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Australian Shepherd

BREED FAQs – AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

  1. Are Australian Shepherds hypoallergenic?

Answer: No! The Australian Shepherd is not a hypoallergenic breed. These dogs are known to produce a fair amount of dander and they also shed their fur in a decent manner, especially during the shedding season.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds friendly with Kids?

Answer: Yes! The Australian Shepherds are very friendly and affectionate with kids. These canines are always happy to play various games with children of all age groups and remain fairly kind and warm to them. This is a great breed for those people who are looking for an athletic playmate for their child.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds friendly with other dogs?

Answer: Well-trained and properly socialized Australian Shepherds are known to get along just fine with other dogs. These pooches do not face a lot of problems while mixing with other canines and generally remain fairly cordial and pleasant with them. But it is important to start socializing these dogs with other animals from an early age so that they could become a bit more gregarious and comfortable with other animals when they eventually grow up.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds friendly with cats?

Answer: If these pooches have been properly introduced to/raised with other household pets like cats from an early age, then they can be fairly friendly and gentle with them. But without proper training and socialization, these dogs may try to chase down other smaller animals such as cats and will also not be very calm and comfortable around them.

  1. Do Australian Shepherds make good guard Dogs?

Answer: Rather than being a guard dog, the Australian Shepherds are known to make excellent watchdogs instead. These pooches will constantly look after their owners’ home and property and will also alert them through their bark in case of any trespassers, intruders or burglars.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds apartment friendly?

Answer: Normally, the Australian Shepherds are not considered to be a great fit for apartments. But if all the exercise requirements of these canines are fulfilled on a regular basis and they remain relaxed and contented, then they can gradually learn to adjust to the apartment lifestyle.

  1. How much do Australian Shepherds shed?

Answer: The Australian Shepherds are seasonal shedders. They shed their fur in a somewhat heavier manner during the shedding season (spring & fall) which mostly comes twice every year. During this period, their coat should be regularly brushed as it can help in controlling the shedding process to a certain extent.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds good for first-time owners?

Answer: A canine with low maintenance needs is probably the right choice for the novice or first-time owners. And since the Australian Shepherds have enormous exercise and work requirements which should be fulfilled regularly (as without it, these dogs can become very bored, frustrated and restless), they are not considered to be a great option for first-time owners.

  1. Do Australian Shepherds bark a lot?

Answer: The Australian Shepherd is a fairly talkative breed. These dogs mostly bark when they are guarding their homes or when they want their owners’ attention. They can also sometimes bark to just express their feelings. But, this habit of excessive barking can be controlled by properly training and guiding these canines from a young age.

  1. How much exercise does an Australian Shepherd need daily?

Answer: The Australian Shepherds are highly athletic and agile canines that require a lot of exercise and movement on a daily basis to remain healthy and contented. Long walks or running sessions for at least an hour are highly important for these dogs so that they can spend the ample amount of energy that is present inside their body. Morning jogging sessions are also very beneficial for these pooches. These dogs also like to play various games with their loved ones and hence, regular playtime should also be given to them as it will keep them active and satisfied. If these canines always remain well-exercised and properly trained, then they are known to excel at several different dog-sporting events also like obedience, tracking, herding, agility et cetera.

  1. Can Australian Shepherds live alone for a long time in a day?

Answer: No! If these pooches are left alone for a long period of time, then they can become highly bored and restless. If this is done on a regular basis, then these dogs can gradually become very frustrated and destructive in nature and various bad habits like incessant barking and furniture chewing can be developed in these canines. Therefore, it is never a good idea to leave an Australian Shepherd all alone for an extended period of time, especially on a regular basis.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds easy to train?

Answer: Yes! The Australian Shepherd is a very intelligent breed and is pretty easy to train. These dogs are extremely responsive and alert during the training sessions and they are always very excited to learn new commands and tricks from their owners. They listen to every instruction given by their owners’ quite intently and are known to learn all the things which are taught to them fairly quickly. This is an excellent breed to teach new things to and their owners will have a fun and entertaining experience while training these pooches.

  1. What are Australian Shepherd's grooming needs?

Answer: The Australian Shepherds have moderate grooming requirements. Their coat is only needed to be brushed once every week so as to remove extra loose hair from their body but the frequency of brushing should be increased during the shedding season. Occasional baths are more than enough for them to remain neat and clean but their ears should be cleaned every week as they are prone to various ear infections. Their nails should be trimmed on a regular basis and their teeth should also be brushed frequently so as to maintain proper dental hygiene.

  1. What is the Australian Shepherd's tolerance to heat?

Answer: These canines have a decent tolerance to heat. They can easily survive in moderately warm areas but they do require a fair amount of care and protection from their owners if the temperature outside the house starts to go uncomfortably high.

  1. What is the Australian Shepherd's tolerance to cold?

Answer: The Australian Shepherds have a fine tolerance to cold. These pooches are great for those families who want to raise a canine in a fairly chilly and low-temperature area.

  1. Is Australian Shepherd an intelligent dog breed?

Answer: Yes! The Australian Shepherds are very smart canines. They have amazing thinking and learning skills and their problem-solving abilities are also quite decent.

  1. Is Australian Shepherd stranger friendly?

Answer: Generally, the Australian Shepherds are not very friendly and warm with strangers and they mostly remain fairly reserved and quiet around unknown people. And hence, proper socialization is very important for these dogs so that they could more gregarious with others.

  1. Do Australian Shepherds drool a lot?

Answer: No! These dogs don’t drool a lot. They only drool after eating/drinking something or when they are excited, but apart from this, they don’t slobber all that much.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds expensive and high maintenance dogs?

Answer: Yes! The Australian Shepherds are pretty pricey canines who are not very easy on the pockets of most people out there. And they are fairly high-maintenance as well. These dogs cannot be left alone for long periods of time as they require the constant attention of their loved ones. Their exercise and work needs are exceptionally high and thus they are mostly recommended to an active and experienced owner.

  1. Are Australian Shepherds easily available in India?

Answer: Their availability in India is pretty mediocre. They can be found in some of the better-known cities of this country, but when it comes to most of the smaller regions of India, the availability of these canines is still pretty low.

  1. What is the avg price of an Australian Shepherd puppy in India?

Answer: The average price of an Australian Shepherd puppy in India is around ₹35,000 to ₹45,000. But there are a lot of factors that affect their price in the country and because of that, the cost of bringing an Australian Shepherd puppy home can go fairly high.

  1. Do Australian Shepherds like to swim?

Answer: Yes! Most Australian Shepherds are great swimmers who do like to play in the pool or gently swim in a lake. These dogs are fairly comfortable and happy whenever they around a water body. Regular swimming sessions not only cheers these canines up but are also highly beneficial to their overall physical fitness.

  1. What Colors do Australian Shepherds Come In?

Answer: The Australian Shepherds mostly come in the following colors that are listed below:

  • Black
  • Blue Merle
  • Red Merle
  • Merle
  • Tan
  • Red
  • Black Tricolor
  1. What is an Australian Shepherd’s lifespan?

Answer: This is a very healthy breed that has a great lifespan of about 12-15 years. But if these dogs are consistently given proper care, nutrition, and exercise, then some of them may even live longer than 15 years of age.

  1. What are the most common health issues for the Australian Shepherds?

Answer: Most common health problems found in the Australian Shepherds are hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts, ear infections, and certain forms of cancer.