How should I raise my australian shepherd puppy?

[ChickenGurl15]

I got my aussie puppy Zayleigh July 17th, she is now about 2 months old now. I've taught her the basic tricks, like sit, stay, lay down, jump. But i would like to further her training in ways she can drain her unbridled energy, lol. She has a hard time with her manners as well. Can anyone share some training ideas that has worked for them? DON'T FORGET TO SHARE PICTURES OF YOUR AUSSIES!! I'd love to see them. Thanks Everyone!

-Emily




Zayleigh

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have two Aussies, very pushy dominant breed, bred to move cattle and make their own decisions, I follow Cesar Milan way, certainly don't allow any behavior from the start that you don't want later, nipping and stuff, reward good, bad behavior gets a long noise followed by redirection, remember it will take 2-3 years for your dog to mature, and stop being a ninny, they go through a teenager faze at about 8 months where they act like they don't have to listen to you, go back to the beginning and reinforce all you have taught, I recommend ball throwing to run off energy, mine run miles each day, I have other dogs for them to wrestle with. They are very intelligent, and busy.


The one on the left, Frankie is 10, working type, the one on the right, show bred, shaved coat, Sunny 2.

 

[Mutt Farm]

You can send her to me! I'll get her all trained up and NEVER send her back! She is adorable! Best advice I can give is take her everywhere, get her used to everything. Look into clicker training. Aussies must be stimulated and training needs to be fun. Here's Bindy. If you need training links, pm me.

 

[PioneerPrincess]

Congrats on your new pup!

I grew up with an Aussie; still have him and he's coming on 15 years of age. Got ourselves a second one almost three years ago. The thing I have discovered with Aussies is they need to be properly socialized at a young age. I've had both extremes. One was super aggressive/protective of his territory and he had to be locked up whenever guests came over. My girl was super shy and scared of everyone- especially men- and loud sounds. I took my girl to an obedience class which really helped her. Now she will come up and greet our guests.

Another thing, if you haven't already found out, is that Aussies are very active dogs- they really need a large yard to be able to run off that energy or some seriously dedicated owners to take them out for a good run/walk/frisbee/ball toss twice a day. They're herding dogs; hence the reason for all that energy- also, I believe, why they're so smart! When we went on vacation once and had to put our first guy in the kennel, the folks taking care of him said he'd figured out how to open it and get out, plus, he was able to unlock our sliding doors as well.

Not sure if any of that helped; hope it did! I love our Aussies- some of the best and most loyal dogs you can have. They are soo eager to please and be by your side. Not to mention, both of them have been great with all of our animals.

ETA: The first two years of our first Aussies life was difficult because he had soo much energy and it was awfully hard to get him trained to go outside and mind his manners; that was before we knew the clicker training method. If I'd known about that then, that's what I would've done; our lives probably would've been much easier with that those first years. LOL He turned out to be a great dog- guarding us, our other critters, and being a loyal companion.

I'll finish by posting some photos of my dog sally. ( :

 

[ChickenGurl15]

Congrats on your new pup!

I grew up with an Aussie; still have him and he's coming on 15 years of age. Got ourselves a second one almost three years ago. The thing I have discovered with Aussies is they need to be properly socialized at a young age. I've had both extremes. One was super aggressive/protective of his territory and he had to be locked up whenever guests came over. My girl was super shy and scared of everyone- especially men- and loud sounds. I took my girl to an obedience class which really helped her. Now she will come up and greet our guests.

Another thing, if you haven't already found out, is that Aussies are very active dogs- they really need a large yard to be able to run off that energy or some seriously dedicated owners to take them out for a good run/walk/frisbee/ball toss twice a day. They're herding dogs; hence the reason for all that energy- also, I believe, why they're so smart! When we went on vacation once and had to put our first guy in the kennel, the folks taking care of him said he'd figured out how to open it and get out, plus, he was able to unlock our sliding doors as well.

Not sure if any of that helped; hope it did! I love our Aussies- some of the best and most loyal dogs you can have. They are soo eager to please and be by your side. Not to mention, both of them have been great with all of our animals.

ETA: The first two years of our first Aussies life was difficult because he had soo much energy and it was awfully hard to get him trained to go outside and mind his manners; that was before we knew the clicker training method. If I'd known about that then, that's what I would've done; our lives probably would've been much easier with that those first years. LOL He turned out to be a great dog- guarding us, our other critters, and being a loyal companion.

