Australian sheppard?

K

kal52

New member
hey guys,

I need some input. Me and the wife, more me I guess are looking to add to the pack. I really wanted to get a standard schnauzer for a long time but decided that maybe It would be best to rescue a local dog from the pound. My wife volunteers a few days a week at the Humane Society taking care of the dogs and I get there to help out every now and again.

Well this week they got in 2 australian sheppard pups, about 3 months old, one is gone already but one is left.
They are supposedly purebred, the farmers neighbor took them when he found out the guy was going to shoot them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif

what can you guys tell me about them, I dont really have a specific purpose for this dog, and dont really know anything about them.

This little dude at 3 months is as solid as a tank, very playful and stuck to me like glue once we were out playing with him. (i know its a trick but its working /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

anybody have one or use one. Any info would be welcome.

Thanks

Dave
 
great dogs but they need to have a job to occupy their time if you don't have something for them to do they will find something to occupy them self.
can be anything from chasing a Frisbee to riding in the truck. smart dogs you can teach them anything you want but teach them something.
they bark more than a boarder collie and tend to nip more when working stock.
if you don't keep them busy they dig holes chew up things or run off.
teach him that you are the master and he will do what ever you ask of him.
 
I've had five of them and Cmiddleton is correct. They are a very active dog. They will herd anything they can and also naturally. You, your kids or the neighbor's chickens. One of mine used to keep himself amused by herding my free range chickens into a corner of the fence and just sit there and guard them. When one would try and escape, he would just run em back to the corner. Another one when he was just a pup was with me when I was trying to run some cows into the corral. He just figured out on his own what had to be done and ran those cows right up the fence line into the corral. And he was just a pup and had not been around any other dogs. They are smart as a whip. If your anywhere near Pensacola Fl, I'm ready for another one and I'll take him off your hands.

Good luck
OB
 
I know a few folks that have had them, and they live on fairly large pieces of horse property. All say just about the same thing. Great farm dogs! They will herd like the breed is supposed to, and they will run off or kill every coyote that gets anywhere near the property.
 
You can also teach them about anything.

I also use mine for bird hunting. No they don't have a nose like a blood hound. They will put 100% in everything they do. When you loose(missed shooting) a bird, they will be a disappointed as you with that "Look" that says, "Hey ya missed. I can't work if you miss."

I have also used them for rabbits, squirrels, cows and sheep. Hunting the 1st two, herding the last two.
 
I use to raise them years ago and agree with all of the above and I will add one thing to the list.
They can be very protective some strains are worst than others but most are that way. But I have seen many people bit by them. Just a thought
 
yeah thats one thing I worry about is the nipping/biting, and the fact he may turn out to be a bigger dog, this fella is a brute.

I have read they can get up to 70lbs, is this true? I also worry about all the hair, it can get very very hot up here, as well as very very cold, Do I need to clip them in the summertime to keep them cool or does their coat do that naturally.

There are also border collie pups not far away for adoption as well so I may make a trip to see them, as long as they are not bred with a larger dog, most of the time they have no Idea what they are they just have to guess.

Here is a link to him, the pics stink but its all they have atm.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12872426

here are the border collies

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12855322

Thanks again for the replies. I hate making these decisions because the more pups I see the more I want to bring home, the bad thing is the wife would let me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dave
 
I don't know much about the australian sheppard but i just got a border collie/heeler/aussie mix about 4 months ago and it is a ton of work. He is the smartest dog i've ever owned but he always wants to do something. He is very loyal but also timid. Border collies have that trait and need to be worked with on that. He barks only when he hears strange noises or when there are other animals near. And about the australian's hair you can shave them every spring and it will help, as for the border collie they don't have as long as hair so it's a little easier. Both dogs look great and i'm sure you will be happy with either one. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
I agree with what's been said. Smart, loyal, busy. Mine is a great watch dog. Nothing goes on around here that he isn't aware of, and he makes sure folks know he's on duty. I've never had any trouble with him biting/nipping, but as far as I know, nobody's ever challenged him on his turf. He knows by my actions who's supposed to be here and who's not and acts accordingly. I've never found the bottom of his gas tank, he'll wear me and my horse out and still be ready to go. I've never had any problems with him running off either. He has been known to do a little exploring, but always comes back to where he belongs. Great around kids, animals, and other dogs. Tough as nails when the situation warrants it though.

Their coats are an issue. You have to keep them groomed pretty regular or they mat up something fierce. I've been told that clipping them in summer is a bad idea. All that hair insulates against the heat just as well as the cold, and it gets pretty dang hot here. IMO, you'd be hard pressed to find a better all around dog.
109_0942.jpg
 
These dogs are awesome,you can do anything to them,I had one from the time she was a pup.
I will to find the picture of her with sunglasses and a hat on,she was the best dog.they are real good with children.

April
 
I just found out tonite that the little fella was adopted, the wife came back from volunteering and said that he was taken a day or so ago. GOOD FOR HIM! said it was a pretty nice family.

Jimanaz that is one nice looking dog you have there!

I think with all the burs that we have where we hunt Id have to hire a professional groomer or quit my job in order to get them out LOL
I remember as a Kid it was my job to pick burs out of our irish setter after a hunt ...ahh the memories.

just going to have to wait for that right dog to come through the doors there and snatch him up, waited too long on this one and missed a good one I think.

Thanks again guys

Dave
 
Border Collies need even more work than an Australian sheppard.

My old Aussie as a pup was a HOLY TERROR ...... I could have killed him a thousand times!!


...... that is until he learned his purpose in life ....

..... once he learned his station in life was a cattle dog .... all was well .....

ALL his puppy stuff disapeared in one instant .... he NEVER ... NEVER played games from that moment forward!

It's been my experience and talking to trainers as well that an Aussie can wait for stock work far better than a Border collie .... collies are smarter .... Aussies are more patient with their masters.

Loyal .... tough ..... super watch dogs!

I shaved mine .... he loved it once the dust settled on the opperation .... I NEVER saw any downside to it ..... he was MUCH more comfortable ... just important to do it soon enough so he could re-grow his super thick mop by fall!

That dog would fight a BUZZ saw for me if I asked him ....

.... with one exception! He was deathly afraid of bears .... dead or alive ..... later in life ... I snapped a picture of him laying about ten feet beyond a dead and cold 160 pounder .....

My Aussie did not know the meaning of running off .... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif and it's a foriegn idea to me with that breed.



Good ole Jack .... RIP! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif

Three 44s
 
Last edited:
three 44's sounds like you had a great dog, I wasnt able to get that one, wish I did cool little guy. But..

I did manage to find another dog I may be interested in, Its a springer cross(border collie?), but I need some advise on making a somewhat informed quess on how big this fella is going to get,

I talked to the lady on the phone and she said based on the teeth anywhere between 2-4 months, 20 lbs and roughly 12" high at the back. Vet checked him and said he would make a good farm dog (generally meaning he will be larger) his brother is 23 lbs. Im thinking he may get too big.

he has got enough hair to make it good enough for cold weather calling if I can get him trained to decoy.

so what do you all think, based on your exp, how big will he get? http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12969092 there is a little video of him too.

I did some checking, and it those measurements and age, he should be around 50lbs and 15-18" high at the back.

does that sound like a good quess?

I really do appreciate the help.

Thanks again

Dave
 
Last edited:
the guy who owns the farm I hunt on had one, it just died a couple months ago(old age), that was one of the smartest dogs I have ever seen, it would even tree squirrels!
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top