I will soon be getting a female 8-week old Australian Shepard. It will be my first aussie and I haven’t had a dog since I was a teenager. I would like to know if I’m getting in over my head and if what I have in mind is even possible.
My wife and I are both retired and live on 20 acres - 6 acres of orchard/vineyard are fenced for deer and the rest is wild. The dog will eventually have free run of the 6 acres with the idea that she can discourage visits from unwanted wildlife - raccoons, opossum, turkeys, bobcats, etc. I have a free ranging flock of chickens that I’m hoping to train the dog to protect but not harass too much. I realize this may be a tall order.
The breeder I’ve chosen states that the puppy will be trained to use a doggie door. The puppy’s first ‘room’ will be a grated off laundry room with a doggie door to an outside small fenced area along the house. This sounds ideal but does anyone have experience with giving a puppy this young that kind of outdoor access? I’m a little concerned with a possible attack from a Great-horned Owl, bobcat, coyote, raccoon - all of which show up occasionally. I’m trying to make the area as puppy proof as possible.
I’m steeling myself up for the initial grind of dealing with a puppy and have been studying training techniques and scouring this forum. I’m aware of the high energy level of aussies but that, and their intelligence, is exactly what I’m after. I intend to ask the breeder to help me in selecting a puppy that is not too ’high strung’. Is that something that can be determined at a young age?
This is a great forum and I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
My wife and I are both retired and live on 20 acres - 6 acres of orchard/vineyard are fenced for deer and the rest is wild. The dog will eventually have free run of the 6 acres with the idea that she can discourage visits from unwanted wildlife - raccoons, opossum, turkeys, bobcats, etc. I have a free ranging flock of chickens that I’m hoping to train the dog to protect but not harass too much. I realize this may be a tall order.
The breeder I’ve chosen states that the puppy will be trained to use a doggie door. The puppy’s first ‘room’ will be a grated off laundry room with a doggie door to an outside small fenced area along the house. This sounds ideal but does anyone have experience with giving a puppy this young that kind of outdoor access? I’m a little concerned with a possible attack from a Great-horned Owl, bobcat, coyote, raccoon - all of which show up occasionally. I’m trying to make the area as puppy proof as possible.
I’m steeling myself up for the initial grind of dealing with a puppy and have been studying training techniques and scouring this forum. I’m aware of the high energy level of aussies but that, and their intelligence, is exactly what I’m after. I intend to ask the breeder to help me in selecting a puppy that is not too ’high strung’. Is that something that can be determined at a young age?
This is a great forum and I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.