It is important to know the behavior of the particular Australian Shepherd dog you are looking at. Make sure he or she is from a family line that has NOT been bred to be aggressive. The dogs from a non-aggressive line can make an excellent pet for a family with children. The aggressive lines are better for working on a farm, herding cattle or other animals.

As you are caring for your Australian Shepherd dog, you really only need to groom them and bathe when it becomes necessary. If you do see a burr or anything else stuck to their coat, remove it quickly to it won’t irritate him or matte. When you brush them, use a firm bristle brush.

She will shed a lot, so brushing will help to keep your home free of pet hair, and keeping the coat from getting tangled. You will find yourself vacuuming a lot more because of her shedding, if you are keeping her indoors. Brush her teeth a couple of times a week, great way to prevent periodontal disease.

These dogs are very intelligent and can be trained in obedience easily. Whether he be a non-aggressive or aggressive, he should go through some type of obedience training, making life easier for the both of you.

There are a variety of dog training resources here on the Internet. Learn about the Australian Shepherd dog, and utilize the best training methods on the internet and be sure and start right when you get your puppy. If you start training early you will have much greater success, teaching him early on the rules and ensuring that your new australian shepherd knows that you are the pack leader.

What I am talking about is the so called e-book.  An e-book is much like a book that we can buy in bookstores, but the only difference here is the copy that we get is only a soft copy, or the one which we can open only through our computers at home.  The moment we have the copy of the e-book, we have the option to print out the content of the book for easier reference too.  The advantage of an e-book is that one can easily purchase it online and the cost is much cheaper since the publisher does not need to pay for any printing materials.

Steps and tips on how to do obedience training to an Australian Shepherd are also available online through e-books.  Experts on training dogs publish and sell these books online and it can be a cool guide for an Aussie owner who wants to do the training of their beloved pets by themselves.

Illustrations may also be available on the e-book and these illustrations can aid in demonstrating the steps of the training the dog much easier.

Training your dog personally does not only help you save money, but also gives the pet owner a certain feeling of fulfillment every time they see their Aussie obeying their commands.  They would feel like parents who have successfully tutored their child who has just recently passed a school exam.

If you are interested to buy an Australian Shepherd book, it would be best to try searching if there are available books online and if there is an e-book about it.  As mentioned earlier, an e-book would be cheaper but still contains the same information that you will need.  If there are no available e-books online, then that is perhaps the time that you search for the book you need in bookstores.

In a forum, you can expect to find Aussie owners who will be more than willing to share what they know about raising healthy and well behave Australian Shepherds.  Even if you already own an Australian Shepherd for a long time now, your Aussie may manifest some behavioral changes which may worry you.  To remove your doubts, you can talk to forum members and confirm with them if they have also observed the same behavior with their pets.

Through forums, you can also get free tips on feeding your Aussie, training it for obedience.  If you are an Aussie owner who knows a lot of things about Australian Shepherds, a forum can be a good venue for you to share your knowledge to those needing help.

You can also make friends with Aussie owners in forums and perhaps make an arrangement with a fellow owner, if in case you have future plans to get into breeding dogs.   Those who may be searching for Australian Shepherds as pets can also find some sellers in forums.  Sellers find the forums very useful for placing advertisements of pets for sale.  It is for free and most buyers would often visit forums to look for a seller.

Australian Shepherd forums can definitely help Aussie owners from anywhere in their exchange of thoughts and ideas.  You may not only fine people advertising puppies for sale, people looking for breeders, but also announcements of special events or gatherings like dog shows where your Aussie can participate in.

Before you set a date on when to bring the mini Aussie puppy home, there are some house preparations that you will need to give details to.  The very first thing that you will need to do is to look at all the things inside your house and look at it like you are the puppy.  While looking at all the things inside the house, ask yourself how would you react when you would see those things if you were a puppy.

If there should be anything inside your house which may be in danger from being ripped off by a mini Australian Shepherd puppy, try to move it somewhere out of the pups reach.  You do not have to worry of forever keeping your things out of your puppy’s reach, because as soon as your mini Aussie knows what his place in your household is, you can slowly return the things that you kept away from him into its proper places.

