Training an Australian shepherd 

Australian Shepard is a highly intelligent dog and is very easy to train. Their athletic Lifestyle demands proper training in order to  Make the best use of their high-energy drive. If not trained they could learn some undesired behaviors. In the article, we discuss Training an Australian shepherd. 

Training an Australian Shepherd is essential to help them become well-behaved and obedient pets. These intelligent dogs require consistent training and repetition to learn new commands and behaviors. It’s important to start training an Australian Shepherd at a young age to establish good habits early on. Additionally, positive reinforcement techniques are effective in training an Australian Shepherd, as they respond well to praise and rewards. By investing time and effort into training your Australian Shepherd, you can help them develop into a well-trained and happy companion.

Training an Australian shepherd 

Basic obedience training

 It is the fundamental training process and it paves the way for further training. This training helps you better Communicate with the puppy.

Start early 

Start obedience training Early when the puppy is 7 to 8 weeks old Some of the Basic 

Obedience commands sit, stay, come down, etc Once your puppy has mastered these commands.

 Recognize her name

 She can move on to other advanced commands. Your puppy should be able to recognize her name and.  Respond to that when called once you have given your Aussies a lovely name. Start calling her because all the time puppies need to hear their name several times before they recognize it.

• Sit

 sit is one of the first commands your Puppy needs to learn. This command allows you to better control.  Your puppy is in a variety of situations like when she’s running around outside or trying to jump on you. This is a transition command that once learned can be used to teach other commands. It is also one of the easiest  Commands to learn.

• Come 

 This is a very useful command for your puppy to learn. Especially when she’s off-leash or running around the park this command is very helpful.

•  Leave it 

For Australian Shepherds when you are trying to stop their herding behavior. When they are about to  Herd you can use this command to redirect them toward another action.

 Training could be difficult

The Initial phase of training could be difficult for a number of reasons. Your puppy is an infant dog and cannot understand words or gestures. She requires time to fully Comprehend commands and desired actions. She also has no idea which behaviors are acceptable.  And which are not so you should not expect quick results. Puppies also have a shorter attention span than adult dogs. Make sure the training sessions are short focused and entertaining for them. Food Is a big motivator for puppy treats and positive reinforcement will accelerate the training process. Make sure your commands are clear and consistent. Instead of saying sit on the floor sit on the table. Use specific words such as sit be patient and consistent in the training process.

Training Classes 

The obedience training class is an excellent way to teach various training techniques it also teaches.  Then how to interact with people and other dogs. Training classes begin when the puppy is 8 weeks or older. Before enrolling your Puppy in a class make sure she’s Been vaccinated. These professional classes teach your puppy basic obedience commands.  While also helping them develop healthy behavior. A puppy is regularly exposed to other dogs in a healthy environment which helps them to become well-socialized Dogs.

Potty training

Portrait training your puppy could be a challenging task. Australian shepherds are highly intelligent Dogs. For those who learn things quickly. A regular training routine combined with their intelligence will make things much easier.

When to start Potty training

 Start potty training as soon as you bring them home Make the best use of there. Developing brains and starting training. When they are 7 to 8 weeks old. If a puppy has stayed with her mother for the first few weeks. She will already know not to urinate in her living space.

 Designated area for potty

Designate a specific spot for the potty and use it consistently.  Do not change the spot unless necessary. This pot could be a place in your backyard or Potty pad.  Depending on your living condition make sure it’s quiet and a side area. Where the puppy won’t be disturbed while doing your business. Make it on one side so you are also not disturbed by this smell. When choosing a spot consider the weather condition. The spot should be suitable in case of rain, snow, etc. It must be properly shaded from the sun. Keep the area clean. Because you are a puppy will be reluctant to go potty in an unclean area. Make sure your puppy always uses this same spot for housebreaking. This way she will learn where to go pretty and will have few accidents in the house.

Have a schedule

Puppies have small bladders and very loose control over their muscles. It takes around 12 to 16 weeks For a puppy to get control of its bladder. They can hold their bladder for as many hours.

As months old they are this means a 4-month-old puppy can hold her pleasure for 4 to 5 hours. But that’s the maximum she can hold it. She feels the urge to eliminate before that time having a schedule and being consistent with it. Is very helpful for puppies and soon they pick it up there are certain times. 

when you have to take your puppy to potty 

After a nap when they wake up in the morning 10 to 20 minutes after a meal. After playing or exercising before you leave them alone in the house. Before going to bed, Aussies are intelligent dogs. And most of the time they will give you certain signs.

 Signs of potty

 When they have an urge for elimination you can tell. When they are ready for elimination by reading their body language. Some common signs are when a puppy winds. When she’s sniffing the floor when she walks in circles restless. And squatting, scratching the door, or going towards it.

