Voordat je aan een Aussie begint...
Aussieliefhebbers weten het zeker: Aussies zijn mooi, Aussies zijn lief, Aussies zijn leuk... Maar Aussies zijn natuurlijk veel meer dan dat. Aussies zijn geweldig, maar hebben ook eigenschappen waarmee het voor sommige mensen misschien wat moeilijk samenleven is. Daar kun je maar beter van op de hoogte zijn voordat je aan een Aussie begint. Onderstaande citaten geven een beeld van wat je qua karakter van een Australian Shepherd kunt verwachten. O ja, en dan nog iets: "Aussies shed. There is no way around it. That lush, thick, silky coat does shed. If dog hair in the house bothers you, don't get an Aussie." (Liz Palika) - ook altijd handig om te weten!
De Aussie karakterkenmerken top tien
1. Aussies zijn zeer intelligent en gemakkelijk te trainen
2. Aussies leren en associeren razendsnel (zowel in positieve als negatieve zin)
3. Aussies zijn sterk gericht op het gezin waarin ze leven
4. Aussies zijn gevoelig en kunnen niet altijd tegen druk en opwinding
5. Aussies zijn gereserveerd en niet vanzelfsprekend vriendelijk tegen anderen
6. Aussies werken en handelen met veel drift en eigen initiatief
7. Aussies moeten een uitlaatklep hebben om hun energie kwijt te kunnen
8. Aussies zijn sterk, zowel qua lichaamskracht als uithoudingsvermogen
9. Aussies zijn laat volwassen en in gedrag 'uitgekristaliseerd'
10. Aussies hebben een sterk herderinstinct wat kan ontaarden in najagen
Lees de volgende artikelen:
Op RightPet kunnen eigenaren een waardering achterlaten voor ieder hondenras dat ze hebben gehad, zodat anderen kunnen zien of het ras in kwestie misschien iets voor hen is: surf naar de Aussiepagina van deze site.
De rasstandaard
The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is an exeptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Although an agressive, authoritative worker, viciousness towards people or animals is intolerable.
(rasstandaard volgens de Australian Shepherd Club of America)
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent working dog of strong herding and guarding instincts. He is a loyal companion and has the stamina to work all day. (...) He is attentive and animated (...) The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, active dog with an even disposition, he is good natured, seldom quarrelsome. They may be smewhat reserved in initial meetings. Faults: Any display of shyness, fear or agression is to be severely penalized.
(rasstandaard volgens de American Kennel Club)
Karakterschetsen
In zijn hart...
Soms is hij wat gereserveerd in het begin van een ontmoeting, maar sluit hij iemand eenmaal in zijn hart, dan is dat ook voor altijd.
(Natasja van Hout in het artikel 'De Australian Shepherd' in maandblad Onze Hond, juni 2000)
Negatieve spiraal
Er komen veel Aussies voor die slecht tegen opwinding kunnen. Indien zij in een drukke omgeving komen, winden zij zich zo op, dat ze in een spiraal terechtkomen waar ze zelf niet meer uit kunnen komen. Dit kan in sommige gevallen zelfs agressie tot gevolg hebben. (...) Als men een Aussie wil aanschaffen, dient men hier wel terdege rekening mee te houden. Een hond die weinig opwinding kan verdragen, zal zich niet veilig voelen in een druk gezin met kleine kinderen.
(Natasja van Hout in het artikel 'De Australian Shepherd' in maandblad Onze Hond, juni 2000)
Laat volwassen
De Aussie is erg laat volwassen en ook hiermee dient men rekening te houden in de opvoeding van de hond. Als men te vroeg te veel van hem eist, kan dat het leerproces negatief beinvloeden. Want de Aussie wil het allemaal zo graag goed doen, dat hij zeer gefrusteerd kan raken als hij maar niet begrijpt wat zijn baas van hem wil. Maar als men het geduld heeft om de Aussie in zijn eigen tempo alles te laten leren, plukt men daar later de vruchten van. Want wat er eenmaal in zit, gaat er ook nooit meer uit!
(Natasja van Hout in het artikel 'De Australian Shepherd' in maandblad Onze Hond, juni 2000)
Avoid the Australian Shepherd...
