You've decided. The Australian Shepherd is what you need in your life. They're a loving, loyal, active breed that love nothing more than being with their people and you think they're the most beautiful breed in the world.

All those things are true (especially that they're the most beautiful breed in the world and I'm not at all biased ;) ). There are a few things that I would recommend thinking about before getting your heart set on an Australian Shepherd.

• Do I have time to continually train & keep up with an Aussie?
  Australian Shepherds are smart and like to keep you on your toes. They need consistent training, rules have to be the same every single day. This isn't being "naughty" or "rebellious" but as a breed they have been developed to think for themselves so if they think the human isn't up to the job they take matters into their own hands. They are fast learners, good or bad! So you have to be ready to make sure they are only set up to learn the right things.
• Do I have time to socialise my puppy with strange humans and strange dogs from a young age?
  As a dog bred with strong herding and guarding instincts, the Australian Shepherd can be suspicious and aloof of strangers. If they don't have a lot of socialisation from a young age they can become nervous, timid or even aggressive. Some lines more so than others. Socialisation for an Aussie (or really any dog) isn't throwing them in a dog park & letting them tough it out - they have to have positive/neutral experiences with other polite dogs who are very savvy in reading body language. As a herding breed they do like their own space so a dog getting in their face is not going to be seen as friendly. They're not meant to be a Golden Retriever in an Australian Shepherd body!
  Socialisation with people is even more important. They need to have plenty of early, controlled, positive interactions with new people of all shapes and sizes. When visitors come to the house they need to learn that it's a positive thing for them and the polite way to greet visitors (i.e. four feet on the floor - no jumping).
  Many Australian Shepherds seem to just love everyone and that's great, but for some Aussies they can take a while to come out of their shell and that's okay, things need to be taken at their pace to ensure they make positive associations with meeting people & dogs.
• Are you prepared to commit to brushing your Australian Shepherd at least once a week, more when they're blowing a coat (usually over a few weeks, twice a year)?
  While the coat is easy to care for, it does need regular maintenance. Behind the ears, elbows, pants and underside are the fastest places to get tangles or impacted undercoat, especially if the dog is exercised around grass seeds or burrs. If you regularly brush your dog from a young age it won't be an unpleasant experience and most dogs do enjoy the one-on-one bonding time.
• Does a dog that is bouncy, goofy, obnoxious at times & often quite talkative sound like the perfect dog to you?
  Australian Shepherds can be quite boisterous, it's just part of their charm. Some have this in varying degrees but they're not a "serious" dog and love nothing more than to tell you about their day in "Arooroo"s & express their joy to see you in a series of bounces, leaps, barks & toy shaking. When very excited they can forget themselves & get too rough (one of mine loves to give "love punches" on your leg then delightedly bound away).  There's also the "Aussie grin" (some other breeds do it too) where they pull their lips back as though they're snarling but it's usually accompanied by a wriggly excited body. 
  

If all of this sounds like a dog you can enjoy living with, definitely do your research into breeders before choosing your puppy. There are a lot of blogs out there that give great guidelines for finding a reputable, ANKC Registered breeder and which questions to ask. Don't just fall for a cute picture of a puppy - ask lots of questions & don't be in a rush for a dog. It's best to wait for the perfect match for you than get the first dog available because this is a dog that you're going to have for the next 10-15 years!

After the death of Robo, I actually looked at other breeds that may suit including Australian Cattle Dogs & English Springer Spaniels (I'm hoping one day to get an ACD it just has to be the right time). In the end I decided I wanted to stick with Aussies as I had fallen in love with the breed. I also kind of knew what I was getting.

Australian Shepherds have been bred to be biddable & loyal to their owners over generations of assisting their owners with herding, guarding the property & being a loving companion, they are smart & easy to train.  That said they can be easy to teach bad habits. If they're not taught what's expected of them they'll make something up - they're creative like that. 

I love their enthusiasm to learn, they're usually food driven, toy driven or both so teaching tricks or general obedience is made a lot easier (plus, if I want my dogs to do something they don't really like, food sweetens the deal). While Aussies can have a lot of energy they usually have a good "off-switch" and they're perfectly happy lounging in front of the TV as long as their exercise needs for the day are met.  They love spending time with their people so being able to get out & about makes them happy! It's how they got the name, "Velcro dog".

​I personally find Aussies very easy to live with. They come with varying levels of energy & usually a couple of quirks (i.e. sock stealing, grinning). Personally I think that's what makes them fun. They thrive on any kind of time being spent with them: training, hiking, fetch, swimming - anything and they'll do it.

I have been mad about dogs for my whole life, but it was only after meeting Kathy & her dogs that I became interested in the pedigree dog world. I had always appreciated a nice pedigree dog but now I have developed a passion for the fancy & want to see it thrive in the future.  

I've had a couple of Aussie boys going through this same stage so at least I know this will end and can laugh about his antics. While it drives me crazy at the time, before I know it they're a decent dog again. A couple of things I've learned about dealing with the Adolescent puppy:

• They're scared, so they need a LOT of patience & tact. I've noticed Fenton will "freeze" when he's confused & hassling him won't make anything happen any quicker. Giving him time to think about things helps build his confidence.
• Their "world" has opened up (I think it's the hormones starting to kick in) so I'm not as exciting as I used to be to him! This means that they need a bit more incentive to do the things that they used to do willingly just to make you happy. I find myself carrying treats around & making a BIG fuss of him for even the tiniest things he does right. He'll eventually remember his old self! *I hope*
• It will end & they'll be a normal dog again & you will survive!

Now, I'm definitely not a dog trainer, so don't take everything I say as gospel. Not all dogs are the same & this is only what I've learned from my small sample size. But I do hope that it might help someone going through the adolescent puppy stage with their puppy know that they're not alone & they haven't stuffed up!  

For the last couple of days most of my time has been spent answering emails & evaluating potential homes for him. There are many who look promising so that is encouraging. But today's post isn't about the process of selecting the perfect home. It's about the perception of a retired show/breeding dog who is being offered to a new family. 

I have had SO many comments or emails implying that Tundra is "in need" or needing "adopting" or other rescue keywords. This is a very strange point of view to me!! Yes, the dog is available to the perfect home - that does not mean he is being discarded to the first bleeding heart. A show dog is still a thoughtfully bred, carefully raised & much-loved dog. He has always been fed ultra-premium dog food, his coat & nails have always been maintained, he's seen the vet when needed & most importantly he has been part of the family. 

This is not what I would class as a rescue or even a dog that needs adopting. A dog that is "in need" or "up for adoption" is a dog that doesn't have many options left, such as a dog needing a lot of behavioural rehabilitation, ongoing medical attention or a dog in the pound with 24 hours to find a home. They are the dogs who need someone wanting to offer a dog "in need" a home! They are no less deserving of a home than a show dog but unfortunately their circumstances have left them harder to home.

When a show dog becomes available, it is actually a rare opportunity to purchase a stunning, healthy, pedigree dog with a wonderful temperament that someone will be very privileged to own.

At the end of the day, if you are looking for a dog, you need to take into account what kind of dog would suit your home. If you are up to the challenge and don't have preference for much besides size & approximate activity level, a rescue dog is probably fine for you. But if you have certain characteristics you want in a dog (and appearance can be one of them!), there is nothing wrong with wanting to buy a well-bred, pedigree dog from a registered, ethical breeder.

But please, don't refer to our dogs as "in need". They are anything but!