Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Australian Shepherds Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Australian Shepherds Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Australian Shepherds Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Australian Shepherds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Australian Shepherds Easy to Train?
- Do Australian Shepherds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Australian Shepherds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Australian Shepherds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Australian Shepherds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Australian Shepherds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Australian Shepherds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Australian Shepherds
- Conclusion on Australian Shepherd Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Australian Shepherd
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Australian Shepherd out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Australian Shepherd based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Australian Shepherd breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Australian Shepherd by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Australian Shepherd.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Australian Shepherd for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Australian Shepherd.
The summary table below shows the score of the Australian Shepherd for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Stubbornness | 9.0 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 72.2 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 7.0 percent |
| Energy Level | 68.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 50.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 47.9 percent |
| Excitability | 47.5 percent |
| Prey Drive | 47.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 39.1 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 34.6 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 34.5 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 32.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 25.2 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 22.0 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Australian Shepherd`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Australian Shepherd, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Australian Shepherd.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Australian Shepherds are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks high for aggression towards strangers.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 29 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 47.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 49.2 % |
| 27 | Chow Chow | 48.4 % |
| 28 | German Shepherd | 48.0 % |
| 29 | Australian Shepherd | 47.9 % |
| 30 | Pit Bull mix | 47.6 % |
| 31 | Bouvier des Flandres | 44.8 % |
| 32 | Pomeranian | 44.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Australian Shepherds are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 104 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has an owner-directed-aggression score of 7.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Boston Terrier | 7.6 % |
| 102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 7.3 % |
| 103 | Irish Wolfhound | 7.2 % |
| 104 | Australian Shepherd | 7.0 % |
| 105 | Brittany | 6.9 % |
| 106 | Doberman Pinscher | 6.7 % |
| 107 | Pit Bull | 6.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Shepherds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a dog-directed aggression score of 50.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Cairn Terrier | 52.8 % |
| 49 | Alaskan Husky | 51.7 % |
| 50 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 50.9 % |
| 51 | Australian Shepherd | 50.9 % |
| 52 | Dalmatian | 50.6 % |
| 53 | Irish Water Spaniel | 50.4 % |
| 54 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 50.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Australian Shepherds Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Australian Shepherds are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 44 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a stranger-directed-fear score of 34.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Border Collie | 35.3 % |
| 42 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 34.8 % |
| 43 | English Springer Spaniel | 34.6 % |
| 44 | Australian Shepherd | 34.6 % |
| 45 | Great Dane | 34.4 % |
| 46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
| 47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Australian Shepherds Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 59 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a dog-directed-fear score of 39.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Jack Russell Terrier | 39.9 % |
| 57 | Cairn Terrier | 39.8 % |
| 58 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 39.1 % |
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 39.1 % |
| 60 | Pug | 38.7 % |
| 61 | Belgian Malinois | 38.6 % |
| 62 | German Shepherd | 37.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Australian Shepherds Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average for non-social fear.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 59 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a nonsocial-fear score of 32.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Boxer | 34.5 % |
| 57 | Bullmastiff | 33.2 % |
| 58 | Alaskan Malamute | 32.8 % |
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 32.6 % |
| 60 | Pomeranian | 31.9 % |
| 61 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 31.8 % |
| 62 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 31.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Australian Shepherds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a dog-rivalry score of 34.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Akita | 36.9 % |
| 67 | Shih Tzu | 36.4 % |
| 68 | Maltese | 35.4 % |
| 69 | Australian Shepherd | 34.5 % |
| 70 | Irish Setter | 34.4 % |
| 71 | Belgian Sheepdog | 34.2 % |
| 72 | Siberian Husky | 34.2 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Australian Shepherds Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Australian Shepherds are very much easy to train.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks very high for trainability.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the trainability of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a trainability score of 91.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Portuguese Water Dog | 91.9 % |
| 7 | Australian Cattle Dog | 91.8 % |
| 8 | Rottweiler | 91.1 % |
| 9 | Australian Shepherd | 91.0 % |
| 10 | Australian Kelpie | 91.0 % |
| 11 | Belgian Sheepdog | 90.8 % |
| 12 | Poodle (Standard) | 88.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do Australian Shepherds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 64 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a chasing score of 47.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Boxer | 48.3 % |
| 62 | Belgian Tervuren | 48.2 % |
| 63 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 48.0 % |
| 64 | Australian Shepherd | 47.3 % |
| 65 | Poodle (Standard) | 46.9 % |
| 66 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 46.8 % |
| 67 | Beagle | 46.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Australian Shepherds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Australian Shepherds are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 22 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 72.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | English Bulldog | 73.9 % |
| 20 | Maltese | 72.5 % |
| 21 | Doberman Pinscher | 72.3 % |
| 22 | Australian Shepherd | 72.2 % |
| 23 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 71.8 % |
| 24 | Pug | 70.5 % |
| 25 | Giant Schnauzer | 69.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Australian Shepherds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Australian Shepherds are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 97 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a separation anxiety score of 25.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 94 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 95 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 25.9 % |
| 96 | Border Collie | 25.4 % |
| 97 | Australian Shepherd | 25.2 % |
| 98 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 25.1 % |
| 99 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 24.9 % |
| 100 | Keeshond | 23.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Australian Shepherds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Australian Shepherds are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has a touch-sensitivity score of 22.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 22.9 % |
| 86 | Scottish Terrier | 22.5 % |
| 87 | Havanese | 22.3 % |
| 88 | Australian Shepherd | 22.0 % |
| 89 | Dingo | 21.8 % |
| 90 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 21.8 % |
| 91 | Bullmastiff | 21.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Australian Shepherds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Australian Shepherds are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks average for excitability.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has an excitability score of 47.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | American Bulldog | 49.3 % |
| 49 | Weimaraner | 49.2 % |
| 50 | Pointer | 49.0 % |
| 51 | Australian Shepherd | 47.5 % |
| 52 | Saint Bernard | 47.3 % |
| 53 | Airedale Terrier | 47.3 % |
| 54 | English Springer Spaniel | 47.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Australian Shepherds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Australian Shepherds
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Australian Shepherds are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks high for energy level.
The Australian Shepherd ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 302 Australian Shepherd owners reported on the temperament of their Australian Shepherd in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Australian Shepherd has an energy-level score of 68.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Australian Shepherd are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Dalmatian | 70.2 % |
| 31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 70.1 % |
| 32 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 68.9 % |
| 33 | Australian Shepherd | 68.5 % |
| 34 | Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
| 35 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
| 36 | Rat Terrier | 68.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Australian Shepherd Temperament
The temperament of your Australian Shepherd comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Australian Shepherd is exposed to.
You cannot change your Australian Shepherd`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Australian Shepherd to.
Exposing your Australian Shepherd to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Australian Shepherd to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Australian Shepherd`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Australian Shepherd.
If you think the Australian Shepherd is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Australian Shepherds cost and Australian Shepherd puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Australian Shepherd breeders in the United States and the prices of their Australian Shepherd puppies.