Keeping Your Australian Shepherd Happily Busy: A Dog Lover‘s Guide

Australian Shepherds are beloved for their intelligence, athleticism, and striking good looks. These loyal herding dogs have boundless energy and an eagerness to please that makes them a joy to train and engage with. However, these same traits can become problematic when an Aussie‘s needs for physical exercise and mental stimulation aren‘t adequately met.

According to a study published in the journal Animals, Australian Shepherds have some of the highest exercise requirements of any domestic dog breed. The study found that Aussies need a minimum of 60-90 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per day, plus additional playtime and training to stay physically and mentally healthy. Without proper stimulation, Australian Shepherds are prone to developing anxiety, hyperactivity, and destructive behaviors.

As much as devoted Aussie owners might like to spend all day with their dogs, the reality is that most people have to leave their pets at home while they go to work. This can pose a real challenge for meeting an Australian Shepherd‘s activity needs. So how can you set your Aussie up for success while you‘re away at the office for 8+ hours a day?

Understanding Your Aussie‘s Needs

The first step in keeping your Australian Shepherd happily occupied is to understand the unique needs of the breed. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent, active dogs with strong herding and working instincts. They were bred to have the stamina, agility, and independence to herd livestock all day on vast ranches and farms.

While most modern Aussies don‘t have an actual herd to manage, they still have those innate drives to run, chase, problem-solve, and work closely with their humans. When they don‘t have a constructive outlet for those instincts, Aussies can become bored, anxious, and destructive. Common behavior problems seen in understimulated Australian Shepherds include:

• Excessive barking and howling
• Chewing and digging
• Pacing and restlessness
• Hyperactivity and inability to settle
• Attention-seeking behaviors like pawing, nudging, and jumping
• Chasing and nipping at people, children, or other pets
• Escape attempts and wandering

In a 2020 survey by the American Kennel Club, Australian Shepherds ranked in the top 10 breeds most prone to separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a serious condition where a dog becomes distressed when left alone, often engaging in behaviors like destructive chewing, house soiling, and excessive vocalization. While the exact causes of separation anxiety are complex and varied, a lack of physical and mental stimulation is thought to be a contributing factor.

Building a Strong Foundation

Preventing behavior problems starts with building a strong foundation of socialization, training, and routine from puppyhood. Well-socialized Aussies who are gradually accustomed to spending time alone are less likely to develop separation anxiety or other issues later in life.

Start leaving your Aussie alone for short periods from a young age, gradually increasing the duration over time. Provide them with plenty of physical exercise before departure, and leave them with engaging toys and treats to create a positive association with alone time. Establish a consistent daily routine including feeding times, bathroom breaks, playtime, and quiet rest periods.

Invest time in positive reinforcement training to teach your Aussie impulse control, settle on a mat, go to a designated spot, and entertain themselves with puzzles and chews. These skills will be invaluable in helping them cope with time away from you. Consider enrolling in a group obedience class or working with a certified professional dog trainer to get expert guidance.

Meeting Physical Exercise Needs

The foundation of a happy, well-behaved Australian Shepherd is ample daily physical exercise. Aim to provide a minimum of 60-90 minutes per day of heart-pumping aerobic activity, broken up into multiple sessions. This could include:

• Jogging or running
• Hiking on trails
• Playing fetch with balls or frisbees
• Swimming or dock diving
• Treadmill exercise (under supervision)
• Rough-and-tumble play with other dogs

Australian Shepherds need 60-90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily to stay physically and mentally healthy. (Photo credit: American Kennel Club)

If your work schedule doesn‘t allow you to meet your Aussie‘s exercise needs yourself, consider enlisting help from a professional dog walker, pet sitter, or trusted friend or neighbor. Many Aussies also thrive when given a job to do, so you might look into enrolling them in a sport or activity that caters to their herding instincts and athleticism, such as:

• Herding trials or lessons
• Agility or obstacle course training
• Flyball or disc dog competitions
• Canicross or bikejoring
• Skijoring or dog sledding
• Dock diving or swimming

Not only do these activities provide great physical workouts, they also challenge your Aussie mentally and build your bond as a team. Sporting success is a fantastic confidence boost for both dog and handler!

