These Australian Shepherd Puppy Facts Will Surprise You!

Last Updated on May 5, 2024

The Australian Shepherd is a fantastic dog that can quickly become an excellent family companion, always ready to please you and make you the happiest person in the world.

Are you thinking about buying an Aussie? Keep reading to find out the most interesting Australian Shepherd puppy facts before bringing that adorable creature home.

1. The Aussie Puppies Are Very Smart

Australian Shepherds are brilliant dogs. Puppies have a high level of obedience. That’s why they are straightforward to train. You should start training your puppy as early as possible. It would be best to remember that teaching your Aussie such commands as sit, stay and lie down will not be enough. Remember that your puppy needs boundaries, and you should do your best to help your pet understand that.

Besides being highly intelligent, the Australian Shepherds are also:

• Active
• Loving
• Friendly

Find enough time to spend with your puppy, and you will see that there is hardly a better friend than this fascinating pet.

2. The Aussie Puppies Thrive if Trained Properly

If you plan to become an Aussie owner for the first time, remember that you still haven’t heard of so many fantastic Australian Shepherd puppy facts.

Proper training is crucial for this breed. Even though the Aussies are smart, you must be patient and consistent with achieving positive results. Do not forget that physical and mental stimulation should be integral to your dog’s daily routine. Providing enough stimulation is the only way to raise a happy and healthy Aussie dog.

3. The Australian Shepherd Puppy Can Turn to Destructive Behaviour

The most important thing you should remember about the Australian Shepherd is that it must always be kept busy. Otherwise, the puppy will quickly get bored and find something interesting to do.

Even if you notice your puppy doing something wrong, you should discipline it and never punish it. Beating or hitting the Aussie dog is out of the question. You should understand that your Australian Shepherd puppy is like a tiny baby. Punishing an infant baby is as useless as punishing a puppy.

If you raise your voice or beat the puppy, you train it to know fear and pain. No doubt, this is not what an Aussie puppy needs.

Remember that the Aussie doesn’t know how not to do something. The puppy learns from its actions. Give your puppy a treat when it does something you like. The puppy will quickly learn that this behaviour is good and can be continued.

Try to understand why your puppy starts chewing on something. Probably, the puppy tries to attract your attention. Keep in mind that shouting at the Aussie will ruin your relationship. The dog will be frightened of you. And it will be tough to gain the puppy’s trust again.

To prevent any destructive behaviour, spend enough time with your puppy. Apply positive reinforcement techniques when training the puppy. It’s worth mentioning that even the most stubborn dog will respond to this technique if it is applied regularly.

4. The Australian Shepherd Puppies Get Attached to One or Two People

Australian Shepherds are known to be fantastic family pets. However, they tend to get attached to one or probably two family members.

Being herding dogs makes the Australian Shepherds very protective. Plus, they do not make friends very quickly. Even though the Aussies are very friendly, they do not want to become everyone’s friend. If you socialise your puppy correctly, it will tolerate other people. But you shouldn’t expect your puppy to be pleased when meeting them.

Remember that earning the Aussie’s friendship is not an easy thing. But if you manage to do that, you will get the best friend that will stay loyal to you for the rest of their life.

5. The Australian Shepherds Have Many Names

There are many more Australian Shepherd puppy facts that can astonish you. Have you ever heard that the Australian Shepherd is not the only name the breed has? These dogs go by many names, including

• Spanish Shepherds
• Pastor Dogs
• Bob-Tails
• California Shepherds
• Blue Heelers
• Mexican Shepherds

It doesn’t matter what you call your Aussie. It remains that fascinating dog that fills your life with incredible emotions and unbelievable memories that will last a lifetime.

6. Some Aussie Puppies Are Born Without Tails

If you have ever seen an Australian Shepherd puppy, you have probably noticed that it has either a small tail or no tail at tall. The first thought that usually comes to people’s minds is that the puppy’s tail has been intentionally docked. However, it’s not always true.

One in five Aussie puppies is born with a naturally bobbed tail. It is a rare feature often associated with this breed. The Australian Shepherds have a recessive gene in their genetic code. This mutation is known as the C189G gene. And this gene contributes to naturally creating a shortened tail. It would be interesting for you to find out that there are three options for whether a shortened tail will occur in a puppy on not:

• A copy of a normal gene and a copy of a recessive gene will produce puppies with bobbed tails.
• Two copies of a normal gene will produce puppies with normal tails.
• Two copies of a recessive gene will likely cause the death of the puppies in the womb.

Breeding for shortened tails is not recommended because many puppies will not survive. They will probably die during or right after their birth.

7. The Aussie Puppies Make Brilliant Therapy Animals

Because Australian Shepherds are intelligent and need a job regularly, they can make excellent therapy dogs. If trained properly, your Aussie puppy can become an assistance dog. It can be successfully used as a search and rescue dog as well.

No matter which job you will choose for your Aussie. Your dog will always love you. Find the fascinating Australian Shepherd puppy facts to ensure this pet is right for you.