Listen, you are NOT a horrible person and none of us could think so!! I just feel like you and your hubby did not put very much thought into this AT ALL, and got off on the wrong foot ~ first off, your hubby should not have picked out the dog alone and "suprised" you. Since it sounds like you're his main caretaker anyway, you deserve to choose your own dog to adopt. Second, herding dogs are often NOT good with small dogs (unless they grow up with them) because of their strong prey instincts... Australian Cattle Dogs are especially super hard-mouthed and they tend to nip at small beings (small dogs, cats, kids, etc) if they aren't corrected and trained not to.

First, you NEED to crate train him!! You cannot expect a dog fresh from the pound to be house-trained and to automatically know not to tear things up and get into stuff he isn't supposed to. Dogs just don't know. He needs to be in his crate when he isn't supervised. When you are home, try tethering him to you to encourage potty training and to prevent anything from being torn up. If he does something bad, like jump on the counter, tell him "NO!" or "OFF!" and quickly leash correct him. Most importantly, he DOES need Obedience training and lots and lots of exercise. If your yard is too small, take him for long walks or jogs. Play ball with him for an hour in the backyard or at a nearby dog park. Start training him now, teach the basic commands and practice with him every day to keep his mind stimulated ~ herding dogs need a job, a strict schedule, and all sorts of things to stimulate their minds and bodies. It isn't a huge suprise that Sadie and Maggie dont like him ~ he's a newcomer, he's bigger than them, and he sounds like he doesn't have much manners. He is also only 1 1/2, which is still full puppy stage for any herding dog! Understand that this is not the dog's fault... he's a puppy, he was probably kept outside for his entire life before now, and he does not know any better. Just take it slow, take a deep breath, and think of this a project rather than a nightmare

It'd be *awesome* if you guys could foster him while the shelter is sorting things out... then maybe they can still refer people to you to get him adopted out. Tell the shelter they NEED to list him as a dog for herding/ACD-experienced owners with a large yard or property. During this time you can also think about if you're READY for any herding breed... basically, yes, they are like this. They need 1-4 hours of intense exercise every day ~ running, playing, and tons of mental stimulation... whether that is de-stuffing frozen Kongs, getting meals out of a buster food cube (which I highly recommend), learning new tricks, practicing long down-stays in the yard, praticing dog sports, etc. If they don't get all of this every day, they will become very unhappy and take out their frustration on your house and yard. If you're actually considering an Australian Shepherd, they are just as/maybe more active than ACD's, and they can weigh up to 65 lbs. Even if you like the breed and it seems like a cool breed, it is DEFINITELY not for everyone (actually, not for most people)... which is why there are so many available at shelters