re: Australian Shepherd - Anyone own one?

They are very busy dogs. They need something to do like a job. Mine LIVES to fetch a ball and like another poster said, he will do it until he drops.

My Aussie is very territorial. He will chase anything and anyone out of his yard. He will also nip or bite anyone that comes into the house. He tries to herd people out. He loves chasing the deer out of our yard. The crazy thing is that he stops on our property line and comes right back. No fence or shock collar. I don't know how he knows where the property line is?

I have no doubts that if someone was to come into my house at night that my Aussie would die trying to get rid of them. No doubt.

I have one . She's five. The smartest dog i've ever known.. I dont keep her on a leash either , she just stays by my side. She would die for me .. I'm gonna miss her when shes gone.

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The crazy thing is that he stops on our property line and comes right back. No fence or shock collar. I don't know how he knows where the property line is?

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Funny. Mine won't go past our property line either, unless I'm with him.

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I have one . She's five. The smartest dog i've ever known.. I dont keep her on a leash either , she just stays by my side. She would die for me .. I'm gonna miss her when shes gone.

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My Blue Heeler was like this. Unless I told her to run or we were playing fetch that dog was no more than 3 feet away from me at any time outdoors. Smartest, happiest dog I have ever owned. The only bad thing is that Blue Heelers are a one master dog. They know who is Alpha and that is the only person they will listen to. That dog would not do anything my wife and kids told her to do. She would only listen to me.

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The only bad thing is that Blue Heelers are a one master dog. They know who is Alpha and that is the only person they will listen to. That dog would not do anything my wife and kids told her to do. She would only listen to me.

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That's so true, mine is 7 and only listens to me

Had an Aussie as well..blue merle...great dog...smart lovable energetic, hair was an issue but other than that perfect dog

Ours (a couple pics from earlier in the thread) barks randomly sometimes. We like too tell people she has tourettes syndrome.

Powerful, smart, protective, beautiful. They don't tolerate heat well, however. Ellie (in Alabama) loves bare concrete/tile floors, air conditioning, and snow.

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Are the mini's pretty much the same dog just smaller? Or are there some differences?

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Purists says that minis are not true Aussies. I don't think that really matters, though.

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He's a bigger Aussie at about 60-65 lbs.

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That is a big Aussie. Ellie keeps herself trim right around 44-45 lbs and she's not small herself.

It's fun to watch Ellie cut and fool Coco nearly every time.



I guess the only caution I'd give about owning an Aussie is that they are not dogs for the casual dog owner. They are serious herding dogs capable of herding wild buffalo. Ellie is wonderful but she is intense. You have to commit to training and making sure that, especially when they're young, they can get enough exercise. You definitely want a fenced backyard.

I haven't read the whole thread but a shelter here in Jackson just posted a full blooded Australian shepherd on their Facebook page if you're interested