View Full Version : Calling All Aussie Owners
I have been bitten by the Aussie Bug!
I have a black tri female Australian Shepherd she is 6 months old and her name is Roxy. I got her when she was 7 weeks old.
Ive never had an Aussie before her,but they are really intelligent dogs
Would love to hear from other Aussie owners out there to talk about Aussies in general
skunkstripe
07-04-2008, 05:59 PM
Roxy is lovely! I'm sure you'll enjoy her tremendously. Are you planning on doing any formal activities with her, like herding or agility?
Yes when she is older I plan to put her in agility and herding. I would love to do both .She comes from working stock so her herding instinct is pretty strong . I wish I could do it now but I dont want to risk any joint injury with her.
In the meantime she loves to free run in the backyard and indoors she enjoys herding me up and down the stairs .
:rolleyes:
She is also a "velcro' dog that follows me everywhere I go.Thats fine I kinda like that about her.
I had done loads of research before getting an Aussie and I am so glad I did I dont regret my choice for a minute although at times it would be nice to just have a lazy day(Cant do that with an Aussie haha)
Aussies Rock
07-04-2008, 08:35 PM
congats on your Aussie. Have you taken her to any formal classes yet? With an Aussie its very important to get them socialized with people and other animals as soon as possible. Obed. classes are very important too expecially if your planning on Agility and/or herding. They have to listen and take direction without a second thought.
My girl is 4.5 yrs and Myka is 11.5 weeks so I get to start all over again with him. We currently run in agility, with my girl, and have Myka in puppy class and work on his sit/ stays and recalls several times a day. Short sessions, he is a puppy, just when ever during the day.
Good luck with your girl. They are the best dogs in the world but due to their intelligence they need stimulation and training, they need to think.
Oh, and if I'm sick and can't get out for the day, they will curl up next to me and be just fine for the short term. Are you in the states?
No we havent done any formal training yet I am having a bit of difficulty with the heel and I dont get this even though I have socialized her extensively since Ive had her,she doesnt take kindly to strangers at all.I understand that Aussies are reserved with strangers,but she will lunge and bark at everyone to the point where she is choking herself on the lead.
She can sit , down, speak on command, gives paw, and we are working on the stay command now
Indoors she has no problems focusing on me,but outdoors she becomes very distracted and sprints like a wild bronco.I think she thinks her "job" is to protect me once we go outside.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how I can best teach her the heel and even though I dont want her to be friends with every stranger she sees,at the same time I dont want her to think that everyone is a threat either
Yes I am in the states Florida to be exact and they do offer puppy classes in my local Petsmart,but Ive heard so many negatives about it ,that I am reluctant to enroll her in there
What types of mental stimulation other than obedience can I teach her? She seems to bore of that quite easily .
Aussies Rock
07-04-2008, 10:18 PM
If you got here from a local breeder you could ask them about a GOOD trainer. It sounds like you need to get her comfortable with people, quickly :).
There are many good books out there that can explain positive reinforcment type training. Myka is 11 weeks and is reserved/cautious with strangers and have been walking him with a loose lead around the local streets. Maddie loves most everybody, she is quite the wiggle butt. Try and do a Google search for ASCA in Florida. They could or should be able to point you in the right direction.
Games all types of games will keep your Aussie sharp. Hide and seek, fetch with a ball or frisbee. My guys love to play in the water. You could try a little tracking in the backyard with a hotdog. I have been doing restrained recalls with lots of praise and treats for a quick come. You can even start ground work for agility. perhaps there is a agility fundamentals class around. I think they do flat work, no jumps etc.
I also do clicker training with Maddie. The more you train the more they want to learn and the quicker they do learn. But you still need to keep it fun in short training sessions to keep the energy up and her attention on you.
I got her from a breeder two hours away from here but thank you for your suggestions Aussies Rock . I like the idea of finding her an agility fundamental class .Also your idea of playing frisbee appeals to me
She is great at fetch she will fetch anything you throw ,but.... then she runs away with it:rolleyes: so yea I need to teach her how to brings things back
But I'm just curious about her aggression towards people now .
Is this a phase that she is going through ? Sort of like a teenager maybe
Or is her lashing out evidence that she is not being stimulated enough?
Aussies Rock
07-04-2008, 11:01 PM
It dosnt sound like a phase. I would think it would only get worse if not corrected. Make meeting people a plesant experience (treat and praise) start with people you know let them treat and pet her. she needs to know you've get her back and everything is fine. I take Myka out a few times a week everywhere I go, store, vet, Maddie's classes. Lots of new people and places. Don't push her though. she needs to feel safe and trust you. You could start by greeting at "her" safe distance. They are smart and easy to train but it takes time.