I own an Australian Shepherd. His name is Drifter and he's nine years old. He truly is the greatest dog I've ever owned. He's my class 'demo dog' and is extremely well trained. He loves little children and is very gentle with them. Often when Drifter meets a family with children and enthusiastically performs all of his many movie tricks, a parent will exclaim: "Oh, Drifter is so wonderful! Where can I get a dog like him for my family?" Believe it or not, I respond, "Don't get an Aussie. If you like this kind of dog, get a Sheltie instead." Australian Shepherds are a very intelligent, aggressive, independent, high-energy breed with a strong protective instinct. They require a tremendous amount of time and work. The hours of training and exercise I've put into Drifter could not be duplicated by most people - especially those with a family. Also, Drifter was not my first dog. I had more than a decade of experience working professionally with dogs before I got him. This gave me the ability to be three steps ahead of him all times. This is necessary in order to live with this breed. Aussies must have a job to do. They will never be content to lie around the house their entire life doing nothing. If you attempt to impose that life on an Aussie, you almost surely will end up with a dog who is overprotective and out of control. Their high intelligence is only an asset if you channel it to work. They are a herding breed with strong working bloodlines. In fact, only in the last few years have they been recognized as a show dog, eligible for American Kennel Club breed showing. This means that the majority of Australian Shepherds have recent ancestors who were used for herding. It will take many generations of breeding for 'dog-show traits' to weaken this breed's strong working instincts. Eventually, this breed - like many others - will probably evolve into two distinct varieties: working Aussies and a beautiful but simple-minded 'show' variety. Maybe the show variety will make good house pets someday. Who knows? In the meantime, if you want a herding dog that fits easily into your family, get a Sheltie or a Collie. Avoid the Australian Shepherd.
(John Ross in het hoofdstuk Ten Problem Breeds: Proceed with Caution in het boek 'Puppy Preschool. Raising Your Puppy Right - Right from the Start! © 1996)
Extremely easy to teach
One of the main features of these dog is their intelligence. They are extremely easy to teach, and anyone owning these dogs will verify that statement. One man had a dog trained to do a washing machine commercial, to push all the buttons. When you stand on his front porch with him he will talk to his dog just like I am talking to you. He would say, "Now John, you go down in the field, and you put that calf over the fence." (...) He would ask his dogs. He wouldn't tell them, he would ask them if they would do it.
(Dr. Weldon Heart van de Flintridge Farm in een interview uit 1984 in 'The Australian Shepherd Quarterly')
One-man dogs
The first dogs we saw where one-man dogs. Remember the fellow that I told you about, the one with the two dogs? He was a bachelor and nobody had ever handled those dogs but him. If someone would walk near one of them, the dog's eyes would change color, and you knew it was time to back off. Some of them will bite. Of course, there are biters in all breeds.
(Dr. Weldon Heart van de Flintridge Farm in een interview uit 1984 in 'The Australian Shepherd Quarterly')
A little wary
Aussies tend to be a little wary. It's a kind of built-in temperament that they have. When you have show dogs you want them to be outgoing. Aussies that never leave the ranch or yard are usually timid, or agressive, not sweet and friendly to strangers.
(Judy en Stewart Williams van de Windermere kennel in een interview uit 1985 in 'The Australian Shepherd Quarterly')
Not robots
Aussies are quick to learn and eager to please. Although Aussies are biddable, they are not robots that can be trained to obey without thinking. They are among the highly intelligent, elite group of herding breeds that have the uncanny ability to think with the initiative to figure things out on their own. If the master tells his Aussie to come home, but is unaware of a newborn lamb or injured ewe may be hidden in a ravine or behind some brush, the Aussie's inherited character is either to bring in the stray or to stay with it and protect it from harm.
(Joseph Hartnagle in 'A New Owner's Guide to Australian Shepherds')
Guardians
Aussies are adoring and affectionate with family members, but suspicious and watchful of strangers. This is not to imply they are shy or timid. Aussies are territorial; they have a strong sense of boundaries and they protect their turf from intruders. Aussies are no going to joyfully welcome anyone who walks in the door unannounced and give them a guided tour of the house, and they shouldn't, considering their heritage as guardians. If your home is an open house to the neighborhood with non-stop kids running in and out and different people coming and going, you need to be prepared to make proper introductions.
