The Australian Shepherd is a highly intelligent, trainable, and super energetic herding dog. If not exercised properly, that pent up energy can create a lot of disharmony in the house. This breed of dog needs and loves to run. They also love problems to solve. Obedience and agility training are great methods to allow them to use their minds in a way that doesn’t leave their closets empty or lead them to escape fenced yards. At a minimum, an Australian Shepherd should be given 15 minutes of solid run time twice a day. Anything less than that and you’re looking at potential destruction within your home. A brisk walk is a good start, but don’t expect to expend all that energy.
The good thing about Australian Shepherds is that they are highly trainable. With a little time and effort, and systematic dog training, you can teach your Aussie to exhaust himself. This will not only provide a release of your beloved pet’s energy, but will also keep their mind active and stimulated. In addition, it will maintain a harmonious home and the enjoyment you spend with your Australian Shepherd will create a closer bond.
There are other things you can do to give your Australian Shepherd a little boost in his daily exercise. Dogs are pack animals and love the company of other dogs and family members. Finding another playmate can help expend some of that energy. Also, if you have children and train both the children and the dogs to play well, they can exhaust each other. You do not want your Aussie to chew on children and you do not want children to pull on fur or be too rough with the dog, but extensive play with an Australian Shepherd should be encouraged.
You need to find some space to run. This can be a fenced-in backyard or a dog park that allows for off-leash running and play. These are the easiest and safest places to let your Australian Shepherd run, but a good long leash, a zip line, games of tug of war, games of fetch and chase inside and outside the house and even off-leash, racing on open areas are good exercise options. . Keep in mind that if you let your Aussie off leash, you need to train him to have an excellent memory. If you go for a run or long walks with your Australian Shepherd, you will also want to make sure that he knows how to behave on a leash. You also need to make sure an Aussie’s collar is secure, as they may find ways out of it. A good rule of thumb is to keep it tight, but leave enough room for four of your fingers to slide through.
You can also provide toys that stimulate problem-solving skills (such as a stuffed toy, a toy that moves by itself, etc. Be creative). This allows them to expend some mental energy and perhaps give you a little break. Remember, a tired Australian Shepherd is a happy Australian Shepherd. He creates a safe play area inside the house, as he will be physically interacting with your Aussie on a regular basis and you don’t want his breakables to break. Make sure you keep your dog running, trained and obedient and he will happily snuggle up with you at night.