Australian Shepherd becoming hard to control

I reckon trying to tackle the socialisation issues with other dogs and his behaviour around people outdoors would be massively premature, considering the other problems you’re facing. The first thing you need to sort out is making sure he feels settled at home, confident and calm with his owners. Clearly, you’re a long way off that at the moment. If you can’t get that right, you won’t get anywhere with anything else. To help you out, you’ll need to find someone who really knows the breed, who can observe how you interact at home and give you some pointers.

I don’t understand why you think it’s absolutely impossible for your dog to interact with others. You say he’s scared of other dogs, fair enough, but a fearful dog isn’t necessarily anti-social... The right kind of dog could probably help him come out of his shell and feel more comfortable. I’ve had a fearful dog myself, and I even adopted a reactive/aggressive one who actually enjoys interacting with others now. What matters is that the dog has at least a basic level of socialisation to build on. Mind you, even if a dog has "desocialised" over time because they’ve been isolated from their own kind for too long, they can still pick up social skills and improve if they’re around the right dogs. On the other hand, if a puppy's socialisation was completely missed, then things are a bit trickier. When it comes to people, your dog doesn't seem to have any ground rules. From what you’ve written, it sounds like he hasn’t had the chance to get used to his surroundings properly or make positive associations. He doesn’t know how to behave around other animals, children, strangers, your friends, and so on. A dog needs guidance in every part of their life; it’s up to the owner to show them the ropes. I really don’t get what the experts you’ve seen are on about. Why not try giving him some structure before turning to medication? For instance, why leave his food bowl out all day when he clearly has issues with food? Why let him hang around a table full of food when there’s a child nearby? These things can be managed and worked on in the right environment. That’s exactly what a dog trainer should have done—taught you how to handle things to keep your dog balanced and under control.

Hi there, I agree with Docline about the walks: Australian Shepherds are really brilliant dogs; they'll be calm indoors and will certainly burn off their energy outside if you let them. So, as mentioned above, plenty of active walks are key. For instance, mine is perfectly happy with just two walks a day, but the morning one is 30 minutes off-lead and the evening one is 1 to 2 hours of play with other dogs and socialising. Mind you, it’s not always with other dogs as they aren’t always around, but we make up for it (fetch, hide and seek, or games of chase, etc.). Then again, there are usually plenty of us at home so we can give her loads of attention. I realise that not everyone is in the same boat with their living situation. Otherwise, I’d suggest at least some mental stimulation—learning new commands, scent work, finding toys or treats hidden around the house, and so on. Of course, I also agree with the other points raised above. Hope this helps and have a lovely day!

Hi, Thank you for your suggestions. Regarding socialisation, we’ve tried several times without success—he’s afraid of other dogs. We’ve seen trainers, behaviourists, and also the vets. We’ve had mixed feedback: some recommend putting him on medication, others say there’s nothing more that can be done because he’s too old, or finally, taking him to work with us so he’s never separated from us (which just isn't feasible for us). Thanks again for your advice. Sébastien

Ouch. This poor dog has really been let down by some major training gaps and a lifestyle that just isn't right for him. It seems a bit strange to wait until he’s two and a half to start asking these questions. How does he get on with other dogs? And what are your walks actually like? My Aussie is perfectly happy with just two 20-minute walks a day simply because they’re high intensity—swimming, chasing balls, constantly interacting with other dogs, and plenty of mental stimulation. An hour’s walk on the lead or no walk at all would be much the same thing; it would just lead to massive frustration and he’d end up pretty miserable in no time.

Hi there, This is a breed that requires a lot of stimulation. The key for any dog is being well-balanced, which can only happen if their needs are met and they are exposed to a variety of scenarios, all while being guided and taught what’s expected of them in each case. Some factors will depend directly on their activities, and others on your ability to train them. On that second point, you could certainly hire a dog trainer. However, no amount of training will be effective if the first point isn't addressed, as Kikaah rightly points out. If you compare this to a human, it’s wishful thinking to believe someone will be well-adjusted just by being around people at work. They need all kinds of social interaction: contact, fun outings, exercise, moments of affection, and times where they experience challenges and learn which boundaries shouldn’t be crossed—basically, the rules of living in a community, etc. It’s exactly the same for your dog. Your dog's overall behaviour and what you’ve described suggest a major gap in meeting their basic needs. Is he really not even getting an hour’s walk every day?? Most dogs wouldn’t be able to cope with that lack of activity, but this breed especially so. Do you think you’ll be able to change this? Because if not, it would be fairer to rehome him with someone who can meet his needs...