Top Texas Aussies

 

The personality of the Australian Shepherd. Where to begin? They are so very wonderful with a variety of moods. It's hard to say what my favorite one is. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">

I love it when they are excited and happy. Jumping around your feet with that happy gleam in their eyes. They seem to say "Hey let's play!!" They run off excited only to dash back to you as if to encourage should you be slow to respond to the invitation. It's a hard not to catch that enthusiasm. I've been known to run and roll in the grass along with them. When they stop and look at you it's as if they are laughing at some joke only you know. That PLEASE throw the stick ONE more time please, please, please!!! And when you do the joy on their face as they dash off to get it and run back and say again.

Then there is that serious mood. The one when they are concentrating on something. Be it a stranger coming down the driveway or a rabbit that just happens to hop in their path. They get so very focused with that intense stare. Sometimes, they hate it when I try to distract them. It has become somewhat of a game to see if I can catch their attention. Sometimes I do, and sometimes they ignore me. It always makes me laugh to see the look they throw you. It's as if they are saying, "Um, hello I am concentrating here, can't you see that rabbit over there?" Then you look, and old bunny rabbit is long gone, having gone into super stealth mode that no Australian Shepherd has figured out yet. You can't laugh though, it would hurt their feelings. So off you go, on whatever chore you were doing, only to come back 30 minutes later to see them still staring at the same spot.

The "I love you more then anything else" mood is wonderful too. They sit there staring at you, with all the love they have in their hearts. The "you’re my best friend ever in the whole world" look. It doesn't matter if you have scolded them the minute before, they just love you. That, our love for them could be so pure would be amazing. Sort of the way God loves us. The flaws don't matter, He just loves us and so do they. Always and forever, their hearts are ours.
Protector.... The look when they feel like something is wrong and they must keep you safe from whatever it is. Sometimes a strange car or a skunk. Alas, the cars don't smell as bad as a skunk under your window. They just want you to be safe from threats. I loved when our girls where little, watching our dog's watch them. As they learned to walk, the Aussie protector strolling along side as they grasped a handful of hair so tightly. Never a mean look for the hair pulling. This was their job and they were going to do it regardless of the pain. They were so very proud of themselves as they guided them back to us, or when the boys slept out in a tent in the yard. I peeked out the window, and there, surrounding the tent, were 3 guardians. All night long, making sure no skunk or rabbit got into it. Then, as the sun came up, and the boys stirred, the dogs roused themselves from their spots and went off to greet the morning and catch a few winks.

There are so many moods that an Australian Shepherd has. All of them separate, yet whole. It makes them who they are, Fun, Loyal, Smart, Happy, Somber and wholly Wonderful. Those moods (traits) all together make a fabulous dog. I will always have an Australian Shepherd to love. I just can't imagine not having one around.