Are Australian Shepherds good house dogs? Essential Tips

Are Australian Shepherds Easy to Train?

One of the main reasons Australian Shepherds can become good house dogs is because they’re very easy to train.

Because Aussies are generally very intelligent, they can be trained to do a variety of different tasks:

They need positive reinforcement.

Trainers use positive reinforcement by rewarding them with treats, clickers, or praise.

They can also learn more difficult tasks.

Keep in mind that this can vary from dog to dog, and even though it’s usually pretty simple to train an Australian Shepherd, this doesn’t mean that it won’t take time and patience. It shouldn’t take too long in most cases, and it won’t take much actual effort to train Aussies because of their intelligence, but that’s just for the initial training period.

If you’re going to own and properly take care of an Aussie, you’re going to need to find a way to give the dog regular mental and physical exercise. Many Aussie owners use training as a structured activity because it also provides the benefit of the dog learning a new skill or trick. Here is a quick read on 7 steps to train an Aussie.

In fact, many Australian Shepherds need some sort of activity to do every day for about 30 to 60 minutes. So if you have a busy schedule or you feel like you won’t have the energy to train or play with your dog on a regular basis, this is an important factor you have to consider if you’re considering whether to get an Australian Shepherd or not.

Can Aussies Stay at Home Alone?

Generally, an Australian Shepherd isn’t very comfortable when it’s left alone at home.

This issue can become more significant depending on the dog’s personality and the situation:

If left alone for long durations, Aussies can develop separation anxiety and/or annoying barking behavior.

If the dog is confined to a small area for long periods, it can become destructive.

The problem can worsen if the dog is close with its owner because it becomes more likely to worry or panic.

For these reasons, you typically want your Aussie to have company, either it’s people or other animals. This is why many say that Aussies are best suited to live in the country. That doesn’t mean you can’t live in the city or any other place; it’s just that you shouldn’t really leave your Aussie alone for long, and you should have a schedule that can accommodate their need to socialize.

Like we mentioned before, if you leave your Aussie alone for long periods of time, the dog can start developing separation anxiety and even excessive barking. There are some ways to prevent this with some training, but it’s best to avoid the situation entirely. Australian Shepherds are simply just not suited to be alone all day, so you need to keep that in mind.

If the owner can’t be the one that stays at home with the dog, they can consider finding another family member or close friend to be in the dog’s presence. You can even possibly use a dog sitter or a local dog daycare. Aussie separation anxiety can become so bad that some owners have found ways to bring dogs along with them to work.

Aussies don’t serve well as apartment dogs because of the reasons mentioned above such as their need for physical activity, mental stimulation, and socialization.

Even though Aussies are known to be able to function in cities, they just simply aren’t meant to live in a confined apartment:

They’re very high energy, so you would need to find a way to allow them to expend their energy.

If you’re living in a relatively small area, you want to make sure that you have at least some sort of small yard to burn up excess energy.

You also have to keep in mind that Aussies’ high energy level may disturb nearby apartment residents.

The issue doesn’t come from the apartment itself; it’s the fact that apartments are so confined that it’s too small for an Aussie. We mentioned earlier how the best environment for an Aussie is the countryside. Wide open areas, hiking trails, and parks help these Aussies get the exercise they need.

Space is essentially required for an Australian Shepherd, and it won’t get that in an apartment. That’s not to say that situation can’t work at all, in fact, some owners find apartment living with an Aussie to be ideal. By taking their Aussies outside more frequently and making sure they get the dog’s exercise as conveniently as possible.

Other factors come into play if you decide to bring an Aussie inside an apartment, which is mainly the potential for disturbance and damage. Australian Shepherds have a lot of energy. Being cooped up inside an apartment can become a burden to you and your nearby neighbors if your Aussie ever becomes loud and rowdy, which is a legitimate possibility, especially if you don’t make sure to give your dog its daily exercise.

With the right kind of care and effort, Australian Shepherds can easily make great house dogs. It just depends on the dedication and commitment from the owner and the living situation for the dog.

Are Australian Shepherds Good For Apartment Living?

Are Australian Shepherds good house dogs?

No, they don’t suit apartment living. They need a lot of exercise, and while walks are completely necessary, they also need a backyard. Aussies have a lot of energy, and having a backyard means that you can take him out for a run around the yard and spend some of that excess energy.

Australian Shepherd Pros And Cons | Should You REALLY Get An AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD?

Australian Shepherds are quite variable in temperament. Some lines are extremely energetic, quick moving, and hyperreactive, while others tend toward a milder, calmer manner.

Yet all Australian Shepherds need a great deal of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Herding, advanced obedience, agility, jogging or biking, chasing balls, and playing Frisbee are constructive outlets for their enthusiasm. Boredom is the leading cause of destructive behavior and barking.

They are polite to aloof with strangers. There is timidity in some lines, and early socialization is important to avoid shyness or sharpness.

Some Australian Shepherds are dominant with other dogs and will chase cats, while others are good-natured with all creatures.

One of the most capable breeds in all of dogdom, the Australian Shepherd excels at the highest levels of competition. Yet some are more challenging to train than others.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is exactly as its name implies: a small Aussie. Miniature Australian Shepherds can sometimes get by with less physical exercise than their full-size brothers, but need just as much mental stimulation.

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.

Dog training videos. Sometimes its easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership.