Bringing Home an Australian Shepherd Puppy: What You Need to Know

From the Mailbag: Hi, I’m Jared. I just visited your site, and I want to know more about the basic things I have to get them and stuff to look out for. I’m getting a Red Tri Aussie next week and I want to be a good owner.

Jared, you don’t mention whether your new Red Tri Australian Shepherd is a puppy or an adult, so I’ll assume you’re getting a puppy.

Let me say that, in general, Australian Shepherds are not for everyone; they are herding dogs with high intelligence, agility, a strong prey drive, and deep loyalty to their owner. You have to learn how to demonstrate good leadership ability in order to build a relationship both you and your dog will be happy with. Plan on spending 1 to 3 years of committed training and socialization, and you will end up with a great dog. There are no shortcuts.

So Jared, first, Congratulations on your new dog AND on your desire to want to be a good dog person! You’ve asked a big question, but let me see if I can help break it down into some bite-size pieces.

Red Tri Australian Shepherd

Jared’s new Red Tri Australian Shepherd Pup

1. Getting Yourself Ready: Be Willing to Make the Time Commitment. Have the Right Tools.

Your new puppy is used to having its siblings for chew toys, jungle gyms, playmates, and sleeping buddies. Being removed from all it knows and being brought to someplace unfamiliar is going to be a big adjustment. To help your new friend feel safe and to help him begin bonding with you, you need to spend as much time with your puppy as you can. So make sure you plan on bringing your puppy home when you have a good chunk of time to help him acclimate. Also, try to make sure that there aren’t a lot of distractions or too many people coming and going for the first few days. A steady, calm environment with your puppy by your side throughout the day is the best way to start.

Make sure you have food, bowls, leashes, crates, baby gates, kongs, and fencing in place before you bring your puppy home.

2. Getting Your House Ready:  Puppy Proofing and Teething Toys.

Australian Shepherds are known for their inquisitiveness, so your new Aussie puppy will be ready and eager to learn about his new world.  That means you’re going to have to make your home safe to explore. Just as with the need to baby-proof a home for crawling babies, you need to puppy-proof your home in much the same way. One of a puppy’s greatest needs is to chew, so make sure that electrical wires are not loose and dangling, make sure that all shoes and valuables are put away or placed up high, and so on. Have a means of sectioning off areas of the house to limit puppy access through baby gates.

If you make sure your puppy has enough exercise, that will help reduce most of his chewing behavior. Remember, your puppy’s need to chew isn’t to be destructive (dogs don’t have emotions like revenge or spite) but because he’s teething. And teething hurts, so have appropriate articles and toys for him to chew on.

A product I like is “PupTeeth” to naturally relieve pain in teething puppies. It helps soothe your puppy during the teething process. Stuffed kongs are also terrific. You can keep them frozen until you need them. The cold also helps sore gums. You can find lots of good things for your puppy to chew on at the Only Natural Pet Store (just search for the word “CHEW”). Stay away from chewing products like Greenies.

As with small children, it’s up to you to put the puppy in an environment that’s safe for them and won’t ruin something expensive for you. Puppies explore with their mouths; one of the ways they learn about the world is by gnawing. Chewing also makes their razor-sharp teeth feel better by rubbing the edges down just a bit.

The key to new puppy care is to understand how your puppy sees the world and what his motivations are. So get a good book on Australian Shepherds and read up!

3. As Soon as You Get Your Puppy Home: Begin Establishing Yourself as the Leader.

As soon as you get home, let the puppy “go potty” in the yard, using a leash. Allow him plenty of time to sniff, and explore his new world. He’ll probably mark several spots. This will let him feel like the area is his and will seem more familiar to him the next time you take him out.

I recommend that you use a leash for the first few weeks, even in a fenced area. This helps your puppy know that you are the leader, and he needs to look to you for direction. If his mind wanders and his attention is temporarily lost, the leash will help you to quickly re-establish your connection with him. He’ll learn to think of you as the leader. This is very important for your long-term relationship with your dog.