(Joseph Hartnagle in 'A New Owner's Guide to Australian Shepherds')
High-energy
Aussies are high-energy dogs and not well suited to a couch-potato lifestyle. They are not good companions for people who hate to exercise or walk in inclement weather. Nor are they suited to busy households with little time to train or play with them. Aussies want to interact with their owners and sometimes will follow them from room to room just for their companionship.
(Joseph Hartnagle in 'A New Owner's Guide to Australian Shepherds')
The ability to sense
Aussies are devoted family dogs and fond of children when reared with them. They will protect their charges from harm, often placing themselves between the child and a dangerous situation, then gently urge the child away. Aussieshave been known to even grasp a child's hand or garment and actually tug the child toward safety. (...) Aussies exhibit undying loyalty to their owners. There are numerous tales of these dogs keeping vigil over a gravely ill or dead master until help arrived, guarding the body. (...) Aussies have an intense herding instinct and the uncanny ability to sense weather changes and severe storms.
(Joseph Hartnagle in 'A New Owner's Guide to Australian Shepherds')
Herding instincts
Herding instincts, chase instincts and prey drive are closely related. In fact, an overenthusiastic or unsupervised herding dog of any breed can become a stock killer. This prey drive or chase instinct can cause a dog to chase anything that moves: sheep, cattle, cats, cars or children.
(Liz Palika in 'The Australian Shepherd. An Owner's Guide To A Happy, Healthy Pet')
Greeted with a growl
The Australian Shepherd will not greet every person as a friend. The Aussie is not one to go about with a wiggling behind and a licking tongue; other dogs can do that. Instead, the Aussie will watch people approach and look them in the eye. Some people have said that this stare is "taking a person's measure". If you pass this scrutiny, you will be greeted with reserve. If you do not pass the measure, you will be greeted with a growl. This doesn't mean Aussies are cold or unfeeling. Known friends are greeted with enthusiasm, a wiggling behind, a dancing body, a licking tongue and verbal chatter, even barking. Aussies have a great memory and will remember friends, even ones they haven't seen in years.
(Liz Palika in 'The Australian Shepherd. An Owner's Guide To A Happy, Healthy Pet')
Strong for its size
The Australian Shepherd is an amazingly strong dog for its size; both in physical strength and in stamina. Aussies love to play athletic games, such as Frisbee, in which they can use their strength, stamina and athletic prowess. Because of his strength, an Aussie without training could easily jump up and knock down a child, a senior citizen or even an unprepared adult. With training, Aussies can learn to control their power, using it only when required.
(Liz Palika in 'The Australian Shepherd. An Owner's Guide To A Happy, Healthy Pet')
Destructive
The Australian Shepherd's drive to work can turn destructive if the dog doesn' t have a job to do. The same thing can happen when the dog doesn't get enough exercise. Many Aussies will pace, run the fences, bark, chew, or try to escape from the yard when they are alone, bored or have an excess of energy.
(Liz Palika in 'The Australian Shepherd. An Owner's Guide To A Happy, Healthy Pet')
Always thinking
The Aussie is always thinking and, for some owners, that is frightening because you really should be smarter than your dog!
(Liz Palika in 'The Australian Shepherd. An Owner's Guide To A Happy, Healthy Pet')
Intuitive
The Aussie is intuitive and was bred to think and be able to make decisions regarding his charges when is master was unable to.
(Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor in 'All About Aussies')
Reserved with strange dogs
The Australian Shepherd breed standard calls for a dog that is 'reserved with strangers'. The usual interpretation relates this to humans, but the Aussie is also reserved with strange dogs just as most wild canids are. The true Aussie has a more primitive temperament than many breeds of dogs such as Retrievers, an any attempt to change this type will result in the loss of other traits that the original Aussie was known for. (...) There are many Aussies out there today being blamed for 'agression' for their normal reaction to a perceived threat. (...) Today's society expects dogs to act like overgrown puppies and many breeds are now being bred just for this. In some cases, the Aussies are one of them. But many Aussies still develop into full-fledged adults, with all the behaviors of full-fledged adult canids. (...) Self-defense for the owners of Aussies with correct reserved temperament can take several strategies. First and foremost should be an awareness of the surroundings and a constant alertness for potentially challenging situations.
(Krist Toft in het artikel 'Agressive "Friendliness"' in 'The 1998 Australian Shepherd Annual')