Alright that does make sense and it's funny when she was a little pup I took here everywhere with me and now that she is older I have slacked in that department because I figured that her lunging at people would only escalate if I brought her to public places
.I guess I need to resocialize her to new places and meeting all kinds of people again . Here is a short video of her lunging and barking at people. I filmed it with a digital camera so it may not be the best quality.A friend of mine was holding her while I filmed. Figured I would show this to a trainer at some point
Yes her circle of "friends" are about 5 people and thats it she basically hates everyone else :confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOWFggQnxew
Aussies Rock
07-04-2008, 11:45 PM
Huh. She does tug a bit, doesn't she. I thought I read somwhere that when growing up they should meet, i don't know, 12 new people a week or somthing like that. New places too. People ask me how often I train Maddie. I train everyday but in short bits. Like waiting at a sit while I get her food ready, waiting at the door to get her collar on or before getting in or out of the car. Getting her to bring back a ball... what does she like better than the ball? toss the ball, she gets it then you flash something better and call her. Make yourself more exciting than playing alone with the ball.
Keep the faith, Aussies are worth the effort.
Yes she is def worth any effort shes my world!
She loves all types of games really she loves her Kong I fill it with treats and she loves that. I have been teaching her the N.I.L.I.F.method which she is doing fine with that too.
I just want to do right by her and not make any mistakes with her training.
Just want her to grow up to be a healthy happy Aussie doing what she loves doing which is herding and running free.
I will make a special effort to have her meet new people on her own terms without feeling like she's forced to make friends
And have her play more games where she would need to interact with me more instead
Thank you for your extremely helpful advice I will keep you updated on Roxy's progress.
I'm so thankful I joined this forum thanks for taking out the time to hear me out and help me with my Aussie
Aussies Rock
07-05-2008, 12:17 AM
No problem. I am surprised no one else chimed in. But it is the 4th of July. I'm here with Maddie under my desk because she doesn't like fireworks.There are a few good people in this forum but like advice from me, take it with a grain of salt. Nobody knows it all. It would be worth it to find a good trainer in your area though. Go watch them teach and see if there method or values are a good match for you two.
Haha before me and Roxy were outside and some people were putting some fireworks outside and she just sat here watching, then when the noise went off she went ballistic barking at them .
I was really surprised that didnt phase her one bit.Yea I'm sure people are enjoying thier 4th with bbqs and family gatherings .I just stayed home and didnt go anywhere today .Figured I didnt want Roxy to be freaked out for her first July 4th
agilityk9trainer
07-08-2008, 05:29 PM
War,
Here's a video link of Asher lunging. This is herding drive and not aggressive in the slightest, however it looks very aggressive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MGd4i7kbOI
Aussies Rock
07-08-2008, 05:42 PM
Maddie will do that from time to time but if I ask for calm she settles down. She will not do that every time someone approaches.
I agree it doesn’t look to be a "rip yer face off" aggressive move but not good manners on a walk.
Well I hope this is all just "herding behavior" and not aggression if it is that means that I may have a future agility champ in my future .Most important thing I want to do is just have her under control so that she doesnt lunge out at everyone she sees.
I do take the blame for not correcting her when I should and just letting it got his far
But she is only 6 months old and no bad habits have settled in yet so hopefully it wont take too long to teach her not to lunge at everyone
Great video of Asher was wondering it it would be ok to request you as a friend on utube? I have an acct on utube this way I can add those videos on my page
Aussiepaws
07-09-2008, 10:46 AM
Aggression toward people is a big no no in this breed. It's very important at this age to get her out and socialize her around a lot of people and things.
My first Aussie had a very strong instinct to protect and from the time he was eight weeks old I was taking him with me where ever they allowed dogs and getting him use to people.
He still had a very reserved and protective nature when he matured but it was something I watched very carefully. I never allowed him to be in a situation where he was stressed and didn't have means of escaping that situation.
Glad your planning to get your Aussies involved in agility and other activities however now would be a good time to enroll your aussie pup in a puppy obedience class ... its a way to socialize your pup with other people and other dogs as well.
I love this breed and have owned and Aussie since 1992. I currently have two a beautiful black tri male who turned 13 in May and my mischevious little blue merle female with blue eyes Cadence who will be 3 in October. Is there any other breed for me ... No. I can't imagine my life without an Aussie in it.
Aussiepaws
07-09-2008, 11:02 AM
My first dog ... a Lab/Collie mix was terrified of people when I got her. She was 2 years old and would either hide behind me or bark at anyone who approached her.
Working with a dog who was socially challenged wasn't easy. But I wouldn't leave the house without a pocket full of treats and bringing her any place I could where she would be exposed to people.
I'd stand by the grocery store with her having her sit by my side and giving anyone who approached to meet her some treats to feed her. I would tell them to squat down to eye level and stand about 3-4 feet away from her and hold out their hand with the treat and call her toward them.
It took me a good 2 years for her to have the confidence to accept being approached by strangers and not hide behind me or bark at them. With a puppy you should be able to get a faster turn around on your dog's social problems.
Also dogs go through a fear imprinting state from 4-6 months these are time when your pup needs to be really socialized with people because if they are not confident and comfortable with thier situation it can lead to behavioral issues.