Please understand that being the leader doesn’t mean using physical punishment, hitting, being harsh, jerking him on the leash, or yelling. It means giving him clear information in a way that he can understand, and then praising him. This helps to reinforce that you approve of that behavior. Puppies need lots of feedback so they can quickly learn what’s expected of them. An important part of your new puppy care is establishing this positive relationship.

4. Begin Training Immediately. And Keep Training Throughout Your Australian Shepherd’s Lifetime.

Remember, your new puppy has no understanding of the human world you live in with all its customs or language. Imagine if you had to go and fit into a new family with the above obstacles. The good news is that Australian Shepherds live to please. You just need to let your puppy know what “pleases” you. That means you need to start training from the first day you bring your puppy home. I highly recommend the The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Positive Dog Training, 3rd Edition.

Remember to always praise your companion when he does what you’re trying to show him. Praising him with your tone of voice, a vigorous petting or small treat, helps let your new Aussie puppy know what is expected of him. Once he understands, he’ll learn quickly, which will help him integrate well into your family’s life.

Basic Obedience Training:  At about 4 months old, and after your puppy has had his first rabies shot, you need to enroll yourself and your puppy into a basic beginners obedience class.

Obedience classes usually last about 8 weeks, and are lots of fun. Some clubs or individuals even offer a “puppy class”. This is a great way to teach your dog manners and to bond with the new friends of the canine family.

Ongoing training helps to establish your role as leader, and helps ensure that you and your Aussie puppy will have a long happy and safe life together.

5. Getting Started With House Training.

The first rule of thumb with puppies is to realize that they can only hold their bladder for as many hours as months old they are. That means that a three-month-old puppy will need to be allowed to relieve himself a minimum of every three hours (including throughout the night). Your puppy will also need to go out after waking from every nap, 20 minutes after every meal, and anytime after playing. By allowing your puppy the ability to relieve himself with as few accidents in the house as possible, he’ll quickly learn that outside is where he’s supposed to go. Remember to praise him every time he goes outside. If there is an accident in the house, just say “oops” and take him outside immediately. Do Not rub his nose in the accident or hit him–all that does is teach him to be afraid of you and to hide where he goes potty in the house.

Also, consider keeping him on a leash with you in the house for the first few days. You’ll learn to pay attention to his cues when he needs to go, and you’ll be able to get him out immediately.  Aussies are incredibly smart. If you are willing to put the time in the first week to minimize house accidents and praise successes outside, you’ll have a house-trained Aussie in no time.

6. Sleeping: Start With a Crate.

Until your puppy is house trained, I recommend having him sleep in his crate at night. Put the crate right next to your bed so you can easily reach a hand in to pet him if he feels anxious or scared by his new surroundings. (Remember, you’ve just taken him away from the only life he’s known.) Place some kind of comfortable bedding and a kong to chew on in the crate. As well, anytime during the day that you can’t watch your puppy, put him in her crate to prevent him from getting into trouble.  Just don’t over-use the crate. You don’t want him to feel that it’s a prison but rather his safe haven.

The crate can also be a helpful housebreaking tool. Dogs usually won’t potty where they sleep. Having your puppy in his crate at night also protects him from damaging your house (furniture/shoes/legs of chairs/counters) and protects the new puppy from chewing or eating something that might make him sick. Just as you wouldn’t let a toddler run loose at night unrestrained, the same is true for your puppy.

7. Exercise: Your Australian Shepherd Puppy Needs LOTS!

Australian Shepherds have an inbred herding instinct, which makes them athletic dogs able to keep going for many hours at a time! Your puppy is not going to be happy being a couch potato; he’s going to want lots of exercise every day. Find ways to play with your puppy that will help him burn off excess energy so that when he’s in the house he can be calm and well-mannered. Take him for long walks, throw a frisbee for him, and when he gets older, if you run, take him for runs with you.

