r/AustralianShepherd • u/YoloLifeSaving • 6h ago
r/AustralianShepherd • u/screamlikekorbin • Dec 05 '24
There’s has been an influx of posts requesting help with aggression and behavior issues. If you need help:
If your pup is from a breeder, start with discussing with them. Your breeder should be your support system.
Book a vet appointment to rule out a medical issue, perhaps something causing pain.
Use the resources on the /r/dogtraining wiki to help identify and select a behaviorist, noting that behaviorist and trainers have different qualifications.
Be cautious about well meaning internet advice. Some well meaning advice can exasperate the issue. Aggression needs pro help.
To avoid aggression issues:
Consider that behavior is often genetic. Buying from a reputable breeder is most likely to stack things in your favor.
Learn how to correctly socialize a puppy. Many ideas about socialization are incorrect and can cause reactivity and aggression issues.
Sign up for training classes with a qualified trainer ASAP, either for a puppy or adopted adult rescue.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/cpersall • May 13 '20
Welcome to /r/australianshepherd: A quick overview of our rules and an in depth guide to looking for an aussie breeder.
Welcome to /r/australianshepherd! Please take a minute to read our rules before posting.
All Aussies are welcome. If you adopted a mixed breed who you believe is part aussie, this includes you. Since Mini American Shepherds (mini Aussies) are not recognized as part of the Aussie breed and are now recognized as their own breed, it is requested that all minis or toys are posted elsewhere. All posts with mini aussies will be removed.
In an effort to support responsible breeding practices, we request that any breeders who wish to post their puppies 1st message one of the mods with proof of health clearances.
Info on buying an aussie or looking for a breeder:
Are you looking to buy an aussie puppy? Are you unsure of where to find a breeder and what to look for in a reputable breeder? Before posting requesting breeder recommendations, here's a little direction on where to start your search. Please read this with the included links before you post.
Look up your local ASCA affiliate club. See if they have a breeder listing. If they dont, feel free to contact them for their recommendations. It would also be good to look up an ASCA trial/show in your area and go meet aussie people there. The best way to find a breeder is to meet and connect with them in person. It also shows them that you are committed, which is a good thing.
There is also a bit of a listing here but its not super up to date.
ALL breeders you consider, whether recommended by someone here or elsewhere must be vetted to make sure they actually are a reputable breeder. Guidelines here and here. This is absolutely vital as there are some serious health issues in the breed that can be of much higher risk if the breeder is not taking care to do proper health clearances. A note on health clearances: this involves much more than a vet check. It should include what is listed here which can be verified by searching the dog's names on websites such as OFA.
When choosing a breeder, you'll want to keep in mind that "first and foremost, the Australian Shepherd is a true working stockdog, and anything that detracts from his usefulness as such is undesirable." (Quote from the breed standard) This means that a breeder should be doing something to prove that their dogs are a good example of the breed before breeding them. This can include participating in sports and titling their dogs to show that they not only have correct structure and conformation, but also that the dogs have the drive that would be necessary in a stock dog and the biddability to work with its handler.
There are a few other things that you may want to consider in a breeder after verifying that they do in fact do health clearances and are a reputable breeder. Are you looking for a dog to compete in certain sports? Or would you like an active companion? You will want to consider if that individual breeder's dogs would be a good match for what you're looking for. The breeder can help you determine this if you give them a detailed explanation of what you're looking for in your aussie. You will also want to consider if you personally like and agree with the breeder on their requirements and values. You will be in contact with this breeder for the dog's entire life. This is a good thing! They'll be there to help you with issues that arise, including little questions along the way. But because of this, its important to like the breeder as a person. The breeder may request certain things such as the age you neuter your dog or which vaccinations you are required to do or not do. It is vital to find out what the breeders contract includes and if you're are in agreement before committing to buying a puppy.
There is going to be a decent amount of work involved in finding a reputable breeder but its worth it!
A quick note on registries...
