Interrupt the herding of people
Circling and nipping at running children is normal breed behaviour and needs an immediate, consistent alternative — usually a trained recall to a mat.
Herding Group
Australian Shepherd
A stock dog developed on American ranches, now common in pet homes that underestimate it. Aussies are affectionate and highly capable, with a strong tendency to appoint themselves supervisor of the household.
EagerWatchfulBusy
What to work on first
Three things that matter more than the rest
Rotate the enrichment
Aussies learn routines fast and get bored of them just as fast. Vary the puzzles, the walks, and the games.
Build confidence with novelty
The breed can be sound-sensitive and wary of new things. Deliberate, positive exposure through adolescence pays off for years.
Where it usually goes wrong
Common challenges with the Australian Shepherd
- Herding children
- Noise sensitivity
- Coat maintenance
Behaviour that involves biting, real fear, or a sudden change in an adult dog is not a training problem until a vet has ruled out a medical one.
Read next
Guides that apply to the Australian Shepherd
Puppy
The First Sixteen Weeks Decide More Than the Next Six Years
Socialisation is not about meeting as many dogs as possible. It is about building a puppy that finds the ordinary world boring.
8 min read
Life Skills
Teaching the Off Switch
High-drive breeds do not calm down on their own. Settling is a skill, and it can be trained like any other.
6 min read
Behaviour
Adolescence: Why Your Trained Dog Forgot Everything
Between roughly six and eighteen months, a well-trained dog will appear to lose the plot. It is normal, it is temporary, and how you handle it matters.
8 min read
Recommended equipment
What our guidance for this breed calls for
Chosen against the training plan above, not against a supplier's bestseller list.
Also in the Herding group