One important thing that you need to prepare for your pup is a place for it to sleep.  Providing your pup with a crate is advisable.  A crate should be not too big so that it is enough for him to stand up and turn around.  A crate that may be larger than his size is not advisable because the mini Aussie may use a portion of it for sleeping and another portion for leaving his pee and poo.  It should also be placed a place where he can see the entire family together.  That way he does not feel isolated.

Be prepared for constant whining and barking the moment you take home your mini Australian Shepherd puppies.  It is like having a new baby in the family who may constantly cry all night through.  You will need to bear with it for the first few weeks or even months as the pup adjusts to its new environment.  The most important thing is for you as the owner to make it feel secure in its new home, to make the adjustment period easy.

Try looking for adoption.  There are some people who give up their dogs for adoption for several reasons and there are societies out there that house these dogs.  Some Aussies though are not just given out for free.  You may still need to pay a minimal fee to adopt a lovable Aussie.  But even if you will not have to pay for it, you will have to remember that as a pet owner you will still need to spend for its food, and health.

There can be several reasons why people give up their dogs for adoption, like moving into a new apartment where pets are not allowed or a condominium where there is not enough space to have pets. For some who may give up their dogs freely for adoption, they may require for the new owner to prove to them that they can provide the Aussie a nice new home.  It may be necessary for them that they screen the future owner of their Aussie first, just to make sure that they will be giving up their Australian Shepherd to somebody who can assure them that the Aussie is in good hands.

If you are interested to get a free Australian Shepherd, make sure that you are psychologically and financially prepared to own one.  Owning a pet takes responsibility, just like when parents decide to have kids of their own.  An Aussie is a living thing that will need your constant care and affection the moment you bring it inside your house.  So if you are not ready for the responsibilities, postpone that plan first.

Some of these books you can find in bookstores while others are available online.   The advantages in buying books online is you are able to get a brief summary or description of the book and you also get to read its customer reviews which will aid you in choosing the right book for you.

One online bookstore that offers several books on Australian Shepherd is the Working Dog Bookstore.  Quite a number of books on Aussies are available here like Australian Shepherd, Champion of Versatility, 2nd Edition by Liz Palika, Australian Shepherds by D. Caroline Coile, Guide to Owning an Australian Shepherd by Sheila Boneham, Australian Shepherds Annual by Hoflin, and Australian Shepherd by Charlotte Schwartz.  Most of these books discuss comprehensively the Aussie’s breed history, temperament, grooming, training, feeding, and health care in general.  A couple of these books include photos of your favorite Australian Shepherd dog.

Over at Amazon.com you’ll have a long list to choose from.  There you will find different kinds of books on Australian Shepherds.   Among those included in the list is a book entitled “Puppy Tales:  The Adventures of Adam the Australian Shepherd” which tells of a rescued dog named Adam who was left by his owner in an animal shelter and never came back to get him.  He got adopted by a dog-loving owner and grew up from a scared puppy into a healthy and cheerful dog.  This is a good book to read for the youngsters.  Most of the books though at Amazon.com are manuals and guidelines on Australian Shepherds.

As an Australian Shepherd enthusiast, you will enjoy searching online on Australian Shepherd books because you’ll be able to find a lot of selection to choose from.  Just remember to read the summary or description and the reviews, consider the cost of the book, check if it is used or brand new, and know the handling charges before you choose the books you’ll purchase.

Some people find it hard to understand procedures when reading books only and they find it easier to get instructions which are demonstrated through videos.  This is the reason why videos on Aussie training are in-demand among Australian Shepherd owners.

One advantage of having a video is you can also show it to your dog repetitively so he more or less has the idea of what exactly you want him to do.  Yes your dog can watch the video with you and that would be more fun as well as easier on your part as the dog owner doing the training for your dog.

Training your Aussie for proper behavior and obedience is very essential if you want your Australian Shepherd to behave properly at home.  Many Aussies that do not get trained by their owners often misbehaves inside the house and often gets into trouble.  So if you do not want your Aussie to be destroying things inside your beautiful home, it would be best to decide on giving him training now than wait for things to happen first before giving your pet any training.

Training for your Australian Shepherd can be learned through books and videos, but if you know that an Australian Shepherd video can help you better than books can, then go ahead and grab a video now and start training your Aussie.

