Australian Shepherds have strong herding instincts and are bright.They need lots of exercise and stimulation to stay healthy and happy.Provide your Australian Shepherd with toys that it can play with while you are busy and make sure it gets enough physical activity every day.Proper training can help your dog channel its energy in a positive way.
Step 1: Make sure your Aussies get at least 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day.
In addition to being physically fit, your dog needs physical activity to stay happy and well-adjusted.An Australian Shepherd will soon become a bad person.Take your dog for long walks.For at least 1 to 2 hours a day, let your Aussie run around in an enclosed yard if you can't.
Step 2: Play fetch with an Australian.
Australian Shepherds love chasing and fetching since they keep their minds busy.Take a little time each day to play fetch with your friend and get some rubber dog balls or a dog-friendly flying disc.Hard plastic Frisbees can hurt your dog's teeth.There is a soft rubber disk for dogs.
Step 3: It is a good idea to teach your Aussies to play flyball.
Australian Shepherds love flyball.It will keep your dog's mind and body engaged at the same time, because it combines fetching and chasing with obstacle racing.Check with a local dog training school or canine fitness center to find out if they offer flyball training.You can use an online search to find information about local flyball clubs.The North American Flyball Association has a directory of flyball teams by region on their website.
Step 4: You can take your dog to the park.
The dog park is a great place to exercise and play with friends if your dog is well socialized.Take your dog to the nearest park to meet some new friends, or make a playdate with a friend who also has dogs.If your dog is not well socialized yet, training and obedience classes can be a good place to spend time with other dogs.Your Aussie can benefit from a half-hour play session with another dog.
Step 5: Have a game of hiding.
You can play the game inside or outside.Tell your dog to stay.Call your dog if you find a good hiding place.If they find you, you can make the experience even more enjoyable by giving them a treat.
Step 6: You can offer your Aussies puzzle toys.
When you can't play outside, puzzles are a great way to keep your Australian engaged.The hidden toys require your dog to perform a series of actions.You can even feed it with a puzzle feeders.If you want to make a free version of a puzzle, sprinkle your Aussie's dry food onto the grass.If you want to keep your dog busy, ask your vet or trainer to recommend the best puzzle toys.
Step 7: Provide chew toys for your dog.
A bored Australian Shepherd is more likely to chew on puppies.To keep your dog busy and protect your furniture, offer a Kong or rawhide chew toy.
Step 8: Keep your dog busy with a frozen treat.
When the weather is warm, this is a great way to keep your Australian entertained and hydrated.Drop a chew toy in a large bowl of unsalted chicken or beef broth and freeze it.Dump out the frozen contents in the yard and let your Australian have fun eating them.You can get the frozen soup out of the bowl if you run warm water over it for a few seconds.
Step 9: You can take your Aussie with you.
A trip to the bank can offer a lot of excitement for your dog.Your Australian will enjoy riding in the car.Don't leave your dog alone in a hot car.If you have to leave your Australian in the car for a while, leave the windows cracked enough to let in some fresh air.
Step 10: If you sign up, you'll be able to take classes.
Both Aussies and their owners can benefit from training from a professional instructor.Ask your vet or a local rescue for a good recommendation, or search online for trainers in your area who have experience with Australian Shepherds.Australian Shepherds are usually ready to begin training when they are about 4 months old.If you want to continue training your dog at home, your trainer can give you pointers.
Step 11: Basic commands can be used to train your Aussies.
Australian Shepherds need training.Helping them manage their herding instincts is important, but it also helps keep them busy and mentally active.Continue to train your dog throughout his entire life if you start training early.Basic training can include teaching your dog not to do undesirable behaviors, such as jumping up on people or barking at visitors.Reward appropriate behaviors while ignoring inappropriate ones.Clicker training is a great way to train a dog.
Step 12: Once you've covered the basics, you can move on to more advanced training.
In addition to learning basic commands, your Aussie will benefit from learning to do more complicated tasks, such as jumping or running obstacle courses.Advanced training requires your dog to master at least a few basic commands first, since many of these form the basis of more advanced tasks.You can teach your dog to stand on or point at an object with its paws by pressing a button or standing on a mark.You should train your dog to go to your crate.Boundary training is teaching your dog to respect and stay within invisible barriers.Your dog is being taught to respond to signals.
Step 13: You're your Aussie.
Socialize interaction with other dogs and humans is important for your dog's health.To keep interactions safe and fun for everyone, it's important to make sure your Aussie is socially well-adjusted.If you want to expose your dog to new friends in a safe and controlled environment, sign up for a class.When introducing your Aussie to new friends, always use caution.If your dog is nervous or upset, don't force an interaction.If your dog is already an adult and has never been socialized properly, it's a good idea to consult an animal behaviorist or vet.If you don't have a working dog, you need to teach them to curb their natural herding instincts as part of their socialization.Always correct herding behaviors, such as nipping, nudging, and circling.
Step 14: Look at agility training.
It is possible to keep your Aussie fit and mentally stimulated with agility training.This type of training involves teaching your dog to navigate courses with obstacles, such as jumps, teeter-totters, and weaving poles.You can use an online search to find a trainer who teaches agility courses.If you have some experience with agility training, you might want to build your own course.