There are several that you may see and it may be confusing why your breeder should be registering their dogs and which ones they should be using. A breeder registers their dogs because it helps track pedigrees, meaning they can track health issues and traits common to those particular lines. It also ensures the dog is actually the breed claimed, which may not be a big deal to someone just wanting a pet but is a big deal to the big picture of the breed. ASCA being the parent club is the one most reputable aussie breeder will be using. It requires the dogs being breed to have DNA verification before their offspring can be registered. It is best to look for a breeder who is registering their dogs with ASCA. Some breeders will register with two clubs, such as ASCA and AKC (or CanadianKC.) This is great and something you should expect to see. It may be acceptable for a breeder to only be registering with AKC or CanKC without ASCA if everything else checks out.
Now to your puppy... He will come with a litter registration. Your breeder may register the individual puppies or they may allow you to (and pick out your own registered name for him!) if you decide you'd like to enter in some kind of dogs sports. Both are normal, provided the parents are registered and the litter is registered.
Now registries that irresponsible breeders tend to use. There are two that are the most common: ContinentalKC- will register pretty much anything, including mixed breeds. Be careful to not confuse the two CKC's! ASDR- also will register anything including mini and toy "aussies."
Please read this post for further info on tailed aussies and buying an aussie with a tail.
Please dont hesitate to message the mods thru mod mail or individually (we are /u/neuropeptideY, /u/TentacleLoveGoddess and /u/cpersall) if you have any questions.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/13SpiderMonkeys • 1h ago
One enjoys bath time the other does not 😂
They were starting to STINK so I took them to the local pet store. Apollo who's been doing this twice a month for the past 2 years has learned to enjoy it whereas Luna who's only 6 mo doesn't care for it 😂😂
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Impressive_Will2182 • 3h ago
Ella the Aussie
“If I could play ball 24/7 I would”
r/AustralianShepherd • u/RN_dogs_coffee_wine • 4h ago
7 year old male behavorial issues
Our 7 year old male Aussie was a pain to potty train as a puppy. After being potty trained, he would still occasionally go potty inside (pee or/and poop). He is intact. We did not neuter him as a puppy due to him having pulmonic stenosis. He had his heart valve fixed, but we continued to put it off. He was good for many years, aside from the occasional "accident". We lost our older male Aussie in November 2023. After that (he was with him when he died and was aware he left the house and never came back after he died), he started peeing in my vehicle (which was used to take our other dog out in). He went into a deep depression, didn't want to eat, play, etc. We took in a 1.5 year old female about 4 months later, he instantly became happy, back to his normal self. Stopped peeing in the car, ate his food like he did before and he loves playing with her. She was intact when we took her and had 1 heat cycle about 1.5 months after we got her. We ended up having her spayed last August. When we took her and left him at home, he panicked, pooped in the house, rubbing his nose raw. He started occasionally peeing in the house again. He would play hard, drink a lot of water, and start peeing either laying down or while walking. And when this happened, he peed A LOT. I think partly due to having a youger dog to play with, therefore drinking a lot of water and behavioral. He would pee for no physical reason, sometimes just because he was upset.
Anywho, we are having him neutered in May. Will neutering him at age 7 still help with the behavioral issues??
r/AustralianShepherd • u/aManMythLegend • 23h ago
Update: the best girl has crossed the rainbow bridge. 💔
Link to previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianShepherd/s/nLs41h463X
Last pics of the best girl. Don't mind her shaved legs from where they put her under fo her Ct.
I had to make the tough decision and Tuesday night my baby Aela (like Layla without the L) crossed the rainbow bridge.
Absolutely devestated. She was having more nose bleeds and really struggling to sleep and it was just time before she started really suffering. Took the day off work to take her and her brother to the dog beach, gave her a steak and egg dinner, and had them come to the house to let her go (after she got some chocolates). Hardest day of my life and I'm definitely not OK since. Love your babies, you never have enough time.
