Australian Shepherds are a good breed if you want a herding or working dog to help you in your work, or if you simply want to have a good companion with you. As with other breeds, these dogs will need to be shown proper care and attention so that they will be happy and well-adjusted. This article gives advice in basic Australian shepherd care so you can take good care of your dog.
Diet
One of the most important parts of basic Australian shepherd care is the diet. Make sure to feed your pet high-grade dog food. While this may cost a bit more, this will ensure that your dog will get all of the essential nutrients he or she needs. Be sure to check the ingredients to see what goes into the food. Crude protein should not be less than 30% and crude fat not less than 20%. Puppies have different nutritional requirements compared to adult dogs, so be sure to change the diet accordingly. If you have several Australian shepherds at home, make sure that each dog has his or her own water dish and food dish.
Health
Once you get your Australian shepherd, make sure that you bring him or her to the vet for vaccinations and deworming. Bringing the dog to the vet is also important to get your pet checked for any diseases, such as cataracts or hip dysplasia. Be sure to bring your dog to the vet yearly as well for check-ups and booster shots.
Socialization
It’s important for you to socialize your dog as early as possible so that he or she will become comfortable around people. Dogs that haven’t been socialized are more fearful or aggressive towards individuals that they’re not familiar with, so make sure that you introduce your Australian shepherd to new situations and people to make him or her used to these.
Training
Australian shepherds will need to be trained, as they can grow to be very powerful dogs that can do a lot of damage. What’s more, Australian shepherds have strong guarding and herding instincts which can cause trouble if left alone. The good news is that Australian shepherds are quite smart, so it won’t be that difficult to train them. Crate training is an effective method to potty train them. You will also need to train your Australian shepherd when it comes to furniture (especially if he or she is an indoor dog), any forbidden areas in the house, and acting around guests.
When training your Australian shepherd, make sure that you establish that you’re the leader between the two of you, otherwise, he or she will disregard your commands. Be firm but patient when it comes to training your new canine friend.
Playtime
Australian shepherds have a lot of energy, so they will need to be exercised regularly so that they don’t end up being restless or bored. Don’t just take your dogs to walks. These dogs love running, so make sure that you give them the exercise and freedom that they need. Their liveliness doesn’t make them good apartment dogs or city dogs, not unless they can be brought to open areas where they can play.
Australian shepherds may not be high-maintenance dogs, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t have any needs. Keep these tips in basic Australian shepherd care in mind so that you will be able to take care of your canine friends without any problems.