 Praise and rewards

Always praise your puppy and reward her whenever she eliminates herself in the designated spot. This helps them to associate the process with a positive experience.

Use a specific command

Choose one specific command for potty and use it every time you take them outside. Aussies are intelligent and they will quickly associate the command. With the action, this command could be something like go, potty, business, etc. Always use the same command to avoid confusion and accidents

Accidents

It is totally ok at the beginning of the training process. And is not inevitable puppies need time to control their bladders. And get used to the designated potty spot. It takes around 12 to 16  Weeks for a puppy to have control over its bladder. They will have some accidents during this time. Due to their inability to control their bladders. Whenever you see your puppy housebreaking inside.

Handle the situation carefully and firmly say ‘no’. And direct her toward the designated potty spot.  There is no need to yell at your puppy. That will scare her and she may even try to hide this stuff.  After elimination, it’s recommended to clean the spot with a stain and odor. Remover puppies have a keen sense of smell. And finding the previous potty spot is not a problem for them. They think it’s okay to use the previous spot for elimination. And use an enzymatic cleanser to erase any trace and odor.

 Using crates

A crate will help you a lot with puppy training. Your puppy dogs have a natural den instinct. And they consider the crate as a den. They are very unlikely to mess around the place. Where they sleep they love to keep their den clean. And make sure the crate is large enough for them to stand up turn around and lie down easily. But not so large that they urinate in one corner of it.

How long does it take

Potty training can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the individual dog. It could also be affected by their living conditions and the owner’s commitment to the training. Australian shepherds are very smart and they learn things. Quickly it could take around 4 to 6 months for an Aussie puppy to completely potty train. However, you will notice progress. Throughout the process, you need to be consistent and patient during the process. It is totally worth the effort to have a potty-trained adult dog. First and foremost you need to determine the reasons for crate training your Aussie. Dogs are den animals. And they naturally seek out spaces to create a safe and secure sanctuary of their own.

If used correctly a crate could become a safe haven for them. It could work as a shelter for your dog. Whenever he’s alone scared or needs some rest. It works equally for puppies adults and senior dogs. Crate training is also beneficial for their owners. It could be a place to leave your dog whenever you have to go outside for a short time. Crates training plays a crucial role in potty training dogs by nature. Don’t spoil the area where they sleep. And this prompts them to go outside to potty. A fully crate-trained dog can be easily transported. Which is a blessing however you should never use the crate as a punishment. It’s a training and management tool and should be used humanely. Especially for an active breed like Australian shepherds. If used incorrectly it could become a disaster for your dog.

Crate placing area

Crate placing area matters a lot of dogs are social animals. And they want to be around people place. The crates in such an area. Where your dog could feel the vibe of a household. It could be a living room kitchen or a space. Where you spend a lot of time such as a home office. Keep your puppy close to you. Especially during the first few weeks of crate training. At night you can keep the crate in your bedroom. This will help you to know whenever your Aussie wants to go for the potty. However, the crate should not be at such a central location. Where there is always noise and distraction.

Interior of crate 

In order to lure your puppy inside. Decorate the interior of the crate to make it appealing to your puppy. The crate is supposed to be a warm and comfortable place. Make comfortable bedding by placing a dog’s bed blanket or towel. On the bottom surface use bedding that’s not allergic durable and easy to clean. Fill the crate with some of his favorite toys.  And shoe Dogs are going to be unsupervised in the crate. So don’t leave any toys. That they can break Up and Swallow. The best option is to use kong toys and stuffs them with their favorite treats.  Water should be available with easy access through crate-mounted water bowls.

Introducing to create

Slowly introduce your puppy to the crate. Make sure the interior of the crate is clean and appealing. Walk her over to the crate using a soft voice spread. Some food treats are on the door and inside of the crate. Encourage her to go inside the crate using treats and her favorite toys once she gets 

Inside the crate do not close the door immediately. Stay with her for some time before leaving. Make sure her first few experiences in the crate are positive. For the first few days placing your puppy in the crate would be a challenging task. She needs some time to get used to the crate. And during that time she requires special care and attention. Leave her in the crate for a short period of time while remaining around. Where she can still see you extend the time period in the crate.  Gradually never push your puppy inside the crate. If you use force she may associate the crate with a bad experience. And the training process will be distributed. Make sure your puppy isn’t wearing collars inside the crates. As this could Strangle her if it gets stuck in the crate of a puppy.

 Whining in the crate

Whining in the crate is a common problem. That could be because of a number of reasons. They could be whining because they want a potty break. However, the main reason a puppy whine is to get outside of the crate. This happens a lot in the early stages of crate training. Because the puppy is not used to the situation. In such cases, you will have to ignore her running with a heavy heart. You don’t have to be blackmailed every time by whining tactics. Otherwise, your puppy will use it a lot. 

