Australian shepherds are easy-going canines and a great choice of a family pet. They are incredibly obedient, easy to train and get along with other dogs.
But one unique trait about the Australian shepherds is that they love a companion. Being an energetic breed, they need someone to play with.
If left alone, Aussies tend to be destructive as they look for a place to focus their energy.
This is something you should know if you’re planning to have more than one dog at home.
While Aussies can get along with any other dog, some form better companions. In this post, I will discuss the best companion dog for Australian Shepherd.
Read on!
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Labrador Retriever
Labrador retriever is loyal, loving, and a proactive thinker. It’s strong, playful, and affectionate.
And it will get along with other pets and children of all ages.
Since your Australian shepherd is an active dog, it will enjoy the company of a Labrador.
If you’re a pet lover, it’s hard not to fall in love with a lab. If your Aussie needs a playmate, the two will have an incredible time.
Australian Cattle Dog
If you’re a true dog lover, you’d agree the Australian cattle dog is a great companion.
It’s intelligent, smart, and has a sense of loyalty.
Not to mention, this dog has high activity levels and will keep up with the other members of the pack.
Although it tends to bark at a new member, it will calm down at gaining a sense of trust.
Border Collie
The border collie is arguably the best companion dog for Australian shepherd – for good reasons.
It’s fun-loving, smart, and hard-working. Additionally, it’s great at following demands and has lots of energy.
These two dogs complement each other because they are completely overwhelming.
Your Aussie will need lots of exercise, so it will be happy to have another herding dog in the family.
Both breeds have the same similarities and high awareness of emotions.
You can’t go wrong with Border collie if you want to add another member to your dog family.
Jack Russel
Jack Russel is a wonderful dog that can coexist wonderfully with other dogs.
Just like your Australian shepherd, Jack Russel is an active dog that strives to make other dogs happy.
They can play together and jump all day.
However, if you don’t train the Russel correctly, it will make your life a living hell.
They learn very fast to ease your Australian shepherd’s daily life. Also, a Russel is a brave dog and will stop at nothing to protect the Aussie.
Golden Retriever
The golden retriever has a reputation for being one of the most intelligent and friendliest dogs around.
It likes to be around cats, humans, and dogs.
Pet lovers like the company of Golden retrievers for their youthfulness, joy, and purity.
Once you bring this breed to your home, it will establish a place and help set the pace for your Australian Shepherd.
And with time, they will become instant buddies.
Siberian Husky
A husky is a friendly dog that tends to be playful to whoever handles it.
They don’t show suspicions or hostility to other dogs. These canine friends are also agile.
And because of their playful nature, huskies are a great companion for your australian shepherd.
This breed has an incredible amount of energy and gets along with other dogs.
While a Siberian husky may not be a common breed, it’s open to mixing with any other dog.
Since the Australian Shepherd is friendly, it will keep up with a husky.
German Shepherd
A German shepherd is an intelligent working breed that forms a great companion.
While it may be somewhat aloof with other dogs for the first time, it will become friendly after gaining trust.
German Shepherds are intelligent and like to play with other dogs.
And because they are built for exercise, they will get along with other worker dogs.
If you like to take your Australian shepherd outside, the two breeds will be more than willing to play.
Dalmatian
Dalmatian is a cute-looking dog with great characteristics.
It’s playful, highly energetic, and sensitive to other dogs. What’s more, it needs lots of exercises to dispel excess energy.
There’re many reasons why a Dalmatian can be a good companion for your Aussie. It’s intelligent, easy to train, and well reserved with strangers.
Although they have a history of being aggressive, they easily adapt to a new environment.
Another thing you’ll love about the Dalmatian is the affectionate temperament. He loves to spend time with the family and will cuddle your Australian shepherd.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Although a Rhodesian is a large-sized dog breed, it has amazing qualities. It has predatory instincts and tends to be aggressive towards dogs of the same sex.
However, it adapts well to different living conditions and likes to have playful sessions with other members of the pack.
In addition, Ridgebacks love to run and require some physical activity to remain healthy.
Rhodesian is a devoted companion, so it will get along with the Australian Shepherd.
But because it likes domineering, a little training will be need to make it a great buddy with your Aussie.
Also, Ridgeback is independent and will test members of the family in the pecking order.
You must show them you mean what you say. These two dogs need brisk walking every day.
And because of the natural protective instinct, a Ridgeback will protect the Aussie from strangers.
These dogs know how to love deeply and show unwavering support to other dogs.
Boxer
The Boxer is a medium-sized breed that features smooth fur.
It’s smart, playful, loyal, and has lots of energy. Not to mention, it’s available in a variety of colors.
You can choose chocolate, brown, spotted, speckled, or black and white.
While they tend to be destructive (chewing and digging), you should ensure they exercise frequently.
In terms of temperament, the Boxer is without a doubt, one of the easiest dogs to train. It’s also protective of the family and performs well in rescue work.
Their active nature makes them great outside as well as in the house. Just like your Australian Shepherd, the Boxers will give loving canine companionship.
