I've been looking into Aussies. I've found that they do need excercise and human companionship and all that good stuff.
If I did get an Aussie, our day would go like this:
6:30-7:00am Walk
7:20-3:10pm School (for me, Aussie will be outside or caged)
3:10-4:30pm Playtime!! (Jog, park, fetch, backyard playing)
4:30-6:00pm Homework (At this time he can be laying next to me and just relax while I work)
Then after that it's just chilling out, working on obedience and training, and just cuddling and giving out love. I may even go out for another walk or play tug-of-war just to keep busy. So more excercise may be entered during the rest of the night.
Will this be enough for an Aussie? While I'm at school no one is home. So can he be left alone that long and not become destructive? I will get a Kong and fill it with treats as well as those teaser balls to fill up with kibble for him to keep busy with.
Any feedback would be great! Thanks =]
Update:Oh, and it'll probably be an adult. Not a puppy!
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Sounds great, especially the not a puppy part! An adult should be just fine. Congrats!
Sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this! Good on you.
I assume that as you're going to school you are still living at home? Make sure that the whole family feels the same way about having the dog as you do, while it might be "your" dog it is important that everyone feels comfortable with the new addition. Also, they may be able to help when you are tired, sick or just don't feel like taking the dog out - despite your best intentions these days will happen, guaranteed :).
As you are considering an adult rather than a pup i'd strongly suggest going to an Aussie rescue in your area, they are usually really good at matching the right dog to your situation and often have great adult dogs looking for a loving new home.
While your daily plan sounds great and should provide the dog with enough exercise and attention to keep it happy there are never any guarantees that the dog won't become destructive or develop other behavioural problems (especially being an active breed originally bred for working)... Even if you do everything right there is still the chance that problems may crop up, the best thing is to be prepared with options if it does happen - like doggy daycare, a dog walker etc.
Good luck.
As a puppy thats fine, but as an adult you MAY (maybe not) need to increase exercise time. I have a jack russel x toy poodle (yeah looks like very fluffy jack russel) shes about a year and a half and i walk her 45 minutes and also have the additional playtime. An Aussie will be more active being a working dog, so maybe when older (unless def adult) increase the walk or take another short walk and jogging is a good idea too. The Kong is a good idea i also use that, but not the actual Kong, you will find that there are MUCH cheaper options with MUCH cheaper food. I have a big ball with one hole in it that my dog rolls around that was about $6 (aud) and the treats are basically small pieces of dog food. Also would recommend getting a big juicy bone for when its older (or if it is an adult) its excellent for the teeth (then you don't have to brush as frequently) and entertains them for thw whole school day. Good idea to leave it outside when not home (unless really cold or hot) gets them use to being outside and not completely attached to indoors, they whine at first but they are fine afterwards you just have to be strong. I would try not to cage unless crate training for toilet training.
Anyway sounds great! You sound resposible which is important with a dog.
Aussies were bred to be working dogs, so you have to give them something to occupy their minds and give them a sense of accomplishment. (It's not just about exercise.) The 8 hours or so alone is a lot... if it had another animal to look after or something to "do" it is much less likely to get mischievous/destructive on you. I agree that in this situation you should probably get an adult that doesn't already have mischief problems.
I think you can do it, you'll just have to figure out what to do to keep him occupied while you're gone. I doubt very much that the Kong and kibble balls are going to do it for a shepherd, they're too smart and will get bored in no time. And yeah, you're probably going to have to do 2 exercise times after school until the shepherd gets "middle aged." They have lots of energy!
Good Luck!
Hi,
That sound's great what you have planned, as we have two Aussies at home and I walk both of them before I go to work and also we do training with them at other times and yes,
definitely find leaving them with a Kong with, cheese, vegmite or peanut butter or whatever in it is great
Janet
www.obedienceproducts.com
that sounds like a decent plan , just make sure that it has different things during the day while your away to entertain it , like frozen bones , or think of crafty things for it to search for and find during the day,
dogs get used to routine and if it knows it gets more when you come home "every day" then it should be fine
we got our dog a ball with a bell in it to play with , with us and he loves it and we put peanut butter and treats inside an appropriate toy , ( just make sure the treats are included in his diet so he doesnt just get fat )
suggestion.....when you have to go out to school already have the dog outside with something yummy or interesting so the focus is not on you leaving the house
if all dog owners were like you we wouldnt need shelters congratulations that sounds like a good schedule for the dog even a puppy would be ok with it if you want a puppy get one you are the one getting the dog not us its your choice