So what must an Aussie owner look for a website to use in the care for their Australian Shepherd?  A good site must be able to lay all the fundamentals needed for raising a good Aussie.  It is also essential that all information presented is accurate and not just placed in the site for the sake of content.

A good website will contain information on what an Australian Shepherd is, it’s history, characteristics, temperament, pictures, etc.  It will teach you what the proper nutrition, grooming and training you should provide to your Aussie.  It is like an all in one reference which you can use when you need anything for your Australian Shepherd.

Raising a good quality Australian Shepherd does not just come instantly.  An owner needs to know how to properly deal with the characteristics of an Aussie and this can only be done with the help of those websites.  It is here where you may find explanations of the behavior that you may see in your Aussie and it is also here where you will get answers on how to deal with them.

The Internet has surely brought a great change in our lives and the way we get information for the stuffs that we need.  Australian Shepherd websites are amongst the advantages that we get from the Internet.  It makes life easier for Australian Shepherd owners to get easy references online.

So how do you get your Australian Shepherd prepared for a dog show?  You need to know that there are no shortcuts.  What I mean is you cannot just immediately prepare your dog for a show that will happen in a month’s time.  Hence, if you already have it in your heart that your Aussie will be participating in future dog shows; prepare your dog ahead of time.  While your Aussie is still a puppy, start your preparations by paying special attention to his grooming.  Your Aussies skin and coat should be free of flaws.

Obedience training on your Australian Shepherd should also be given special attention.  If you see your Aussie is well behaved at home and in public, especially when exposed to other dogs, then that is one sign that he is ready for a dog show.

To make sure that your Aussie is healthy, visit a vet and ask him about the proper nutrition, vitamins and vaccinations that you should provide to your pet.  It may cost you but do not worry because all your efforts and expenses will be returned back to you when your Aussie starts winning on dog shows.  Always remember that any minor health problem that will be seen on your dog like a single flea can take your dog out from the show.

It would help if you practice at home by setting up show ring at your home.  This will orient your Aussie on what he will see on the show and how he is supposed to act.  It can also help remove any nervous feelings from your dog during the day of the show.

Before joining any dog show, be sure to read the rules of the contests that you will be participating in and prepare all the papers and pay the entry fees.  On the day of the dog show, make sure your Aussie is well groomed and has eaten well but do not overfeed him.  Make sure also that you have a treat in hand to give to your Aussie every time he obeys a command.

The most important preparation you need to do for an Australian Shepherd show is accepting defeat.  Always be prepared to lose, but never give up.  Practice with your dog more and join future contests.  The time will come for you and your dog and when that time comes trust me the rewards will keep on pouring in.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “sit”.

Take your miniature Aussie to a place where there is not as much distraction.  Get his attention by saying his name or by showing a treat in your hand. Now choose a gesture that you want to associate with the command “sit”, like clicks, a short whistle, or a certain hand gesture.  When you’re doing this gesture, say the word “sit” then move the treat you’re holding over your mini Aussie’s head and let him follow it with his eyes.  The dog’s normal reaction to this is to sit so he would to be able to lean his head back further.  When your dog is doing the “sit” position praise him and give your miniature Aussie his treat.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “lie down”.

Show the treat in your hand and then lay the treat on the ground just in front of your miniature Aussie as you say the word “lie down”.  Now use a hand gesture while saying the word “lie down”.  Your dog won’t like to sprain his back and neck when reaching straight down so close to his body.  When your miniature Aussie is able to follow your command properly give him a treat.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “stay”.

It is important that your miniature Aussie is able to follow the “sit” and “lie down” command before you can teach him to follow the “stay” command.  Put a leash on your dog then gently pull it straight to send him the signal you don’t want him to walk.  Right away use a hand gesture for the “stay” command while saying the word “stay” then slowly allow the leash to loosen.  If your dog stands up, say the word “no” then begin again. If your miniature Aussie does not get up, try to walk away and don’t look back at your dog.  When your dog follows you, say the word “no” then begin again.  After a few practices your miniature Aussie will surely understand what the command “stay” means.

Repetition is the secret in teaching your miniature Australian Shepherd dog new tricks.  Use the new trick always when your dog is able to follow it.  Otherwise, the dog will probably forget what to do.