8. Socialization: Get Your Puppy Used to Lots of Different People.

Because you’ve got a herding breed, which also means a dog with protective instincts, in order for him not to become overly protective or a nipper, you need to socialize him. If you don’t, your Aussie will among other things, attempt to herd infants, cats, concrete ducks, the vacuum, lawnmower, and anything else that moves. Understand that herding behavior may be anything from nuzzling you continually, to barking incessantly at the cat in the corner, to outright nipping at your legs or bottom as you walk.

So make so to gently introduce people calmly to your puppy. No loud yelling, or running and jumping to start. Just simply introduce the new person and you all hang out calmly together and then build up to moving slowly, and then more quickly.

If you’re not sure how to do this, invite a trainer to come and help you. This is the single most important thing you can do for your puppy to prevent her from becoming aggressive and nipping.

Be aware that a nip is considered a bite by law!

9. Your Australian Shepherd Puppy is Very Sensitive.

Care must be taken to not overstimulate your puppy — so no rough housing starting out. In fact, if I had to describe the breed in one word it would be “sensitive”. Their very fine calibration to light, sound, your facial expressions, and many other things, makes your Aussie what they are. It is why they integrate well. They pay very close attention, and have sensitive emotions as well. New puppy care includes protecting him from what is beyond his capability. It will take him time to learn how to behave around children, strangers, and other animals. Giving him the time to learn and integrate will pay big dividends.

10. A few final suggestions to help with new puppy care and the first few months of your new friendship:

  • If your Aussie shows a lot of herding instinct… keep them busy with chasing a ball or frisbee. Herding classes are usually available as well.
  • If after taking an obedience class with your puppy you feel that you would like to go further, try agility, herding or flyball to see what you like. Talk to your local dog club and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
  • A good breeder is a great source of knowledge for the first few months with your new Aussie puppy. A concerned breeder does not mind if you ask questions, because it means you really care about your puppy.

Read more articles here under “Dog Training” and “Dogs in General.”

You’ll find a wealth of information on training, great books to read, and lots of useful information to help you understand your Australian Shepherd.

Well-bred Aussies are a joy to own and love. And, following the above new puppy care guidelines should help your new Aussie family member blend seamlessly into your family’s life. Getting off on the right foot will go a long way toward helping your puppy learn to become everything you hope for, setting up a wonderful relationship to help you enjoy each other for what will hopefully be a long and happy life.

48 thoughts on “Bringing Home an Australian Shepherd Puppy: What You Need to Know”

  1. Hello! We just brought home a 6 month old miniature Aussie. I’m her person and she’s slowly bonding with my husband (only growls when he walks in the door from work now) and my 26 year old daughter. The issue is my 6 year old who we got her for. She is so skiddish of her and has snapped at her twice in two days. It’s when she gets home from school and all evening we have to monitor our puppy because you can tell she keeps a close eye on her and may growl when she just walks by. We’ve been having her give her many treats when we can tell she’s in a playful mood and it helps for a bit but then the next afternoon she reverts back. Are we on the right path and how long will it take for her to bond. She has been pretty quick to bond with the rest of us.

    1. Hi Shelly, Aussies (and that includes Mini Aussies), as herding dogs, see young children and things to herd. I would strongly recommend that you enlist the help of a positive trainer to come to your home and work with your 6yo to help her feel more confident with the puppy, and to help your pup develop some respect for your 6yo. Just be sure to find a trainer that doesn’t use harsh training methods.

      As for how long it will take the puppy to bond with your 6yr, that’s anybody’s guess. Aussies like who they like and bond to who they bond to. She would have been most likely to bond with you because it sounds like you’re spending the most time with her, and are probably feeding her and so on. But you can help things along by having your daughter do more with her like feeding and pottying, etc.

      But really the most important thing you can do is to get a trainer working with you as soon as possible. This is a situation that can go from bad to worse really easily. Best of luck!