I'll finish by posting some photos of my dog sally. ( :

Thank you for the helpful tips!!! Zayleigh is getting somewhat better with her manners, but she already knows 7 tricks like the back of her paw. Such smart dogs. Sally is beautiful!

 

[ChickenGurl15]

Zayleigh is growing too fast....

 

[Justso]

Congrats on your Aussie!
I've had two Aussies, here's my 2 cents:
1.My first one taught me the most, get trained. Not just your dog, but you. I learned it's so important to know when and how to react to behaviors and to enforce commands. I suspect that's why clicker training seems to be so popular; the owner needs to be trained well for it to work. These dogs are smart!
I got tied in with a herding instructor who also taught obedience. She understood that the difference between obeying and disobeying could be a dead sheep. For that reason she was especially hard on us (the owners). I appreciate that now!!
2. You git what you git. I believe for the most part they're born with their drive/activity level/friendliness level and there's no wrong and no right. You just learn how to manage and have fun with what you've got. I've had two dogs polar opposites on the spectrum with the exception that they were and are both nice to people. My current dog Roy is quiet, calm, and obedient, obedient, obedient. He was just born that way. I was ready for the two year onslaught when I got him, it never happened! His major flaw- he doesn't like puppies. In fact, he doesn't like any kind of youngster very well (except baby bunnies, he loves them to death!). I know this and am prepared when we're around them.
Here's Roy:

Oh- sorry buddy, didn't mean to make fun of you.... Here's a better one:

Ha Ha, couldn't resist! OK, here's a better one:

GOOD DOG.

Best of luck to you!!

 

[CLSranch]

I like the run walk run run some more if you don't work a herd dog they will work on something else. Your trailer wiring everything in your house, yard or close by in a way you don't want. I took my mini aussi for walks 5 times a day at least and had problems. My current heeler I like to take for a ride following the horse a few miles at least twice a week. The laziest heeler I've ever seen and still needs that much to not get into trouble.

 

[ChickenGurl15]

I have been training her the basics, sit, stay, down, lay down. Should I train her any further than the basics? Right now I'm having a VERY HARD time teaching her not to jump up on the counter or trash can...she doesn't respond to ANY kind of punishment, and keeps looking for food. She is fed more than enough puppy food, but she is food crazy. She eats very fast too!! I don't know how to get her to eat slower and calmer. I think she has an allergy to her natural puppy food... Because afterwards she wont stop scratching her whole body when there is not a flea in sight, and she has horrible body odor. I love the little imp to death, but things keep getting harder. I cant let her off-leash outside, because she eats everything she finds, and doesn't listen all the time when called. I want to play frisbee, or throw her tennis ball for her, but I cant because she runs away to eat chicken poop, or deer poop, or dead mice and voles!! And I don't think she has worms, cuz they don't show in her poop. I'm so lost right now...

 

[ChickenGurl15]

Congrats on your Aussie!
I've had two Aussies, here's my 2 cents:
1.My first one taught me the most, get trained. Not just your dog, but you. I learned it's so important to know when and how to react to behaviors and to enforce commands. I suspect that's why clicker training seems to be so popular; the owner needs to be trained well for it to work. These dogs are smart!
I got tied in with a herding instructor who also taught obedience. She understood that the difference between obeying and disobeying could be a dead sheep. For that reason she was especially hard on us (the owners). I appreciate that now!!
2. You git what you git. I believe for the most part they're born with their drive/activity level/friendliness level and there's no wrong and no right. You just learn how to manage and have fun with what you've got. I've had two dogs polar opposites on the spectrum with the exception that they were and are both nice to people. My current dog Roy is quiet, calm, and obedient, obedient, obedient. He was just born that way. I was ready for the two year onslaught when I got him, it never happened! His major flaw- he doesn't like puppies. In fact, he doesn't like any kind of youngster very well (except baby bunnies, he loves them to death!). I know this and am prepared when we're around them.
Here's Roy:

Oh- sorry buddy, didn't mean to make fun of you.... Here's a better one:

Ha Ha, couldn't resist! OK, here's a better one:

GOOD DOG.

Best of luck to you!!

ROY IS SO CUTE!!! And very funny. Thanks for the advice. Zayleighs mother "Bonnie" is VERY big. Bonnie was bigger than all the stud aussies...and very very tall. Zayleigh has monstrous paws, and her legs are very long. I bet she will be a giant like her mom. Her mom was literally german shepherd size!!