Providing Mental Stimulation

In addition to physical exercise, Australian Shepherds need plenty of mental stimulation to stay happy and well-behaved. Boredom is the enemy of an Aussie, so it‘s important to provide them with brain-teaser toys and activities on a daily basis, especially when they‘re left alone. Some fun options:

• Puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys like Kongs, treat balls, and snuffle mats
• Frozen stuffed Kongs or LickiMats for a long-lasting challenge
• Hide-and-seek games with treats or toys around the house
• Nose work or scent discrimination games
• Clicker training sessions to learn new behaviors
• Trick training like playing dead, spinning, or jumping through hoops
• Learning names of specific toys and retrieving them on cue
• Herding ball play, where the dog uses their nose to push a large ball

Nose work is a fun and stimulating activity for scent-driven Aussies. (Photo credit: Getty/Sunset Magazine)

The key to keeping mental stimulation effective is to regularly rotate toys and activities, increasing the challenge as your dog masters each level. Aim for at least 15-30 minutes per day dedicated to brain games. You can use these activities as rewards for calm behavior and incorporate them into your Aussie‘s daily routine, such as reserving a frozen Kong for quiet crate time while you‘re at work.

Managing Alone Time

Even the most well-exercised and mentally stimulated Aussie will still have to spend some portion of the day alone, so it‘s crucial to set them up for success during these periods. Some management options to consider:

• Hiring a professional pet sitter or dog walker to provide midday exercise and potty breaks
• Enrolling in doggy daycare a few days a week for socialization and playtime
• Setting up a secure, enriching space like a puppy-proofed room or play pen
• Crate training to provide a calm, safe den space (if tolerated and introduced properly)
• Using interactive cameras or monitors to check in and dispense treats remotely
• Providing calming aids like pheromone diffusers, music, and frozen Kongs
• Considering adopting a second dog as a playmate (if lifestyle appropriate)

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so you may need to experiment with different options to find what works best for your individual dog. Some Aussies do best with a mix of strategies, such as daycare a few days a week, a pet sitter another day, and interactive toys and puzzles on the other days.

It‘s important to note that some Australian Shepherds develop true clinical separation anxiety that goes beyond normal boredom behaviors. If your Aussie shows signs of panic when left alone, such as drooling, shaking, destruction, or house soiling, it‘s important to work with a certified separation anxiety specialist or veterinary behaviorist. Separation anxiety is a complex condition that requires a tailored desensitization and counterconditioning program.

Final Thoughts

Keeping an Australian Shepherd happy and well-behaved requires a committed, proactive approach to meeting their physical and mental needs. While it can be challenging to provide enough stimulation for these high-energy herding dogs, especially when you work full-time, it‘s well worth the effort. A tired, intellectually engaged Aussie is a joy to live with, while a bored, underexercised Aussie can quickly become a destructive nightmare.

The good news is that with some creativity, planning, and consistency, you can absolutely keep your Aussie happily occupied even with a busy work schedule. By understanding your dog‘s unique needs, building a strong training foundation, providing ample exercise and mental stimulation, and proactively managing alone time, you can set your Aussie up for success.

Remember, every dog is an individual, so what works for one Aussie may not work for another. Monitor your dog‘s behavior and body language closely, and don‘t hesitate to seek help from a professional trainer or behaviorist if you‘re struggling. With patience, commitment, and a deepening bond with your dog, you can navigate the challenges of Aussie ownership and enjoy the incredible rewards of sharing your life with these brilliant, devoted dogs.

Resources and Further Reading

• Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) – Breed Information
• American Kennel Club (AKC) – Australian Shepherd Breed Profile
• Exercise Needs and Recommendations for Australian Shepherds – Animals Journal Study
• Mental Enrichment and Brain Games for Dogs – Pet MD
• Clinical Signs of Canine Separation Anxiety – Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science
• How to Choose and Introduce a Second Dog – American Kennel Club
• Canine Sports and Activities for Australian Shepherds – American Kennel Club