  2. Hi There! Thanks for sharing the awesome website and information! We have adopted a one year old shelter dog that appears a mix breed of australian shepherd and husky. She is 35 lbs. She’s a jumper and a digger. :) We are wondering if you think we could hang out with her on the deck with a baby gate blocking the stairs. She loves being outside. The baby gate is 2.5 feet tall and our deck railing is 3.5 ft tall.. Could you please tell us if there a big risk that she could try to jump over the gate or railing to get to the backyard below if she saw a squirrel or rabbit? Thanks very much!! Glenn and Nicci

    1. Hi Glenn. Both Australian Shepherds and Huskies typically have no trouble clearing a 4-foot fence. If you add in both dogs’ ability to jump and scale–then add a couple more feet. So the short answer to your question is no. : ) But if you had her on a leash with you while on the deck and you used clicker training anytime she went near the fence, you might have a chance. But never would she be safe if you left her out there without you.

  3. My canine died subsequent to getting parvo. It’s been a half year now. I’ve cleaned the entire floor with the detergent arrangement on different occasions, is there something else I ought to do? I need to bring another little dog home, however, I am excessively apprehensive as I’ve heard a ton about parvo and furthermore how it tends to be spread to the new pup too.

    1. Hi Remon. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your dog and I understand your concern–Parvo can be a very resilient virus. Cleaning the floor is good, but parvo can live outside even longer than inside. So make sure all old poops from your previous dog have been removed too.

      I think your best bet is to communicate with your vet and anyone who has a boarding business about this. But at the very least, you should make sure your puppy has had at least the initial shot before you even think about bringing it home–and even that will only provide minimal protection.

      Vaccines for the parvovirus are recommended for all puppies and are usually given in a series of three shots when the pup is between 6-to-8 weeks old, again at 10-to-12 weeks, and at 14-to-16 weeks. A booster shot is administered one year later and every 3 years after that. Even with all of that, dogs are not guaranteed to be 100% safe. All you can do is all you can do, and then

      Hoping all goes well for you.

  4. Hi Karen. I will get my female aussie puppy (3 and a half months old) in less then a month. We have a cat at home. Basically is out neighbors cat but six months ago she started coming that often and not even going back to them. We are living in apartment and next to each other so she started with jumping from the balcony and now she sleeps in our bed ?. She is 2 years old. I am really concerned with her meeting our puppy. The good thing is that our neighbors have also a male dog (she was there first and then the dog came and he is like a year and a half and they are ok with each other but just ok not friends) She felt disappointed when he came so she started coming at us often and ending being more with us then with them. Do you have any suggestions what should i do for the first time they meet snd how to make them get along. The cat is also a female is is British shorthair. We had a jack russell terrier for 15 years. I have experience with dogs who have a lot of energy but never had cat and dog. live in North Macedonia here there is not even one Australian shepherd, so no people i can ask or can help me with their experience.

    1. Hi Marija, congratulations on your new puppy! This is an article where I talk about how I introduced our then kitten Finn to our dogs. How to Introduce a Kitten to a Dog. This should give you lots of ideas. The main thing is to work slowly. It is possible for them to become great friends if introduced correctly. Finn and our dogs became inseparable.

    1. I knew there were mini Aussies, but didn’t realize there are also toy Aussies now.

      I can understand where minis or toys are a good option for some folks. Have to say, I’m partial to the full package. :)

  5. Hi everyone,

    I have a 10 weeks beautiful Australian Shepard dog for little over 3 weeks, also I have to mention that I have 7 years Main Coon at home. My problem is with them not getting along but my biggest problem is that my dog is starting to be aggressive and biting me, not playing but truly biting me with angry face. I try everything to stop him, but nothing works…please help! Is there anything I can do or not do…I don’t want to afraid of my dog…???

    1. Hi Bea, thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear about your dilemma. I am not able to help you without seeing the interactions to know what triggers them. You need to get the help of a positive professional dog trainer ASAP! This can be resolved, but the faster you deal with it, the easier it will be. Truly–run, don’t walk, to the phone and get help today! Otherwise, this can quickly spiral and get worse.

  6. Hey there. We just brought home a 4 month old Aussie and he’s completely potty trained. My question is, is he allowed to sleep in bed with me once my husband goes to work? I’m currently 7 months pregnant and my husband thinks that it’s not a good idea. He’s attached to me and all. Thank you!

