The Australian Shepherd is a very intelligent, trainable and super energetic sheepdog. If not exercised properly, that pent up energy can create a lot of disharmony in the house. This breed of dog needs and loves to run. They also love problems to solve. Obedience and agility training are great methods that allow them to use their minds in a way that won’t leave their closets bare or lead them to escape fenced yards. At a minimum, an Australian Shepherd should be given 15 minutes full time twice a day. Anything less than that and you are seeing possible destruction within your home. A brisk walk is a good start, but don’t expect it to use up all that energy.
The great thing about Australian Shepherds is that they are very easy to train. With a little time and effort, and systematic dog training, you can teach your Australian to burn out. Not only will this provide a release of energy for your beloved pets, but it will also keep their minds active and stimulated. In addition, it will maintain a harmonious home and the enjoyment you spend with your Australian Shepherd will create a closer bond.
There are other things you can do to give your Australian Shepherd a little boost in his daily exercise. Dogs are pack animals and love the company of other dogs and family members. Finding another playmate can help expend some of that energy. Also, if you have kids and you train both kids and dogs to play well, they can wear each other down. You don’t want your Australian to bite children and you don’t want children to pull the fur or get too rough with the dog, but extensive play with an Australian Shepherd should be encouraged.
You need to find some space to run. It can be a fenced in backyard or a dog park that allows off-leash running and play. These are the easiest and safest places to let your Australian Shepherd run, but a good long leash, zip line, tug of war, find and chase games in and out of the house and even off-leash, racing in Open areas are good exercise options. . Keep in mind that if you leave your Australian off leash, you need to train him to have an excellent memory. If you go for a run or take long walks with your Australian Shepherd, you’ll also want to make sure he knows how to behave on a leash. You also want to make sure that an Australian’s collar is secure as they can find ways to get out of it. A good rule of thumb is to keep it tight, but leave enough room for four of your fingers to glide.
You can also provide toys that stimulate their problem-solving skills (such as a stuffed toy, a toy that moves by itself, etc., be creative). This allows them to expend some mental energy and perhaps give you a little break. Remember, a tired Australian Shepherd is a happy Australian Shepherd. Make a safe play area inside the house, as he will be physically interacting with your Australian regularly and you don’t want his breakable items to break. Make sure to keep your dog running, trained, and obedient, and they’ll be happy to cuddle you at night.
