There are many types of dogs in this world. There are all different styles and breeds that are born to perform specific jobs. One of these groups is the herding dog group. The dogs in this group are some of the most intelligent in all of the dog world. One of the many breeds in this group is the Australian Shepherd.

Don’t let the name fool you though, he isn’t Australian. His breed originates in the United States. He was bred specifically for herding cattle. His coat is medium length and helps him make his way through brambles and thorns without harm.

He has no tail, so angry bulls have nothing to grab ahold of. He’s low to the ground and quick on his feet. Visit TinDog for more information on all the different breeds that your dog may be mixed with.

Australian Shepherd Mixes

There are many mixes of the Aussie, as they are often called. They will generally be smart and have the instincts of the herding dogs they share genetics with. This means that you may see some behaviors that aren’t always sensical to you and some of them might be downright annoying at times.

• Circling you as you walk. The Aussie mix may have a tendency to try to herd you and will do so by blocking your path, making it easy to trip over them. It takes training to teach them that you are the leader and they are not to herd Many trainers recommend that you gently push them aside and continue walking. You may also correct them and redirect them to more appropriate behavior, such as learning to walk at your side.
• Nipping, particularly as puppies. This is a behavior that can be dangerous if they are not taught to understand that they mustn’t do this to humans. Children can be nipped and be harmed, even though the herding dog doesn’t intend this to happen. Nipping is how herding breeds control their flock, so once again, this is a herding behavior that comes rather naturally to them. It takes time, patience, and constant redirection. Some dogs that are very set on this behavior may hasten your need to call a dog trainer in to help you break this very naughty habit.
• Car chasing can be a bad habit of herding breeds, though not necessarily exclusive to them. Many dogs that have a high prey drive will be prone to take chase after anything that moves quickly. This will include small game, a ball, or a running child at play. Unfortunately, this can also lead to nipping and even aggression in some dogs if they are not taught how to behave properly and how to re-habituate to a life of not herding. Sadly, they can’t help it. It’s genetics. So please, be patient with them and take the time to teach them.

The good news is that they are really smart dogs and respond extremely well to positive reinforcement training. Start as soon as you can. The younger they are when they begin training, the better. You Australian Sheperd mix should begin training as soon as they come into your home and you may start as early as 8 weeks of age. With patience and love, puppies will learn very quickly.

It’s also imperative that you give them plenty of appropriate chew toys at a young age. Why? Those puppy teeth are needle-sharp. You want them to learn to chew on appropriate things and not on you. All puppies will do what we call mouthing.

This is a type of chewing – on you. For them, it’s akin to being pacified, but for us, it really hurts! Sometimes it causes bleeding. When your herding dog mix tries to chew on you, interrupt them, redirect them to an appropriate chew toy, and then praise them for chewing on something that is appropriate.

As your Australian Shepherd mix grows up, he’ll make an excellent watchdog, protector, and family companion. They are known for being very well-mannered and if properly socialized, they can get along with all other animal members of the family. You will never be sorry that you’ve got one of these fine dogs, once you get past the puppy stages which might be challenging.