    1. If your husband doesn’t want your Aussie in the bed, then that’s something for you both to discuss and resolve. But if you’re asking me if there is technically anything wrong with letting your Aussie in bed, then technically no. It’s a matter of preference. My Aussie (and in fact all of my animals) are allowed on my bed. All of them love to come up for a cuddle, but then prefer to sleep on their beds on the floor.

      Never had an issue once with any of them behaving dominantly over any of our children, or getting aggressive toward anyone showing me attention or affection.

      Now if you were telling me that you had a very dominant, assertive (and possibly aggressive) dog, then I’d tell you it’s not a great idea. Short of that, again, it’s a matter of preference.

  7. We brought home a Toy Aussie about 5 days ago. He seems to be VERY attached to me and not my husband. I took care of him the first few days but my husband will be the primary caregiver, and we are just starting to switch our roles now. I have fed him, played with him and taken him out to the bathroom up until now. He won’t pay any attention to my husband. My husband is now taking over feeding him and bathroom breaks, but he is still attached to me. Any advice on getting him to bond more with my husband so that he’s his go-to?

    1. Hi Jessica, Aussies tend to bond strongly with one person. To get your new puppy to pay more attention to your husband will take a little time and will require your husband to become more interesting and fun than you’ve been. And, of course, will require that he provide the food, exercise, fun, potty breaks, love and attention to win the puppy over. You should stay in the background as much as you can until your puppy accepts your husband. Time helps.

      But if your Aussie has truly decided that you’re IT, then the best your husband can hope for is a close second.

  8. We just brought our 10 week old aussie home & our first night has been pretty rough. He’s having trouble sleeping. We keep him my office and have a gate on the doorway to keep him from roaming around. I realized very quickly that we need to be close to him in order for him to feel safe and comfortable. Do you have any tips on overnight care?

    1. Yudith, Aussies are people dogs–they don’t like being isolated (actually, very few dogs do). I would recommend that you consider buying a large crate that you can keep in your bedroom that is just used for sleeping. Cover the top with a blanket on 3 sides to make it feel more like a natural “den” and put it somewhere where your puppy can see you. Make 2/3 of the floor soft towels he can fluff to lie down on, or a dog bed. put newspapers on the other third for peeing in case you don’t get him out in time. That should help.
      Good luck with your new little guy. Wishing you years of joy together.

  9. Hello! Your article was very helpful. I welcome home my Aussie pup in a few weeks. I have heard a lot of talk about the danger of parvo-virus in puppies and feel like the precautions I take for this will effect a good potty training schedule. Along with dog park visits and other friends with dogs. Do you have any tips or tricks for this? Is this something to keep your dog pretty much quarantined for 4-8 weeks for?

    1. Hi Rachel, as I don’t know where you live or how any parvo cases there are around you, I would err on the side of safety. If I had to take my young puppies anywhere, I would carry them. This way they’d get used to the sites and sounds without the danger of parvo, or other untrained dogs causing problems.

  10. hi thanks for the great information. i currently have a 4 year old and 18 month old child at home. do you think now is a good time to get an aussie puppy or do you recommend waiting until our youngest is at least 2 so the puppy will get more attention? we are prepared for long walks/jogs and playtime in nearby dog parks and have a backyard for play. thanks.

    1. If you want to safely and happily share your life with an Aussie, I recommend that you wait until your youngest is at least 5 years old. Herding dogs/puppies and small children are never a good/safe combo for either dog or child. I hope you’ll reconsider and either wait or go with a much milder tempered breed.

  11. I like your tip to establish yourself as the leader of the puppy. Like you explained, it’s a great idea to use a leash often to remind him or her that you are the leader. I’ve heard that you can also show that you are the leader by showing your puppy that you eat before he or she does. Supposedly that’s what alpha males in packs do.

