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Australian Shepherds are a popular breed among families seeking an active and loyal companion. While Aussies are often regarded as one of the easier breeds to train, there are a few things to keep in mind when raising an Australian Shepherd. Understanding the various stages traits of an Australian Shepherd‘s development and how to best assist your pup through them is critical to avoiding dog reactivity, having a well-behaved, well-socialized companion.
Australian Shepherd Growth Stages
The First Six to Eight Weeks
The first six to eight weeks of an Australian Shepherd’s life are critical to the development of its personality and socialization skills. Aussies have a unique temperament and are very intelligent. During this time, it’s critical to teach your puppy basic obedience commands (such as sit, stay, heel, and so on) as well as regular socialization with humans and other animals. This is also the time when your puppy will begin to understand behaviour that will be useful later in life, such as walking on a leash, ringing the doorbell.
The Next Three to Four months
The next three to four months of your Aussie pup’s life are spent continuing to socialize and train him. During this time, it’s critical to reinforce the basics and introduce new commands while also exposing your pup to new people, places, and animals. It’s also critical to teach your puppy proper behaviour by using positive reinforcement training to reward good behaviours and discourage bad ones.
The Next Six to Nine Months
During the six- to nine-month period, your puppy will continue to learn and practice new behaviours, as well as become more independent. During this time, some new commands, such as retrieving objects, coming when called, and even light agility training, should be introduced. It’s also critical to teach your puppy self-control, as Australian Shepherds can be overly excitable at times. During this time, it is critical to maintain socialization with people and animals to avoid problems later on.
The One-Year Mark
When your Australian Shepherd reaches the age of one year, it’s technically considered an adult. This is a time for continued development and training, but it is also a time to focus on perfecting behaviours and teaching new activities. It is critical to spend time walking, participating in activities, and engaging in obedience and agility training during this time. All of these activities will assist your pup in developing into a well-rounded, calm adult Aussie.
Ensuring a Calm & Happy Aussie
Consistency and positive reinforcement are the keys to raising a happy and calm puppy. Consistent, positive reinforcement training can help your puppy learn to obey while also encouraging it to participate in all of the activities that come with being an Australian Shepherd. Furthermore, exposing your pup to social situations and animals is essential for them to grow into well-adjusted adults. Finally, giving your puppy plenty of mental and physical stimulation, as well as lots of love, will help ensure that he grows up to be a calm, confident dog.
Australian Shepherds come in a variety of sizes and breeds. Like all dogs, they require patience, training, and love. You can give your puppy the foundation it needs to grow into a calm, well-behaved, and happy dog by understanding the different developmental stages and being consistent with reinforcement training. An Australian Shepherd may be the ideal breed for your family if you want an active, loyal companion.
