Today on our walk I had the "luck" (or not) to run into a pack of Australian Shepherds. We were walking in the woods (Noah was off-lead) and then an Aussie approached him. Everything was fine, they were sniffing each other, then all of a sudden there was some aggressive barking and Noah ran back and hid behind us. Then two more Aussies came running up, both muzzled, with their owner shouting "no, leave it" etc. She held them back and let the others approach Noah. She also explained that apparently the two muzzled ones aren't "reliable" around cyclists and joggers (though I could tell they were definitely being aggressive towards Noah, and my little lad felt it too). I’m really surprised to have come across two aggressive Australian Shepherds; I always thought Aussies were easy to train and very sociable, so it’s really put me off. On top of that, Noah has now become more wary of other dogs at first :( it’s nothing serious, but still, what do you think? Is it the owner’s fault or are these two dogs just "nasty" by nature?
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I often have a bit of fun as part of an unofficial personal research project with my dog, inviting owners of reactive dogs to "let them meet". I’m often left disappointed because so few actually agree. That’s the case with the Pitbull we might see again tonight at our scent work class (though I’d be surprised if they actually show up).
But the worst case I’ve seen so far in the group classes I’ve attended—the gold medallist—remains an Australian Shepherd. It’s always hard to say for sure, though, as once again the owner turned down my invitation to let them meet. In my opinion, that dog was hyper-frustrated, fearful, and reactive. He would have probably just shut down in front of Sana and wouldn't have attacked her (which proves your point). Mind you, I can tell you it was quite a sight: like a proper wild animal!
The owners have two Aussies. One has three legs and one has four. The three-legged one didn't seem quite as bad.
@Docline, about five minutes ago I called out to Naïs, saying "no, naughty girl!" because she was chewing my raspberry canes again. There are probably only two raspberries left on them at the very most; it was more about the principle of the thing than actually trying to save them.
The little madam pretended she couldn't hear a word I was saying from the other end of the garden. So, I marched over with a heavy, purposeful tread, repeating "no, naughty, Naïs, come here!", while pointing my finger at the ground.
I never usually point at the ground—I always call her with an open palm—but I was trying to assert my authority there, so I pointed to help drive the message home.
Naïs came over looking a bit sheepish, and when she reached me, she gently took my finger in her mouth. Typical! She clearly didn't take her human's "threat" seriously at all and she'll be right back at it tomorrow! ;-)
I didn’t really go through a "teenage phase" with my Aussie. I reckon my girl’s attitude has something to do with it; she doesn’t put up with any nonsense from the dogs around her. I know with my Coton, who's a bit more independent, I had to stop Elastic from stepping in if he didn't listen straight away, but since Hiami has always been very submissive towards Elastic, he never tried to be a rebel.
With my Aussie, as soon as I say the word "naughty", he stops (like when he’s "helping" me with the gardening, for example)—only to start all over again the next day, unfortunately! That’s the downside of dogs who’ve never actually been told off by their human in their entire lives....
I think the sweeping statement that "he listens because he's small and then he’ll stop listening" is a load of rubbish, really.
Mia’s been right in the middle of her "teenage phase" for about two weeks now. My lovely little obedient puppy has turned into a right little monster who’s constantly testing me and questioning everything she’s already learned. I read somewhere that not all puppies go through this adolescent phase, and I certainly don’t remember any of my previous dogs having one.
If your pup is going through this, you need to be there for them and, above all, don’t let things slide. There’s a thread on the subject. I think I titled it something like "Do dogs really go through a teenage phase?" or something along those lines. I got quite a few helpful replies and some great advice. Have a look.
Yes, I saw that thread—I think I even commented on it! :) Thanks for your reply, it’s really reassuring to hear.
I think the cliché that "he listens because he’s small and then he won't anymore" is a load of rubbish, really.
Mia’s been right in the middle of her teenage phase for about two weeks now. My sweet, obedient little puppy has turned into a right little monster who’s constantly pushing boundaries and questioning everything she’s already learnt. I read somewhere that not all puppies go through a teenage stage, and I certainly don’t remember any of my previous dogs going through it.
If your pup is going through this phase, it’s a time when you need to be there for them and, above all, stay consistent and not give in. There’s a thread on the subject—I think I titled it "Is the teenage phase a thing with dogs?" or something like that. I got quite a few helpful replies and some great advice. Do go and have a look.
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I think she must have made some mistakes, and the worst part is she "tried" to give me advice. I felt like telling her that if the end result is having a dog that has to be muzzled, she shouldn’t bother giving me any. But anyway, I listened to her; she told me that my puppy is only listening to me now because he’s little and that later on he won't listen to me anymore, etc. – even though I’ve always had dogs and they’ve always done what they were told (as both puppies and adults).