They tend to be affectionate – you’ll find it hard not to laugh in their presence.
And because they are both working dogs, you should make sure they feel engaged with tasks.
Both the Boxers and Aussies have the same lifespan, so they will enjoy spending most of their lives together.
Malamute
Malamute is a unique dog known for its stunning looks and individual personalities.
Sometimes, it’s mistaken for a huskie. Also, it’s beautiful and regarded as an excellent dog.
Besides that, this breed is beautiful and is considered a VIP in dog breeding.
What makes Malamute a great companion for the Australian shepherd is that both are extremely active.
Another trait that makes it unique is the unique mixture of temperament and personality. It’s also sociable and loves attention.
However, it can also be stubborn, so a little training goes a long way. Just like the Australian Shepherds, Malamute is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate.
Both breeds are also suited to outdoor styles, so they will have fun exercising together. As for the training, you can train them together because they are naturally obedient.
They will love exploring the wilderness together.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese is good-natured and the best companion dog for Australian Shepherd.
The calm nature, sweet depositions, and willingness to play make it great around children.
It’s also highly trainable and will respond well to corrections.
Both the Australian Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog are lovable in real life. They won’t have problems accepting each other.
Beagle
Beagle is a breed that hails from ancient Greece. It’s friendly, charismatic, cheerful, and loyal.
Also, it’s affectionate and loves being around other animals – that’s the reason why it is a great companion.
Beagles are bred to work in packs, so they love to have company. When left outside alone, it tends to be destructive.
You can avoid this by introducing another canine to play with. But as with other dogs, you must be patient when training your dog.
It requires positive reinforcement and a little creativity.
Since your Aussie is cheerful, it can have a lot of fun with the beagle.
Do Australian Shepherds Get Lonely?
One of the best things about owning an Aussie is being loyal and friendly to the owner.
Unfortunately, they don’t manage well when left alone for too long. Australian Shepherds are social dogs prone to separation anxiety.
Originally, they were meant to help farmers, and that’s why they are referred to as working dogs.
Even if you may not be always with your dog, it expects you to be on its side.
When the canine friend gets lonely, it can engage in destructive behaviors like ripping furniture or excessive barking.
And this can wreak havoc on dog owners who live in apartments.
But no matter how bad you feel, you should avoid acting angry. This could trigger a bigger issue.
Strategies To Overcome Separation Anxiety
To overcome separation anxiety, you must instill a sense of independence.
Another strategy is to leave the house for a small amount of time and increase the time gradually.
And every time you walk out, make a fuss of them so that it’s never a big deal when you leave next.
If you have to leave the house, you can introduce treats to build their confidence.
You can also bring toys to show that being alone can be fun. As long as the toy is safe, it will leave a positive mark.
The age of your Australian Shepherd matters. A 10-week old puppy should not be left alone for more than an hour.
This is because it doesn’t have much control over its body. By the time it turns 4 months, it can hold the bladder for longer.
At five years, you should not leave your Aussie for more than five hours.
Remember, it’s still dependent on you. Other breeds will hold on for longer without human presence, but not the Aussie.
If you don’t want to leave your Australian Shepherd alone, you should bring a companion dog.
Alternatively, ask for a friend’s help or hire a pet sitter.
If you have someone living with you, you should teach him or her how to take care of your canine friend.
Do Australian Shepherds Get Along With Other Dogs?
Australian Shepherds are not only incredible to their owners but also friendly to other dogs.
So, why are they so friendly?
Since they were originally bred to work on farms, they had to comply with the owner’s orders.
If a wolf appeared, they would protect the animals.
Naturally, these dogs are not aggressive and are happier when they see another canine friend they can play with.
If you realize the dog is behaving aggressively, there are many reasons for it. Maybe they are frustrated, ill, possessive, or even afraid.
Although this is a rare exception, you should try to fix the problem immediately.
Since the Australian Shepherd is an intelligent dog, you can train it to be friendly to other dogs.
You can introduce some basic commands like stay or sit.
If he passes the test, you can give advanced instructions. And because these dogs love to exercise, you can play with them a lot.
Another trick to change the mindset of your dog is to expose him to fears. Teach him how to associate with friends, and he will get used to them gradually.
If your Australian Shepherd behaves well in front of other dogs, you can offer him a tasty treat.
One last thing – never oblige your dog with a muzzle as this will make him feel threatened.
Final Thoughts
It’s a well-known fact: Australian Shepherds are intelligent, loyal, and family-oriented breeds.
While they can get along with any other dog, some are better than others. Those that make better companions share similar traits and instincts.
Although having an extra dog may sound like extra work for you, it makes your Aussie happier.
From the above guide, you can now choose the best companion dog for Australian Shepherd.
Some may get confused when an Australian Shepherd tries to make them part of the flock. But they soon adjust and get excited.
When left alone, Australian shepherds tend to be destructive. But with a companion, they know where to focus their energy.
If you have an Australian Shepherd, but you’re skeptical about its behavior, he can still get along with other dogs.
Training is key to having an obedient and happy canine friend.