 How long in a crate?

According to the ASPCA, an 8-week-old puppy should not be left in a crate for more than an hour. While an adult dog can be left in a crate for a maximum of 8 hours break. In between dogs need human interaction otherwise. They develop separation anxiety Australian shepherd is a herding dog. And it was  Supposed to remain active throughout the day. Due to its high-energy drive.

They cannot be left alone in that crate for a long period of time. Do not overuse the crate. It should be a place of comfort for him. Not a place of confinement. You can leave them in the crate when. You have to go somewhere for a few hours. And want your dog to be safe at home. If you’re going away for a long weekend or vacation. You better hire a pet sitter or take them to a pet boarding place. Rather than create them choose a crate that is appropriate for your Australian Shepherd.

 Choosing a crate

It should not be too large or too small. It should be large enough for them to stand up and turn around. And lay down easily. However, it should not be so big that they urinated in one corner of it.  And sleep in the other. The Australian shepherd is a medium to large size breed. They reach full size by the age of 16 months. And by that time they are growing between 18 to  23 inches in height and 40 to 70 pounds in weight. Obviously, you cannot buy a crate every time your Aussies grow.

So the best practical option is to buy a crate. That comes with dividers Aussie puppies grow rapidly during the first few months. And as they get bigger you can partition off the space. In accordance with their height and weight. A wire-type crate is best for at-home usage. Wooden crates may be used to match home decor. Whereas plastic crates are typically used for transportation. Choose a crate that is both comfortable and durable.

 Choosing command

 Always use a command whenever you want them to get inside the crate. You could use words like ‘crate ‘, ‘kennel’ etc. Aussies are highly intelligent dogs and they will quickly learn crate training. 

 How long does it take them to learn crate training?

It could vary depending on the individual dog. The time duration for crate training also depends. How you make their first few experiences in the crate. It may be a matter of days or weeks. Your Aussies are fully comfortable with the crate. However, it could take months for a puppy to be fully crate trained. You need to be patient and consistent with them without using force or bad language.

Minimum herding behavior

Australian shepherds are herding dogs and they have an innate ability to herd.  This herding instinct is very beneficial. When used on a farm but it can be problematic in the household. Aussies could start herding your kids considering them as a flock. This is a completely Natural behavior of herding dogs. And expecting them not to herd is unrealistic. If you are getting an Australian shepherd. You should know their herding instinct. Comes along with the package. Aussies could start herding anything. That moves like children flock and even cars. In order to make their family dogs, their herding behavior must be minimized.

 Signs of herding

Typically an Australian shepherd will show certain behaviors and Body moments. That indicates they’re about to go for herding. Some of the common body positions are an alert body position. With the head and chest raised most of the time. They bark before herding they may also sniff the heels before herding.  If your Aussies have gone into a crouch position. She is most likely going for herding. You need to observe and analyze their behavior. Just before they start herding. If they show a certain behavior repeatedly. You can predict their next move and  Intervene in time.

How to stop herding?

Using commands 

Use basic obedience commands to control your dog’s herding behavior. When you realize your dog is about to go for herding. Interrupt him by assigning a different task. For example when an Aussie goes into a crouch position. And is about to begin herding and interrupts him by giving him another task. Such as sit-stay or watch me. This is an effective method for diverting their attention. Aussies are very intelligent dogs. And if they are repeatedly stopped from herding. They will soon realize it is an undesired behavior. Aussies are highly active dogs who require regular exercise to burn off extra calories. If your dog is properly exercised. It is less likely he will go for herding. Whenever your Aussies start herding take them for a walk. And play different games with them. They need a proper alternative to their herding instinct in order to run off excess energy.

Teribball

Tryball is a relatively new dog sport it’s a competitive dog sport. That is more suitable for herding dogs like Australian shepherds. And border collies the game involves herding. A number of balls into a soccer-style goal within a time frame. These herding balls are supposed to be taller than the dog. The owner has to use different commands. Hand gestures and whistles to control the dog help. A lot in controlling their herding behavior. You don’t need to use force while minimizing herding behavior.

Don’t use force 

Yelling at your dog or physically punishing them is totally counterproductive. The herding instinct of an Aussie may vary with the individual dog. If you’re unable to stop or minimize their herding behavior. You can take the help of a professional trainer. While Training an Australian shepherd any kind of force like yelling or a physical punishment would be cruel.

After reading the article I’m hoping that you will understand about Training an Australian shepherd. When you are new to dogs Training an Australian shepherd might be a frustrating process for you. But the more time you spent Training an Australian shepherd the easier it will get to understand.