Australian Shepherd becoming hard to control

You need to try and understand the root cause of these bites. To you, it might seem like it’s for no reason, but there are usually warning signs, and not necessarily right at the moment it happens. Was it a clumsy move from the little girl? A fear of children? Or a desire to control movement (which is pretty common with herding breeds)? If you can figure out the cause, it’ll be much easier to address. Otherwise, I’d suggest getting some help from a dog behaviourist.

Hi everyone,

My Australian Shepherd has a tendency to bite children. He’s just bitten my little girl again for no reason at all.

I’ve got two females, the mother and her daughter.

I’m really at a loss as to what to do?

+1 @Flip-Cockwood Just because you grew up with dogs at home doesn't mean you know how to train one. I grew up with dogs myself—they were there before I was even born—but my parents were the ones who handled the training. I imagine that when you were eight years old, you weren't exactly the one training the family pet...

My question, or rather my questions, are: is this your first dog? And why did you choose such an active breed when you don't have the time?

There are plenty of chilled-out dogs that are perfectly happy with an hour's walk a day (a full hour, mind you, not three 20-minute stints). You could—or could have—found a breed that actually fits in with your schedule.

Because the dog couldn't care less about your schedule! He needs to get out, run, play, socialise, and so on. If you don't meet those basic needs, it’s only natural that he’ll lose the plot. It’s like a pressure cooker: he puts up with it and puts up with it, until eventually, it snaps.

Then again, some dogs just end up resigned. I know people who are proud of having a "well-behaved" Husky. The dog spends all day in the garden, just sitting there watching the world go by. He gets taken out on a lead. But because he's "well-behaved", he's supposedly happy... That dog breaks my heart.

The truth is, people don't ask questions as long as the dog stays "good". It doesn't matter if he's completely depressed; as long as he's "well-behaved", then everything’s fine.

Sébastien,

You’re already halfway to solving the problem there, because by doing that, you’re putting your dog in the right frame of mind to learn and manage his frustration.

Despite all the training exercises and goodwill in the world, your dog simply won’t be mentally or emotionally capable of focusing and improving right now. He just can't regulate his moods or his behaviour.

Imagine someone suffering from insomnia trying to focus on their studies, for example. What you’re trying to do is essentially like giving them a heavier and heavier workload, thinking that the more they have to work on, the more they’ll progress. But if that person isn't getting the rest they need to function properly, all the work in the world won’t make a difference. They’ll just keep failing.

You should be able to appreciate the parallel, working in hospitality as you do. I spent over 10 years in the trade... In catering, working 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week during the busy season, I’d get to a point where I couldn't stand anyone or anything. My nerves were shredded, and I’d snap at everyone around me for reasons that seemed completely irrational and unjustified to them. Your dog is in that same state, but in his case, it's due to a lack of activity—which is a vital need for him. The slightest interaction makes him completely lose it. Under these conditions, expecting him to learn anything is just wishful thinking.

You’ve had dogs all your life, but that doesn't mean they had the same needs or lived in the same conditions. A dog might be perfectly fine just having a garden (though that’s never particularly healthy) if they have constant company, if their energy levels are lower, or if the primary needs linked to their breed and genetics are less demanding, etc.

You need to let go of the guilt and not take the comments here as a personal attack on you or your abilities. Instead, try to take a step back and think about the factors that dictate an Australian Shepherd's training. You’ll see that the very first requirement is physical, mental, and scent-based stimulation.

After that, if you’re looking to have a well-balanced dog, it only comes through a wide variety of socialisation (meeting people, other dogs, other species, seeing vehicles, etc.) and repeating those experiences over and over.

Hi there,

Many thanks, I’ll give your advice a go and make sure he gets some more exercise.

Have a good day.

Most behavioural problems are caused by a lack of activity and interaction. Your lack of time means your dog is mostly left to his own devices and is just bored.

I take on adult rescues where I don’t know their background. For me, it’s out of the question to make excuses like "he’s like this because he wasn’t socialised properly, or because he was beaten, or went hungry". If I start trying to explain away my dogs' behavioural issues, I’ll never make any progress with them.

I live alone and work quite a bit, so naturally, almost all my free time is dedicated to my dogs. Since there are two of you, even with busy schedules, you should be able to manage it.

Anything can be turned around, but you have to put the work in. And I really don't think those first two months with the breeder can justify his behaviour now that he’s two and a half.

If you haven't got the time yourselves, try to find some alternatives. A dog trainer could take him out to start the work, though you'll also need to work with the trainer yourselves to make sure you’re both on the same page.

High-intensity activities can also help burn off energy in a shorter amount of time. A 30-minute run alongside a mountain bike can tire a dog out as much as an hour-long walk. With an Aussie, that won't be enough on its own, but if you combine it with 30 minutes of trick training and a longer walk in a new environment every three days or so, you should start to see a more relaxed dog.

Since you manage a hotel, it’s a shame you didn’t consider taking him to work with you when he was a puppy. I understand that, given his current behaviour, that’s probably not an option right now.