Australian Shepherds are some of the most amazing dog breeds in the world. They’re fantastic workers with a bright and warm personality. They have very good-natured temperaments as well. I would argue that Aussies are everything you would want and love in a family dog.

These are just a few words owners have used to describe an Australian Shepherd’s temperament: Security camera annke.

Good natured
Lively
Intelligent
Work-oriented
Devoted

What’s to love about an Australian Shepherd? These are friendly, easygoing dogs that tend to get along well with other pets and people, including strangers. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them an excellent pet for families and first-time dog owners. The Australian Shepherd, the cowboy’s herding dog of choice, is a medium-sized worker with a keen, penetrating gaze in the eye. Aussie coats offer different looks, including merle (a mottled.

But if you’re thinking about getting an Australian Shepherd, it’s important you understand their temperaments and personalities in depth. Several thousands of owners would agree they’re fantastic dogs. However, they may not be right for everyone.

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Australian Shepherd Temperament

Dog temperament refers to the nature and demeanor of a dog. In some ways, it’s another word for personality. Some dogs are aggressive, while others are docile. Fortunately, Australian Shepherds fall into the latter.

General Overview

Temperament and personality traits of an Aussie can vary depending on the dog. Most of them tend to be social and outgoing, but there are dogs that are timid too.

Despite the variance, there are some things that remain consistent for nearly all Australian Shepherds. These dogs are all extremely loyal to the family (or pack).

Aussies are considered to be relatively intelligent dog breeds and eager to learn. In fact, they absolutely love obedience training because they see it as a task. Did I mention, they love to work? We’ll elaborate later.

Although the Aussie can run around in a large backyard for hours, they are most comfortable and the best versions of themselves when interacting with people. And by that, I mean playing with family members or a single owner. This can mean, catch with a ball, frisbee or other fun dog games.

Australian Shepherds are excellent companion dogs and not a lot of people would argue with that.

Loyal Dogs

A fairly consistent trait among all Australian Shepherds is loyalty / devotion. It’s one of the brightest highlights with these dogs. There’s very few things an Aussie won’t do for its owner. Eyeclub app.

For example, we questioned 27 real owners about whether their Aussie likes water. The majority said they did. However, not all of them eagerly plunged into water for a swim right away. Some owners mentioned the best way is for you, the owner, to go in first.

Australian Shepherds have a lot of trust in their owners, which is also a sign of loyalty. No matter what you’re doing or how you feel, you can count on an Aussie to have your back.

Aussies are Social Dogs

There are many independent-minded dog breeds that don’t mind having some “alone” time, such as the Chinese Chow Chow. However, the Australian Shepherd is not one of them.

In fact, they’re the happiest when they get to spend quality time with familiar people. This is especially true with their owners.

Some of the things Aussies love doing is physical activity. But what makes them even more excited is physical activity with his or her best friend (you!). This means frisbee, catch with a ball, jogging and even swimming!

If you make them feel like family, they will act like family and shower you with unconditional love. They love to be part of the family and included in all family activities.

Next time you go for a picnic with your family, you better be bringing your Australian Shepherd.

Australian Shepherds are Hard Workers

One thing that makes me so attracted to these dogs is their balance of work and play. As social as they are, Australian Shepherds are just as hard working. If given an assigned task, they’ll take it very seriously and do it with pride.

Aussies used as herding dogs aren’t the norm anymore. However, there are other ways to give your dog “work.” Great alternatives include daily obedience training or consistent physical activity.

For example, if you play catch with your Aussie for 30 minutes every day, they will see it as a job. Just be consistent with it.

Now, don’t feel bad for making your dog work. Australian Shepherds love to work. In fact, without work, they may stress out not knowing what to do.

Australian Shepherds were bred to be hard workers, which is why they’re classified as working dogs. So, make sure you have time in your schedule to work with them on a daily basis.

Lively and Exuberant

If you’ve ever met an Australian Shepherd, you know they’re bursting with energy. I’ve never seen a more active dog in my life. They run, they jump and they certainly herd people.

Most dog owners have heard of the term “dog zoomies.” It’s a random burst of energy that all dog breeds experience, especially at a young age. They’ll be calm one moment and running circles around you the next. Well, Australian Shepherds have been known to experience a lot of zoomies.

Remember, these dogs were bred to be diligent workers. This means they inherently have a ton of energy they need to expend. It’s also another reason why they seem so lively and excited all the time.

If you come home from a long day of work, you can expect your Aussie to be jumping for joy (literally). They’ll wag their butts uncontrollable and occasionally go for a sprint.

This exuberance of energy is all part of the Australian Shepherds’ charm.

Intelligent Dogs

Australian Shepherds are smart dogs. In fact, according to researcher Stanley Coren, Aussies are tied for the 42nd most intelligent dog breed in the world. Curious who else made it to the top 100 smartest list? Check out my guide to dog intelligence.

Australian Shepherds are able to learn a new command with just 25 to 40 repetitions of the command. On top of that, they’re able to correctly obey a known command at least 50% of the time on the first try.

This puts Aussies in the same group as the Jack Russell Terrier, German Wirehaired Pointer and Siberian Husky – when it comes to intelligence. In fact, they’re ranked higher than the mentioned breeds on the top 100 list.

Combine their intelligence with their eagerness to please and you have one of the most obedient, highly trainable and versatile dog breeds ever produced.

Aloof with Strangers

For the most part, these dogs are friendly with just about anyone – there are exceptions. However, Australian Shepherds can also be somewhat timid or alert when approached by the unfamiliar.

They’re quite protective of their family and territory, but aren’t ultra-protective like many other breeds. Still, it’s important to teach them to how socialize with strangers.

As a puppy, Aussies need to go through extensive socialization training. The more people they are exposed to, the better they are with strangers. Through this training, they’ll better understand which humans are “good and bad.”

Isolating your puppy can result in an aggressive adult dog. Because of their inherent protectiveness, Aussies can exhibit hostile behavior towards strangers. In some cases, they may even bite a friend or family member they’ve never met.

To avoid any potential mishaps, make sure to get them familiar with interacting with people at a young age. Also, some Aussies will never accept strangers despite socialization.

Australian Shepherd Puppy