And thank you to everyone who gave support on my precious post. I still scroll through them everyday to be honest and it means more than you know. Love to you all.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Actual-Capital-6213 • 16h ago
Masters of the Sploot
Our boys are definitely related. Jax (black tri) is the great grand father of Remi (blue merle).
r/AustralianShepherd • u/KungBimu • 16h ago
Bumi is aspiring to become a dog model
Got a new phone and needed a motive to test the camera.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Donnie_____Darko • 16h ago
My Aussie waits for 0.0 seconds to take my spot when I go to work
I'm okay with it, my fiance likes having a butt to lean on, even if it's a furry one.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/findlaymill • 8h ago
What are the otters are thinking?
Maybe they wanna play?
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Grrah_1990 • 3h ago
Question
So I am new to having Aussies and I was wondering if female aussies tend to be taller than male Aussies, my male will be a year in May, and my female just turned four months this past Saturday. I noticed she is growing but only in height. She is the same weight and has been the same weight four like two weeks. Is this normal. Pic of her so this doesn’t get lost (you can see how long her front legs are.)
r/AustralianShepherd • u/RZig9 • 12m ago
What’s his name? (Hint. He’s named after a U.S. City)
What’s his name? (Hint. He’s named after a U.S. City)
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Alarming_Tradition51 • 14h ago
Who is your riding partner?
She loves nothing more than a sunday stroll
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Dimorphous_Display • 21h ago
Anyone else have a petite “full size” Aussie
Billie has alway been around 30-35lbs but she is not a mini. I haven’t seen many other non-mini Aussies as small as her. Regardless she’s sweet as can be and is still zippin around right after her 7th birthday
r/AustralianShepherd • u/marybtaylor • 12h ago
Neuter Tips
My 2 year old aussie is getting neutered tomorrow… Just wanting some tips for what to expect afterwards! Any tips/tricks that you would recommend is helpful as well! Picture added for attention ☺️
r/AustralianShepherd • u/nokinaulinaja2623 • 13h ago
Summer 2024 with the pups.
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It is Spring now, and I am not ready for Summer to come. 😕
I enjoy the Winter and cooler weather much better!!😁
r/AustralianShepherd • u/CRJ73 • 12h ago
NEGATIVE GENETIC INHERITANCE TRAITS
My Companion Izzy has been squatting a lot over the last 6 months, she is 5 years old and had not been yet and thought she was in a prolonged Heat cycle. Well we took her to the veterinary to have her a spade and to our HORROR WE ARE TOOLS SHE HAS A HUGE BLADDER stone and what they call Gravel in her bladder.
The picture shows it as a large egg shape in her bladder. They recommend a prescription diet that will dissolve the stones and help her pass them, they are huge and I feel so bad for her when she passes them.
SO FIND OUT THAT THEIR IS A GENE THAT WHEN THE 2 parents have it they should not be BREED because it causes this condition. . It’s called GENE SLC2A9. It is painful and can be fatal, especially to male dogs. Hope this helps some one and there companion.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/Kashawinshky • 13h ago
Nay! Touch me not, I say!
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r/AustralianShepherd • u/Knitabelle • 1d ago
I got a new baby girl yesterday.
She was born Feb 4th, so 2 months old. We are naming her Aizle, which is Scottish Gaelic for a burning coal, a hot ember, a spark. It felt like it fit her coloring and her personality. I’m in love already 😍 ! She’s been pretty chill and very snuggly. Definitely afraid of our black lab. And definitely teething, poor baby.
r/AustralianShepherd • u/ChebaButt • 1d ago
He’s about 1/3 Aussie, does that count?
100% good boy
r/AustralianShepherd • u/rweiser6196 • 1d ago
Name suggestions!
We just adopted this little guy and we are hoping for some name suggestions.
Helpful notes: I am a teacher, so please try to avoid super common human names, as I likely will associate it with a student past or present. Husband and I are huge sports fans! (Especially Cubs and Packers) We also love Disney and Harry Potter, though the name definitely does not have to match any of those categories if you think a better name would suit him! We have a dog already that is named Sonny that will be his big brother!