Pros & Cons Of Owning an Australian Shepherd
If you read our “Get to Know Us” post, then you know I’ve been obsessed with Australian Shepherds for most of my life and always knew it would be the breed I would be getting first when it came to owning my own dog. They are in my personal opinion, the *best* breed to ever exist. Yet, Australian Shepherds are not for everyone. They are very high energy and need almost constant attention and care. I’ll share with you some of the Pros & Cons that I have learned since owning multiple Aussies.
Pros
☆ Loyal - They are the most loyal dog you will ever find. They are most definitely stage five clingers. They will follow you everywhere you go. Finley wakes up from his sleep just to follow me to the bathroom. If you like your alone time, Aussies probably aren’t the dog for you.
☆ Energetic – While this may be a con to some, it is a pro to many. If you are the active type and constantly find yourself spending a lot of time in the outdoors, going on hikes, runs, etc. than Aussies may be the breed for you.
☆ Intelligence – Australian Shepherds are incredibly smart. Since they form such amazing bonds with their owners, they are also very eager to please them. They love to constantly learn new things that will make you happy. This is why they make excellent Emotional Support Animals (like Finny is for me) and Service Animals.
☆ Working Dogs – Australian Shepherds were bred to herd. This means they were bred to work. They always want a job to be doing. Once again, because they love to please you. This can be trick training, agility, or really any other job they are capable of doing for you.
☆ Friendly – Aussies are some of the friendliest dogs I’ve ever seen. They will always greet you with a little wiggle butt and a smile. They love to give kisses to everyone. Sometimes this can be an issue when they get a little *too* friendly. One-time Finn jumped onto a stroller and gave a baby some kisses. Another time he almost jumped in the car of our food delivery driver. They are not really protective dogs unless you train them to be. However, Finn does stand in front of me on guard if we are in public alone and a man comes near. It brings me a lot of comfort. But they are no guard dogs. Since they are so friendly, it means they can be great family dogs as long as they are properly socialized with children.
☆ Loving – If you want a dog who will be your ultimate best friend and shotgun rider, an Aussie is for you. They will love you fiercely and unconditionally. Finley senses when I am anxious or sad and comes to comfort me. Both Finley and Sadie provide daily laughs and so much joy to our lives it’s unexplainable. They make any Con possible, worth it.
Cons
☆ Needy – While viciously loyal, that can sometimes translate as extremely needy. They need constant attention and are very susceptible to getting separation anxiety. I’m not saying you can’t have a job or ever be away from them. But if you are working a full-time job or more and having them in a crate the entire time than they may not be the dog for you. There are ways you can remedy this by sending them to daycare or hiring a dog walker to come in the middle of the day. However, when you are home, prepare to have them constantly by your side, or probably right on top of you.
☆ Intelligence – You may have noticed this was also included in the Pros list. This is because I do also look it as a Pro! But you also need to know that your Aussie will be a lot smarter than you think. They figure things out quickly, which may sometimes be escaping or chewing on something you hid away (I’m looking at you Finley with the toilet paper.) They are sassy and stubborn and always want to be right. That fits right in with our household because Cameron and I are the exact same way, so we don’t mind too much. You just need to be proactive about asserting your dominance from early on.
☆ Working Dogs – Once again, this was also on the Pros list. This is because dogs meant for working are not meant for everyone. Trust me, Cam and I love a good all-day Netflix binge, but we don’t let that hinder our dogs mental and physical exercise. We personally need to exercise Finn at least 2 hours a day in some form as well as 45+ minutes of training and mental stimulation. Obviously, you are going to have some off days and those times can be supplemented with things like dog puzzles, interactive toys, lick mats, etc. but if your Aussie doesn’t get the mental and physical exercise they need, there will be consequences. They don’t really care if they destroy your carpet or duvet cover (Once again lookin’ at you Finn) but you will have wished you gave them the proper stimulation that day. A lot of people ask me if you can own one and live in an apartment. We lived in an apartment for the first four months of having Finn. We still made sure to get out every day and get him the proper exercise. But since they can’t go out before they have all their shots, this can become difficult. Now that we are in a house, with a backyard the dogs are SO happy. They constantly do sprints back and forth and are tired more easily on a daily basis. I personally wouldn’t have wanted to live in an apartment with the dogs for any longer than we did but it can be something that you can work with.
☆ Socialization – Socialization was something I didn’t really know about before owning my own dogs, but it is something that is incredibly important and especially for Australian Shepherds. It is incredibly important for them to be around other dogs, kids, adults, noises, and all the other new experiences they may encounter throughout their life. If they are not properly socialized, they are prone to getting shy, scared, and possibly aggressive or possessive. With Finley, we had him attend Petco’s Puppy Socialization classes. They are made specifically for puppies who do not have all their vaccinations yet. Everyone is required to bring their current vaccinations and they are sure to sanitize the area very well. Unfortunately, due to COVID19, they are not conducting the classes so we cannot take Sadie. I think these classes made such a difference in Finley and how comfortable he was around people and other dogs. By the time he was able to go to the dog park, he was already a pro.
☆ Health Issues – Unfortunately, Australian Shepherds are often bred incorrectly. This can lead to double merles which may are often deaf and/or blind. They are also often prone to hip issues like hip dysplasia. I was actually born with hip dysplasia, so I decided that even though these issues are serious, they are not common enough or grave enough to not choose the breed.
Overall, I’m always going to recommend an Australian Shepherd. However, I will A L W A Y S reiterate how they are not for everyone. Don’t get swept up in their gorgeous coloring, and adorable wiggle butts. Actually make sure they will fit in with your family well and do the proper research beforehand. Choose a reputable breeder or adopt. Most of all, be sure there is no circumstance in which you would give the sweet baby up. You are warned about all the possible issues and as a responsible dog owner you need to work to fix them.
Mags xx
