are the Pros and Cons of the Australian Shepherd's Temperament?

Pros 

It's important to note that Australian Shepherds have many, many great qualities, and this list is by no means exhaustive! We cannot emphasise this enough: Australian Shepherds are surprisingly intelligent. This makes them particularly easy to train. They have a great capacity for learning and adapting. This is a sheepdog who has not lost any of their natural instinct. They can and will want to use their brain; it's their way of making sure they never get bored! That's why they love to play - games that require both physical and intellectual activity are perfect for your Australian Shepherd, such as agility, for example. Don't hesitate to teach them a few tricks and, in this way, also strengthen your bond!

The Australian Shepherd is very affectionate and develops a strong attachment to their master. They display unwavering loyalty and a good level of obedience, despite being rather strong-willed. While more reserved with strangers, Australian Shepherds are particularly effusive and playful with their family.

Gentle. Australian Shepherds are well known for being gentle and kind. Never aggressive, sociable with those they love, and calm when necessary, Australian Shepherds also show great patience and make wonderful playmates for children, with whom they get along wonderfully. Please note: You should never leave babies unattended with an Australian Shepherd, no matter how sweet.

This is not a runaway dog. Like all good sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds much prefer to stay and watch over their family. With one exception: if your pooch isn't expending enough energy, they may run off to stretch their legs on their own.

All the Australian Shepherd's great qualities make it the perfect dog for a first adoption. Their intelligence, gentleness, and loyalty make dog training easily attainable, even if they can sometimes be a little stubborn. The ideal master for the Australian Shepherd is a sporty person or family with a lot of time to spend with their dog. This is a dog who requires a lot of attention and doesn't like to be alone. Their owner should therefore be both calm and active but, above all, have a lot of love to give! If you work a lot and spend little time at home, adopting an Australian Shepherd may not be the best idea.

Cons

Like all dogs, no Australian Shepherd is perfect. They have their faults, just like everyone else! This is perhaps one of the most annoying aspects of the Australian Shepherd's temperament. They don't handle loneliness very well and therefore demand your attention almost all the time. This means they can act a little clingy and are likely to develop separation anxiety, which can manifest as destructive behaviour, barking, or even depression.

Beneath their good-natured and friendly exterior, your Australian Shepherd has a mind of their own. This dog is a leader, not a follower. So, they may act a little headstrong towards certain animals. To avoid this, you should start socialising them from an early age, if possible.

Australian Shepherds can also be greedy on occasion. While this can be to your advantage during training sessions, be careful not to encourage it too much. While Australian Shepherds are not generally prone to obesity, abusing dog treats can have serious consequences on their health.

Australian Shepherds are not known for destructive behaviour but, nevertheless, if they get bored or feel neglected, they may vent their frustration on your furniture, cushions, or any other object that comes their way. Therefore, it's your responsibility as an owner to keep them occupied throughout the day. Remember, Aussies are not house dogs; they need space - and friends! Your Australian Shepherd's living conditions need to be properly respected to allow them to maintain a good mental and emotional balance.

Are Australian Shepherds Good with Other Animals?

Australian Shepherds are not hunting dogs, so they lack the hunting instinct that would lead them to consider other animals as prey. They're very sociable with fellow dogs and other animals in general. It's no problem for your Australian Shepherd to cohabit with a cat, for example. However, we do recommend that you start socialising your pooch from an early age. All encounters with other animals should be positive, so as not to leave any lasting trauma on your dog. However, be careful with exotic pets: given the size difference between a small animal and your dog, a small accident could have dramatic consequences.

With other dogs, the Australian Shepherd's character makes him a doggie without any particular problem. They get along well with their peers, although males can sometimes be a bit dominant. Australian Shepherds love to play and will always be happy to meet new friends to have fun with. So make sure you start socialising your pooch from an early age. For example, take your Australian Shepherd puppy him to puppy classes where they can come into contact with dogs of all different sizes and temperaments.

Do Australian Shepherds Bark a Lot?

Excessive barking is not usually a problem attributed to Australian Shepherds. This is neither a guard dog nor a warning dog, so they tend to be discreet. Of course, Australian Shepherds are not completely silent and are very good at vocalising when they want to play or feel excited. In particular, they bark when herding a flock to direct the livestock where they need to go.

However, your Australian Shepherd may start barking if their ideal living conditions are not met. They need to run and exert themselves for at least an hour every day. This active dog does not cope well with inertia and could very quickly deteriorate mentally and physically, to the point of developing destructive behaviour and compulsive barking.

Likewise, a lack of socialisation risks making your pooch even more suspicious of strangers and provoking them to react out of fear, which will then result in barking.