  12. Gina McFeeters

    I know this is a stupid question, but…..
    Our (just) 4 month pup spends a great deal of time outside; trying to herd our other farm animals – so cute,
    My question: after spending so much time outside, it’s nothing for him to pee in the house. The only time we have our pup in the house (now) is when we are playing with him,and at night. When it’s time to go to bed, we put him in his create, and he is good for the night.
    However, we play with our pup, A LOT, so he is often in the house for a good hour or two, and still pees in the house. Mostly because he is excited; is this normal?
    What am I doing wrong?

    PS: I can’t wait to learn how to teach our pup TO PLAY Frisbee!!!!!!
    Is there a simple way, or do I need to look it up?

    Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, and I appreciate all your advice.

    Sincerely,

    Gina

      1. Hello! Our Aussie came home with us two weeks ago when he was 8 weeks old. It didn’t occur to me to ask our kids and the few other children to not be too exciting with our pup when they met him, and now he gets so excited when he sees kids! TOOK excited – he’s ultra mouthy and my 9/11 year olds find him hard to handle, though I quickly made sure they began acting very calm and gentle with him when I realized the problem. He is never not Jumping up and trying to dodge the toys they try to play with him with so he can grab their clothes or skin. How can we correct this? We have puppy classes and a private session with a trainer starting this week, but I’m concerned I already broke our puppy.

        1. Hi Angela, your boy is certainly young enough to be retrained quickly. Persistence and consistency are the key. And finding a positive trainer! Here are a couple of articles that should help get you on your way.
          https://www.australian-shepherd-lovers.com/dog-biting.html
          https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-nip
          https://www.doggoneproblems.com/gambini-abby/
          https://doggiedemeanor.com/how-to-stop-a-herding-dog-from-nipping-stop-rounding-up-people-and-pets

          Good for you that you want to be proactive and get on top of this quickly. Hopefully, this will get you on the road to enjoying many wonderful years with your Aussie!

  13. I’m thinking about getting an Aussie but my dad thinks we don’t have enough room in our house.
    We live in a 2 story house with 2 living rooms( one small and the other medium large) an office, a
    Medium large kitchen ,4 bedrooms ,2 bathrooms,laundry room, a garage, and a rectangular
    Backyard.
    I was also planning to take the time for long walks and runs with the dog.
    Is that enough?
    Sincerely,
    Sarah M.

    1. Sarah, you don’t mention how old your are, or whether you’ve lived with a herding dog before. The size of your house doesn’t matter as much as the size of your yard and how much exercise and training you’d be able to provide for an aussie. I have 3 fenced acres and that was almost enough… : ) And I worked from home, so I was able to get in lots of exercise and training.

      Aussies are no joke and not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a lot of previous dog experience, I would recommend that you start with a sheltie instead. They have many similar traits, including intelligence and loyalty, but are much more low key typically, and don’t need as much exercise as Aussies do.

  14. hi i am getting an aussie in june and moving to florida in august, is there any way i can curb the herding behavior to only do it when i say its ok? i don’t want to stop it because its what they were bred for but i would like to control it a bit so she isn’t herding my older dog and my cat or any people. new time aussie owner so I’m worried about not training right. I’ve never owned a herding breed. I’m prepared for lots of play and running lol but my previous dog a springer was a breeze hardly any chewing only once while teething, and no barking unit i moved in with my mom and her dogs. he was great with the crate and toys. just hoping for some training advice.

    1. Hi Jordan, I’m actually going to suggest you not get an Aussie. These are heavy coated dogs and wouldn’t necessarily appreciate the heat of Florida. And because you are used to dogs that are a breeze and you are moving in with your mom who already has dogs, adding an Aussie to that mix would definitely amp up the intensity of what you would have to deal with. Aussies are not dogs that would do well with lots of crating, and it’s difficult to put instinctive herding behaviors on cue.

      If you are committed to getting an Aussie, then the best advice I can give you is to find a positive trainer who is intimately familiar with Aussies and start working with that trainer immediately.

      Good luck with whatever you decide.

  15. Karen- THANK YOU for writing this article! We just brought home an almost 8 week old Blue Merle Australian shepherd and we’re learning right along with him. He’s SO smart but is still a puppy (of course!). Really appreciate the thought and time that you took to write this post- please know it was incredibly helpful to two new puppy parents up in Seattle. Merry Christmas!!

