The Pros and Cons to Getting an Australian Shepherd Puppy
Last Updated on May 17, 2022
The Australian Shepherd is a fantastic family pet that can add more happiness and satisfaction to your daily routine and help you enjoy your life to the fullest.
If you’re thinking about buying an Australian Shepherd puppy, consider all the pros and cons before owning this dog. Find out whether this breed is the right choice for you and your family.
1. The Australian Shepherd Puppy have wonderful personalities
If you are looking for a highly intelligent and active dog, the Australian Shepherd is exactly what you need. This breed is considered to be one of the world’s smartest breeds. The Aussies are loving and caring pets that can’t live a happy life without human interaction.
The dogs of these breed are extremely loyal to their owners. Some Aussies are shy with strangers, while the others can even become aggressive. The experienced Aussie owners agree that your Australian Shepherd puppy will quickly adapt to visitors if you start socialising it at an early age.
Make sure that your Australian Shepherd puppy gets enough communication with your friends, neighbours and even strangers.
The Aussies build strong bonds with their owners. These fabulous dogs get along well with other animals and kids.
2. The Aussies are amazingly beautiful
It’s hard not to fall in love with an Australian Shepherd puppy. This furry bundle of joy has magnificent eyes that can hardly be compared to the eyes of any other animal. Plus, this stunning dog has beautiful coat. It’s well-known that the Australian Shepherds can be
- Black
- Blue Merle
- Red
- Red Merle
These colours have been officially recognised and are the most popular among the Aussie owners. The most common black Aussie is tri coloured. However, these dogs can also be solid black or have white and tan markings. You may also see black-bicolour Aussies.
Red Australian Shepherds can be bi-coloured and tri coloured as well. It’s worth mentioning that solid red and solid black Aussies are not extremely popular. That’s the main reason why they are considered the rarest colours.
The diversity of the Aussie coat colours gives you a splendid opportunity to choose the puppy just to your liking. In fact, no matter which Aussie you choose, you will definitely like its fantastic character. This dog will quickly become your best friend ready to stay with you for the rest of its life.
3. The Australian Shepherds are easy to train
Due to their high intelligence, the Aussies can quickly learn new tricks. In order to achieve the best possible results, you should start training your Australian Shepherd puppy the moment you bring it home. If you are ready to spend enough time with your puppy, it will be more than happy to learn.
At 8 weeks of age, the Aussie puppies are already able to start training and remember everything you teach them. However, you should be patient and consistent. Plus, you should never forget about rewarding your puppy when it shows progress and fulfils your commands.
Remember that rewarding your Australian Shepherd puppy with a small treat is an effective way to make the training process go smoothly.
As you can see, this dog can become your best friend and loyal companion. However, owning the Aussie is not always easy. Let’s see why some people are hesitant about buying an Australian Shepherd puppy.
4. The Aussies have herding instinct
The Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs with a strong herding instinct. Under some circumstances, they may start herding anything that moves including your kids, other dogs, cats and even birds.
You should keep your Aussie busy all the time in order to prevent the herding behaviour. The Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation on a daily basis. In fact, providing the Aussie with regular exercise can be really difficult for people who prefer to lead a sedentary lifestyle. In this case, this active breed is not for them.
5. The Australian Shepherds may turn to destructive behaviour
It’s worth mentioning that the Australian Shepherd becomes destructive when it doesn’t get enough stimulation. As a result, these dogs may get into trouble causing a lot of problems. If you are not able to provide your dog with some kind of work, it gets bored and tries to find interesting things to do. This is when the Aussie starts barking excessively. The dog may also begin chewing up furniture and shoes.
Remember that these dogs need activity. And the more activity they get, the better. You will have to find the time to run, hike or swim with your dog. Otherwise, owning the Australian Shepherd puppy is not for you.
6. The Aussies are prone to certain medical conditions
The Australian Shepherds are known to be healthy dogs. However, they are still prone to some diseases including
In fact, you can minimise the risk of getting an Aussie with one of these serious diseases if you choose to deal with a reliable breeder. The responsible breeders conduct screening examinations to make sure that male and female dogs are healthy and able to produce high-quality puppies.
You should constantly keep in mind that owning an Aussie is not just a privilege. It is a responsibility. You will have to check your dog’s health on a regular basis. You should buy an Australian Shepherd puppy only if you will be able to provide proper care for it.
7. The Australian Shepherds are shedders
The Australian Shepherds are not heavy shedders. However, they still shed considerably and need regular brushing in order to prevent tangles and mats. It’s worth mentioning that tangles may contribute to skin problems and infections in your Aussie.
Unfortunately, the Australian Shepherds are not ideal dogs for people suffering from allergies. Their coat sheds all year round. Plus, shedding increases significantly in spring when the Aussies get rid of their winter coats. It’s highly recommended to groom this dog to prevent them from shedding.
Adding an Australian Shepherd puppy to your family is a life-changing decision. This dog will become a good companion for active people in search of adventure.