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Posted by kathyg on November 10, 2002 at 07:13:02:
In Reply to: Good family dog? posted by AlexBo on November 09, 2002 at 14:20:01:
:Good family dog?
That depends on the family and how dog savvy the parents are. Aussie temperaments vary widely. Overall, though, Aussies by nature tend to be very protective of their families--it's part of what they were bred for in the early days when they herded and protected livestock and property. This is not necessarily a good thing in this day of lawsuit craziness. If Aussies are not thoroughly trained and socialized to behave around people and other dogs, they will take over the job of protecting their family from friends, relatives and any dog they see. As a foster for rescued Australian Shepherds, I read a lot of sad stories of Aussies euthanized because they bit a child or adult who came to visit their family. Puppy kindergarten, obedience classes, visits to pet supply stores, dog parks and anywhere else you can take a dog are very strongly recommended for Aussies. They are very smart dogs, they learn very quickly. The majority of Aussies have very high energy and a strong working drive. This needs to be channeled into regular exercise (like playing frisbee, ball, running, hiking, or other active games) or training for agility or herding or flyball--that sort of thing. They are not dogs that you can leave out in a yard all day--they will bark, dig, jump 6 foot fences and do other things to relieve stress and boredom. If tied out on a chain they tend to become aggressive. Aussies love to be with people--in the house they will follow you everywhere... including the bathroom. A lot of Aussie owners have day jobs and have learned to play hard with their dog in the morning and spend time playing and training after work. As for getting along with the cats--that also depends on training and careful monitoring until they get to know each other. Aussies can be wonderful family dogs if the owner is willing to commit to the training and socializing this breed needs. I'm including a good link to read to help you decide if the Aussie is right for your family.
Kathy in PA