  16. Thank you in advance for helping us out! We’re expecting an Aussie boy in 6 weeks. We’re already puppy proofing our yard and home but my question is… can you suggest the basic material needs that that we should have for when we bring him home? We plan on going shopping for him soon and a list for his basics needs would be so valuable and appreciated. Thank you! SHER

    1. Sher, how very exciting!
      Here are some basic tools you’ll need:

    2. First and foremost--good training books.
    3. A good ceramic food and water bowl
    4. 4 ft leash and 8 ft leash (no flexi-leash)
    5. snap collar
    6. large crate to help with night-time house training.
    7. a cloth frisbee (the plastic ones can break teeth)
    8. knotted rope chew toy (again, no plastic–Aussies can chew off pieces and choke on them)
    9. a dog bed (unless of course you plan on letting him sleep on your bed:)
  17. O thanks for the tip ! and i have heard of the pigs ears and hooves and no way im gonna let my pup smell it i just think there very disgusting im suprize some dog owners let there dogs eat them ! Oh and wat would u recomend the best puppy training kit to be !

    1. Kongs are great. Stay away from rawhide, pig ears, and hooves as chew toys. They’re a choking risk and they’re not healthy for dogs to be eating. You can get marrow bones at the grocery store and freeze them. They’re a much better alternative for chewing. You can also try a cloth frisbee if your puppy likes to fetch/chase. Her favorite toy though is going to be you! :)

  18. Oh thank you so very much i would be going crazy by now i have been reading alot about them and i think there the right dog breed for me cause i love going on long walks, playing fetch , and i like teaching dogs new tricks ! O and for my nanas boxer she is 12yrs of age n very fit for her age as well so i was just wondering how long a boxer can live for!

  19. hi i was wondering about gettin a australian shepherd but thats like in another 2 yrs cause i have to wait nxt yr till i move away then i think i might have to wait another yr for my nanas boxer to (rest in peace) which i never want to happen so suddely if u no wat i mean . im already planning out wat i have to do and get for the assie but i dont no wat to do in this time i have to wait for getting it !!! plz give ideas of how i can not get so overwhelmed about getting a new puppy ! O but i still want to concertrate on getting him/ her

    1. Lissa, I can appreciate your thought process and I agree that waiting until your boxer passes on is the most kind thing to do for her. In the meantime, start reading up on Australian Shepherds and join the Autralian Shepherds Club closest to you. Those people will be a great resource for you in the future. As Aussies are high intensity, high energy dogs, the more you educate yourself about them and hone your training skills, the more ready you’ll be when you get your new puppy. You could also go to some herding trials where you’ll see lots of Aussies at work. You might find that the idea of herding is interesting to you and you could get started with learning about that as well. Doing all this should help the time fly! Good luck! :)

    1. Jasmine, congratulations on your new family addition! Teething continues on and off for several months. As with humans, teething for puppies causes discomfort. When teething, you can expect your puppy to try to relieve that discomfort by an increase in biting and chewing.

      Serious teething begins between the ages of three and seven months. At three months, the incisors begin to fall out to make room for the new adult teeth. At four months, the adult molars and adult canines are coming in. Between the ages of six and seven months, the adult molars show up. Usually, by seven to eight months, the full set of adult teeth will have come in.

      Having the right chew toys handy to help relieve teething will make your puppy’s life more comfortable and save many of your shoes and other chewable objects in the process. So make sure to have plenty of healthy and safe chew toys on hand. Frozen stuffed Kongs are fantastic. I’m not a fan of rawhide, greenies or bully sticks. they can cause gastrointestinal blockages and are too easy for your dog to choke on. You can also try Nylabones or even old washcloths knotted and soaked in low-sodium chicken broth and then frozen. Don’t forget to supervise your puppy when he is enjoying his toys.

  20. In this article you mention PupTeeth, is this similar to Teething Tablets that they have for babies (all natural)? Is it okay to give my puppy Teething Tablets?

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