11 Reasons Australian Shepherds Are the Perfect Family Dog

Australian Shepherds are known for their strong working drives, their gorgeous coats, and their eagerness to please. You might wonder if this breed makes good family dogs.

Australian Shepherds are the perfect family dogs for active, committed families. They’re playful, easy to train, and generally are good with children. However, they do take more time and dedication than most dog breeds.

In this article, we’ll discuss whether an Australian Shepherd is the right breed for you, and 11 reasons why they make perfect family dogs.

Are Australian Shepherds Good Family Dogs?

Australian Shepherds are the right dogs for some families–but not for most! Before we get into how incredible these dogs can be, let’s discuss some drawbacks of the breed.

These dogs aren’t casual pets, but instead often require lifestyle changes on your part. This is because they’re incredibly driven, working dogs. A daily walk will never be enough to tire them out.

The right family for an Australian Shepherd is willing to spend hours a day on exercise and mental enrichment alone. Your dog will also need to be fed, groomed, and spent time with outside of exercise, such as cuddling on the couch or involving them in family activities.

Busy families who spend a lot of time away from home aren’t the right fit for an Australian Shepherd.

Some other disadvantages to the breed include:

• A high-shed coat that needs to be brushed at least once a week, and more often during shedding season.
• A tendency to choose a favorite person, which can make others (especially children) jealous.
• An instinct to nip heels, especially when children or other pets are in motion.
• They’re prone to barking and destructive behaviors when they aren’t getting enough exercise or mental stimulation.
• They’re prone to separation anxiety and shouldn’t be left alone for long periods, such as an entire workday.
• They can be shy or fearful around strangers and need early socialization to prevent this, and possible aggression as a result.
• As energetic, mid-sized dogs, they need space to run and do best with a large, fenced backyard.

It can be heartbreaking for the whole family, and traumatic to the dog, to adopt a pet you aren’t prepared for. Please do your research into both the pros and cons of any breed before adopting!

11 Reasons Australian Shepherds Make the Perfect Family Dogs

#1: They Love Their People

Australian Shepherds are affectionate and love spending time with family. They’ll want to participate in what you’re doing whether it’s barbequing in the backyard or having a movie night on the couch.

They’ll love running around outside with the kids, joining you on a hike, and snuggling up together on the couch after a long day.

#2: They Don’t Tire Easily

This is often seen as the biggest disadvantage of the breed, but it can be great for active families who love spending time with their dogs.

Your Australian Shepherd will happily spend hours exercising and won’t tire easily, even after a chaotic day with the family. If you want to spend the day doing outdoor activities, they’ll be up for it!

However, it is important to teach them how to be calm and to give your pup a quiet, protected space where they can go when they want a break or a nap.

#3: Australian Shepherds Can Be Good with Kids

Australian Shepherds are known for being good with children and even the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranks them a solid five out of five in this department. If you’re looking for a canine friend for your kids, this breed is an excellent choice.

However, it’s important to remember that every dog can bite. Teaching your dog and child how to interact with one another goes a long way toward ensuring no one is hurt. 

Children should be taught to stay away from a dog’s face and food bowl, to read dog body language, and to respect a dog’s boundaries. Both should be taught how to interact gently with one another.

Australian Shepherds must learn not to nip, which can be difficult since this herding breed tends to nip heels, and many dogs will try to herd children in this way. You may need to keep puppies and kids separated until the dog is properly trained and their teething phase is over.

It’s also vital that you never leave any dog unattended with young children, no matter how well they get along with one another.

#4: They’re Medium-Sized

Small dogs are often less able to keep up with physical activities. Their tiny bodies can be hurt easily by children stepping on or trying to lift them.

On the other hand, large breeds have expensive food and veterinary costs. They can be difficult to handle on a leash if untrained and are sometimes impossible to lift in an emergency.

At 40-65 pounds, Australian Shepherds are a good medium weight that avoids most of these downfalls. 

#5: They have Beautiful Coats

The Australian Shepherd coat isn’t without its downsides, such as grooming needs and shedding. Without a doubt, though, these are gorgeous dogs!

If you care about how your dog looks, you’ll love Aussies and their mid-length, multi-colored coats. They’ll look stunning in the family pictures!

#6: They have Long Life Expectancies

Australian Shepherds live an average lifespan of 12-15 years. They can grow up alongside your children, following your family through major life events.

So long as you can commit to caring for a high-energy dog for this long, your Aussie will pay you back with tons of affection, laughs, and good memories.

#7: Australian Shepherds are Easy to Train

There’s really no limit to what an Australian Shepherd can learn, from basic manners to agility to service work. You and your family will enjoy teaching your pup new things, and it’s one of the best ways to provide mental enrichment for the breed.

Aussies are fairly quick learners, especially when properly motivated. Always keep training sessions fun and positive, and don’t punish your dog for getting things wrong.

#8: They’re Smart

Aussies may be people pleasers, but they also have minds of their own. This ability to think for themselves gives them excellent problem-solving skills and can lead to plenty of laughs throughout your life together.

Their intelligence also helps them during training, as they learn new things quickly and genuinely enjoy training sessions.

#9: They’re Incredibly Playful

These silly, playful pups are the perfect addition to a fun-loving family. They’re sure to bring joy to your household as they zoom around the backyard, play tug-of-war in the living room, and show off their goofy personalities.

#10: Australian Shepherds Make Good Watchdogs

Australian Shepherds can be quite protective, though they don’t make the best guard dogs usually. They can make good watchdogs since they’re alert and will bark if they see something out of place.

Of course, this can also backfire when they’re barking at the tenth person to walk down the sidewalk that morning–but basic training can resolve this problem.

#11: They’re Loyal to their Families

These loyal dogs are often shy or standoffish with strangers, but they’re completely loyal to the people they know. They’ll easily take their place as part of the family and will love their people immensely.

Aussies do tend to choose a favorite person, who they’ll likely want to spend the most time with. This doesn’t mean they don’t love the rest of the family, though. Usually the “favorite” is just the person who spends the most time caring for the dog, or who is the most fun!

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Summary of 11 Reasons Australian Shepherds Are the Perfect Family Dog