Is the Australian Shepherd dog hard to train?

1. 89

   Just Ask Susanposted 12 years ago

   Is the Australian Shepherd dog hard to train?

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2. 65

   maddotposted 12 years ago

   What is an Australian shepherd dog? I'm an Aussie and I've never heard of it.
   We haveand Australian  sheep dog and a cattle dog plus and Australian silky terrier but shepherd dog? Do you have a picture of one?

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3. 60

   funnyfarmposted 12 years ago

   Australian shepherds are incredibly intellegent.  This can make them difficult to train simply because they are usually a few steps ahead of you.  They are very high energy working dogs.  They need a job to do that keeps them thinking.  That is one reason they do so well in agility trials.  If you don't have the time and patience to dedicate to training and exercising this type of dog, don't try it.  You will all be miserable.  Also, if you don't have a strong personality that can take on that "alpha" role with your dog, you'll find that you are being controlled by it.  I have a dominant male Aussie, and he is great.  But we have to constantly remind him that he isn't alpha.

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4. 61

   grandmajenniferposted 12 years ago

   I would have to say that no - they aren't difficult to train.  They are very intelligent dogs and you need to understand where they are coming from before you start training them.  They love to have fun....but fun is relative.  What works with one Aussie may not work with another.  Just like children - what works to keep one child may not necessarily work with another.

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5. 59

   MNtruth651posted 12 years ago

   I just recently got an Australian shepherd and he is about 6 months old now... he is very smart and has learned countless tricks in less than 30 min. Just sit down with it and keep doing the trick over and over, takes about 20-30 repetitions before they get it down. But they also have tons and tons of energy.... He could fetch all day long if I threw the ball long enough. Some days I will bring him on a walk and come home and he is twice as rowdy as before, so I have to bring him again.... They also like to think they are smarter then you, or more dominant. Its all about finding out where they sit on the tut-om pole. I also have a chow chow back home and she was very pushy as a puppy but now is the most loving and caring dog ever. If you choose to get a puppy you will definitely have to put in some time with an Australian shepherd. They are great companions though, mine follows me everywhere.

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6. 80

   Golfgalposted 12 years ago

   My neighbor has a chocolate Aussie and she runs like the wind.  I understand they are very intelligent and have a natural herding instinct.  They need lots of area to run...run....run.  Apartment living or city living would not be condusive to this breed's constitution.  Start with lots of love and firm discipline (that means to be consistent with your requests and expectations, do not let the dog think it has to be master since the owner cannot.  As long as you think you can be this kind of master than you will be  very happy with this breed. My family loves to watch our neighbors dog....Cody play ball with his master for a good 20 minutes he runs and catches the long throws in the air.  It is amazing.

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7. 62

   myawnposted 12 years ago

   Austrian shepherds have a lot of energy they do not do well without lots of excerise. Apartment life is not the ideal  or them.They are smart but stubburn dogs. Very playful.

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8. 80

   terrektwoposted 12 years ago

   I think it is dependent on the dog some are smarter than others even within certain breeds. So if you are willing to take the time with the dog I'm sure you could train most

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