@Docline (if you happen to come back to this thread), did you have any trouble with your Australian Shepherd during their "teenage" phase?
It’s pretty rare to come across aggressive Aussies because they’re naturally so social, but you get idiots everywhere and some of them happen to own Australian Shepherds. Since they’re such sensitive dogs, it’s easy for them to become fearful, and like most dogs, fear is usually what triggers "aggressive" behaviour (though to me it’s more of a "fool me once, I’m defending myself before I get attacked" vibe). It always stems from human error though (either the owner or a nasty experience with an unkind dog or person) because deep down they’ve got such a lovely, chilled temperament.
Actually, most dogs—even the more reserved ones—are naturally social and easy-going. It’s usually their lifestyle (and their owner’s -_-) that determines whether they’re happy and balanced or not...
At least that person knew there was an issue since the dogs were muzzled, so it was more of a scare than anything else. Still, the way they acted might have spooked your pooch, so stay vigilant and show him quickly that not all dogs are like that. Get him mixing with some "normal" dogs as soon as possible so he doesn't start getting fearful of others; otherwise, he might end up heading down the same path as those "aggressors"... 😔
@Energie Solaire: your "tit boss" expression makes perfect sense 😌 we have similar expressions over here like "little boss", "little dictator", or "feisty little thing"... We totally get what you mean! 😉
Regarding the natural herding/sheepdog instincts, it’s true there are two sides to it: rounding up the flock and protecting the flock.
I’d say mine is more into the "rounding up" side of things, for example; he’s always checking where everyone is and doing laps around his little human flock, that sort of thing ^^. But since he’s been struggling with a bit of anxiety, he’s started developing that "guarding" side a bit. He wouldn’t actually attack anyone, of course! But if there’s an "intruder", he’ll make sure they don't get too close and let us know he’s spotted them (the trouble is, sometimes it’s not actually an intruder and he still barks our heads off! :p). Before his anxiety kicked in, the word "intruder" didn't even exist to him: he loved everyone and everything! That’s why I really believe that for a dog (especially an Aussie) to become aggressive, there has to be some kind of human error...
I see quite a lot of Aussies around; I've come across some who are a bit boisterous, but never, ever an aggressive one. That lady you met must have made some serious blunders to end up with dogs like the ones you're describing.
First of all, thanks for your reply, which I've read carefully. I'm guessing "herding" means letting them run after sheep? (With my lad, it’s birds he goes after ^^). I mainly adopted him to do agility and sports with him (bikejoring, heelwork to music, etc.).
I think the main issue was poor socialisation with those two old boys because the others were normal; they were a pack of about 5 or 6 Australian Shepherds and 2 other dogs—I don't know the breed, but they were hunting dogs.
One of the few dogs that ever managed to spook my girl (and she’s usually pretty unshakeable) was an Aussie.
It’s all relative, and in this case, there are a few different factors at play.
1. They are herding dogs, not guard dogs (though that is part of their job description too), but more like "gatherers". A real little "bossy-boots", if you like. They’ve got it in their genes to be assertive and take the initiative.
2. As part of their work, they’ve been bred to naturally use their mouths to warn or deter. An Australian Shepherd will nip at sheep when necessary. I think they’re used for cattle too sometimes. In those cases, they have to nip quite often and quite hard, usually while the cow is moving at a fair lick. That gives you an idea of the kind of temperament these dogs can develop.
3. Generally, dogs don't "understand" in the human sense; they feel. So if their perceptions are a bit skewed, these character traits can obviously come out at the wrong time, even in mundane situations where the dog just feels compelled to act that way. Goodness knows why.
4. Owners of these breeds—just like many Husky, Border Collie, or Malinois owners—often choose them for specific activities. And ugh, I hate to say it, and I don't like what I see, but I'm a big regular at group activities. I’ve always got some sort of membership or class on the go, unless I’m completely strapped for time.
People value a dog that isn't too tired so that they stay "edgy" and reactive to commands. You say "sit" and—bang—they're down. Everything is instant and high-energy. My trainer, who I respect a lot (different background, she knows me better now), once asked me to let Sana rest more so she’d be "edgier" for her classes. Obviously, not a chance. In these classes, contact between dogs is often banned. The instructors just talk and talk and talk. The dogs have eye contact, they can sort of smell each other but can't actually greet. They don't understand why no one is doing anything, and everyone just stands there getting frustrated.
There's a real Aussie culture built around dog sports like freestyle, agility, and so on. Otherwise, people just get them for their looks—they’re so gorgeous you end up wanting two of them.
Let them do what they were bred for. Give them 4 or 5 hours of herding a day, and they’ll likely be much more settled. They might actually be able to tell the difference between a stray sheep and a lady pushing a pram.
