Has anyone had an Australian Shepherd??

[Kelridge]

As some of you may know, I used to breed and show GSD's - and in the last year I have lost three of my dogs (they were all growing old together) I still have one 10 year old Shepherd who is doing great, but I am looking into either getting another German Shepherd - or possibly an Australian Shepherd.

Has anyone here owned an Aussie? Did you have them when you had your Newfs? I just want to be sure that I get a breed that can handle the "Newf Play". My Shepherds were/are good with the Newfs - and they would have kept up with Luci and Roman in their early days - but at 11 and 12 years old they sort of had the 'I am too old for this nonsense" look on their faces LOL! I know the Aussies have alot of spirit and drive - but of course they do not have the 'size'....I want them to be able to be together and play together without worrying too much.

 

[KodysGrandma]

We have had 2 Aussies that we loved dearly and were wonderful with all our dogs. The first one, Bonnie Betts, was very large for an Aussie. She played just great with everyone although we did not have a Newf at that point. We did have a big Lab-110#s Paladin, my heart dog. She and Pal knocked me over and broke my foot one very cold Super Bowl Sunday. She was wonderful with everyone, herded them up whenever we needed (and sometimes when we didn't). Watch kids on bicycles though, they want to herd them too.

The second one was Snickers (all our dogs are rescues). Snickers was the regular sized Aussie and even more interested in herding everyone. We had our darling dearest Kody then. He just ignored her when she started that. At night she would climb up on the bed, drape herself around my husband's head and shoulders to sleep. He called her his live boa (you know the thing with feathers you fling around your neck). They are very energetic but find a job for them and they are fine. Great at agility, even with homemade equipment which we had for Snickers. It turned out that she was terrified of going in the car and always threw up so that let out any competition. I think it may have had something to do with her rescue status- we were the third home I know of.

From our experience I cannot imaging an Aussie being a problem with any other dogs. Ours have always ranged from small to very large and at 12 this is the smallest number we have had in 30 years, high was 21. Our Aussies were great with any and all.

 

[4ondafloor]

I have an Aussie. She is almost 10.
Aussies are quite agile and are probably much faster than a newf could ever be. Sneakier too! Even at close to 10 yrs old my Aussie can run circles around my three Newfs. BJ tries to nip at their rear legs in order to "herd" them. They are not happy about it and neither is she because they won't pay attention to her direction. She ends up getting frustrated and it causes issues.
They do not spend a lot of time around one another.
Our Aussie is an outside dog at her own choosing. She came to use as a rescue and never wanted to be indoors. We tried but she prefers to be outside.
Its not to say that yours won't get along. I can only speak from my experience and mine do not.
Aussies need constant stimulation and a JOB to do or they will create one for themselves and when they do it is oft times not the best choice as it can become destructive. They require a routine. They thrive on knowing what they are going to do, when and where.
Good luck to you though. I've heard that some Aussies do really well around other dogs. It all depends on how they are raised and since mine was a rescue we really had nothing to go on except that she was in as pen on a farm.

 

[newfy]

Aussies have the same drive as border collies, & our Mickey gets along with both newfs, he is half their weight & can hold his own, alot of energy & he is almost 10 years, very smart & needs to be kept busy; will run circles around the newfs, also a very good swimmer if there is birds to chase. They have alot to say, good watchdog.

 

[Lori]

We have Sydney, 8 yrs old, who is an Aussie mix (we think with collie but have heard GSD and golden also) We got her when she was 4 months old and were here second home. She grew up with Chance, my newf. When we first got her she liked to attack Chance's paws, which was something he didn't like but didn't do anything about. He was a rescue too and didn't like anyone touching his paws much. They did get along great and were best buds. Sydney got Chance off the couch and re-energized him. He was lonely because we had lost his bestest friend Chelsea about a month before.

Sydney was very busy as a pup, climbed on everything. We thought she might be part mountain goat! But she is a fabulous dog, such a great personality.

 

[Julie Fred]

I think Tank's BFF, Miko, is part Aussie. They get along great. Miko is two and they first met when Tank was around 3 months old. Miko runs circles around Tank. They get along very well.

 

[Charliesmom]

I grew up with Aussies and they are wonderful dogs. They were our protectors grownig up and I loved them like crazy.

 

[R Taft]

I do like them, but they are very energetic....We have quite a few at obedience and they are either very good or quite hyperactive and over the top. A bit like the Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. I think it totally depends on the owners. the best dog or the worst. Australia's top scoring obedience trial dogs are two Aussies. Chase is from our Club

 

[Kelridge]

Thank you for all the replies....

I get the impression that as long as I have a 'job' for the Aussie - things would work out great. I am home all day now - and the Newfs are going to obedience class - I had really wanted to try Agility - I was going to try that with my Crested, but he just did not seem to have the temperment for it

I am still up in the air about what to do - but your imput did help me alot - I appreciate it! As soon as I figure out which way to go and find 'the one' I will let you all know!

 

[KodysGrandma]

Kathy- There was a book on the Internet full of plans for building your own agility equipment. Don't know if it's still there but we built some for Snickers out of it and it worked really well.

 

[Highlife]

Kathy,
If you love shepherds and want another big dog...give the Shiloh Shepherds a look. I have both newfs and Shilohs in my house. They all get along great. If you have any questions please let me know.
Good luck