Definitley contact your pups breeder and ask if they know of anyone who does behavioral training. It sounds like your pup may have a bit of a confidence issue.... Agility will help a lot in that area.
agilityk9trainer
07-09-2008, 02:58 PM
War,
Yep, you can be friends on Youtube. Hopefully I can figure it out and accept the invitation. :)
Aussiepaws suggestion of a class is a good idea regardless of what is causing the lunging. Whether it's fear induced, herding induced or normal aggression, class will be a great place to start. Let the trainer know of your situation. You might send the trainer the Youtube clip. They might suggest private lessons at first, but once you have to tools to deal with the situation, you'll be able to join classes.
Glad you're working on it. :)
Thank you for your great advice Agilityk9trainer I will look into that
hopefully we can resolve this issue before it becomes a major one
Aussiepaws
07-13-2008, 06:47 AM
Does she like treats? I would cut up some string cheese or hot dogs and get her to focus on you by telling her "watch me" hold the treat in front of your face, when she is calm and in a sit give it to her and praise.
When she sees something she wants to lunge at do quick reverse and go in the other direction praise or give her a treat. Also relax and don't be tense. Dogs can sense tension from you right down the lead.
It is important she meet people, but if she's showing this type of aggression you may be pushing her too fast. Have you consulted a dog behaviorist? They could help you with some of the issues your seeing. Don't give up. It takes a lot of patience and time.
Yes she is very treat motivated so that will work
And no I havent consulted a dog behaviorist yet but I will look into that as well
She has no problem with her focus INDOORS, its once we step outdoors that she becomes distracted and just wants to do everything else but mind me:rolleyes:
Aussies Rock
07-13-2008, 03:15 PM
As with learning a new behavior you need to step up the rewards to keep her focused on you. A sit in the house is different than one outside with distraction. I have found that I need to rotate my training rewards, treats/toys, to eliminate boredom setting in. You also need to keep yourself interesting to you pup. More interesting than that guy walking past or the girl on the bike.
Yea thats true make myself more interesting than whats outside
I usually give her pieces of cheese which she loves as a treat but I will try the hotdog I'm sure she will love that!
Aussies Rock
07-13-2008, 09:57 PM
Just little pea sized treats. Enough to get there interest but not enough fill them. If there full there is little interest. I find I get his undivided attention if we train before meals. That way food is way interesting. For Mykas puppy class we skip dinner as usual but he gets it as training treats during class.
RomeoOhRomeo
07-14-2008, 03:05 AM
Congrats on getting an Aussie! She is adorable! I also have a black tri female that is about the same age as yours (her bday is 1/20/08). My avatar pic is right before I first got her. She was around 7 weeks old. You've gotten some very good advice on this thread already. Definitely socialize her as much as possible to prevent problems in the future. My little girl is shy around other people. She ignores them if they ignore her though. If they come up to me, she just stays by my side. Good luck with everything! Aussies are wonderful dogs!
Congrats on your Aussie too! About how much does your Aussie weigh? I'm trying to figure out how big mine will eventually get
Last weigh in was at the vets in June and she was 29.6lbs and her dob is Dec 28,2007
Aussiepaws
08-19-2008, 01:51 PM
Hey War how is training going? Hope you're making some headway with it and finding she will work with you rather than lunge and bark at other dogs and people.
I bought Roxy a clicker and am training her using that with food rewards when we are outside
She will sit when 1 person passes by but still has problems when groups of people pass by especially kids and other dogs, but we ARE making progress so thats good
Aussies Rock
09-21-2008, 10:52 PM
Hey War, I'm feeling your pain right now. Myka is highly "driven" he will bark and lunge at people and other dogs. I have found that creating distance from the distraction works somewhat. If we are on a walk on the local cross country course and some runners come by he will start to bark, I now know the signs and can react before he starts going off da hook. I will get him to focus on me, treats and sits/downs to get him focused on me, increasing distance from the distractions work. If I can catch him before he reacts I stand a much better chance of nipping it in the bud. We can now go to the school field and watch the kids doing soccer or football practice with no barks or pulls. He is VERY interested but he just watches nicely with me. If we have distance we can pass other dogs on our walk, no issues. If he starts to feel crowded with a new dog he will react.
Myka is much different than my girl Maddie. I'm learning to adjust, but it takes lots of work everyday (training is a constant thing, many short sessions) and does get frustrating at times. I figure that if I can shape his behavior now he will be a great dog for the future, one I can live with and people will be happy to have him come visit.
The funny part about this is that she is actually pretty good about meeting other dogs face to face even though she still lunges at them from a distance. The other day we were taking a walk and we seen someone walking thier Lab.Anyway Roxy got into her lunging bit,but the owner of the lab came towards us (with my permission) and once the lab approached ,they both began thier sniffing ritual and then wanted to play with eachother! So she is not dog aggressive. I think she just wants to play with them and cant so she lunges instead maybe hoping they will come to her but not realizing that they freak out when she does that lunging bit