By Chris Skeldon 
One of the happiest dog breeds, when they are active, is the Australian Shepherd. Their name has nothing to do with their origins, as they were first derived from Spain, and other kinds of literature state they were then bred in the United States.
If you are an owner of one of these beautiful, clever and lively poochies, you should know a thing or two about them. One thing is for sure, they love to keep their minds and bodies occupied. If it is not running around, it’s playing, jumping over hurdles, chewing on a toy or simply pressing you for a run in the park with other dogs.
Just like any other pet, you may have in your home, one of the most essential things to do is to care for them. With these guys, taking care of them will keep them going for as long as their 13-year average life span and adopting a shepherd puppy is the best decision you could ever make when looking for a great companion to grow up with your children, not to mention to keep them active.
So, what do we need to know about taking care of these puppy’s? keep reading to find out more.
Their Exercise Requirements
We start with one of the most important aspects – exercise. If you are out of ideas, don’t worry we have you covered. These fun and exciting activities and exercise options to do with your dog will make sure he keeps himself busy and lives up to his personality of being one of the most active breeds in the world, click here to find out what they are.
We have also created a quick list for you below:
- Going for a walking tour in the city
- Going for a jog or a run with him
- Exploring local nature reserves and national parks
- Drop them off at an obedience training class for the day or a few days a week
- Joining and meeting up with other dog owners from online groups and in the park
- Go on a dog-friendly holiday with a beach and lots of room to play
- Enter him/her into a dog show
- Go on a hike or a camping trip with them
- Go to a dog-friendly swimming pool
- Don’t just give them a rub now and then, add a bit of a massage to the mix
- Get them intricate dog puzzle toys and games
- Throw them a dog party and invite all the neighbours with dogs
- Organize a dog event for charity purposes
- Get them to the vet regularly for check-ups
And more.
In terms of how much exercise you should give them, the recommendation is that they need a minimum of at least 2 hours a day of something fun to do. Although it doesn’t hurt to give them more hours of attention. The idea is because they are naturally high-energy dogs, you should let them do their thing till they tire themselves out.
Their Grooming Requirements
Australian Shepherds have some of the nicest shades of colour when it comes to their fur. Their medium-length fur will need a good groom once or twice a week. With the right type of brush, you can comb through their hair gently and remove any excess hair that would be shed in any case. Make sure you cover the back of their legs, as well as the tail and especially after you have taken them for a walk, it would be highly advisable to brush them before they get comfortable at home.
Regular combing and brushing will help keep their coat nice and healthy and also give them a free massage. The most common way of doing this is to brush against the fur, first, and then towards the hair growth after. This will loosen any of the dead hair and stimulate the dog’s skin which will keep his hair shiny: https://www.dummies.com/pets/dogs/how-to-brush-your-dog/
Start at the top and work your way to the bottom. When going for the ears, and facial regions, make sure to be extra careful not to hurt them or poke their eye. Their underbelly also needs to be handled gently. Bathing them with a mild dog shampoo is also recommended after he goes out on a day of adventure and fun activities.
Their Food Requirements
It may be hard to believe but their diet has a lot to do with their care package. Some pet owners don’t think twice about what they give their dog to eat, as long as it comes in flashy packaging and costs a penny. But if you are serious about looking after your canine, you need to be serious about what you feed them.
These animals breed care must be done holistically, i.e. everything should be considered to ensure you meet all the requirements and keep them happy and healthy. There is nothing worse than having to take them to the vet for an illness caused by bad food. Highly nutritious and healthy food is the recommendation at all times, and so is plenty of water.
There are many benefits of giving them wet food, as opposed to dry foods, but learning how to read their body language can be highly beneficial in figuring out what they like and don’t like. You could opt for commercially available dog food, however, you could also opt to prepare his food at home from scratch and give him natural foods that are free from preservatives, chemicals and other unknown toxins.
Looking after them will make you feel good and give you a lifelong companion.