One of the best herding dogs in the world is the Australian Shepherd. Highly intelligent, and eager to please, the Aussie possesses an ideal number of positive traits for anyone looking for a new member for their family. They are loyal, affectionate and make excellent pets.

Yet due to the intelligence of the Aussie they require a goodly amount of exercise and attention. Otherwise they will get themselves into trouble, which is not uncommon for many young puppies, but which can lead to ruined furniture and personal belongings or your Aussie making a break for the fences - they are excellent diggers, after all. In the end, it is best to keep your Australian Shepherd occupied and happy, thereby avoiding many of these problems. Any number of activities will help to keep Aussies happy, whether it be time spent in an off-leash park running and playing catch, or just time spent with the family in the back yard. The very basic point is that these dogs want to do something active, anything, really, and most importantly they want to do it with you.

Australian Shepherds are a highly driven, energetic breed of dogs, and they possess enough smarts to do most any task they are set to. This has helped to make them ideal as trained helper dogs, useful in a number of varying functions, from helping the blind and or deaf, to search and rescue. This, of course, has a direct benefit to anyone that wishes to include such a dog in their family. What it means is that they are quick to learn, and eager to please, resulting in a well-trained dog that can fit right in with your family unit with a minimum of hassle. Yet the key thing to remember is that they are bred as herding animals, meaning that they enjoy having jobs to do. On ranches they are often used to drive livestock, so in your home environment they may look to do the same until they are properly trained.

That point brings us to another one, namely that given the instinctive nature of this breed, the best way to ensure full and proper integration into your family unit is by looking to acquire one of these dogs as young as possible. Doing so will see it trained early and properly, and that it will take to its new home easily. When you are bringing your new puppy home, make sure it has space of its own, with a few toys to keep it occupied during those times that you cannot be there to be with them. Above all, establish your dominance as head of the household to help curb their natural herding instincts, and you will have an excellent new member to add to your family.

Though misnamed - they do not in fact come from Australia but rather the American west - the Australian Shepherd is a wonderful addition to any family, and with just a bit of proper training at the right time they are likely to be one of the best pets you will ever own.

Sam Longstrum is an avid dog lover and enthusiast. For more great information on Australian Shepherds, please visit www.AustralianShepherdInfo.com.