Quote Originally Posted by Sweet Sixy
I have an Aussie, and I couldn't imagine anything else!
Another Jessica that also owns/loves Aussies?? lol

Anyway, of course I am partial to Aussies, but Tollers have been a secret love of mine as well (I do plan on owning one... someday...). I can speak with experience about Aussies, however, owning two myself. I will use Jamie as reference though since Charlie isn't a "normal" dog

They do require LOTS!!!!!! of attention (when I say lots, I mean if they want attention and you do not give it to them they will FORCE you to. I will be on the laptop and Jamie will crawl into my lap and lay on me. Charlie will whine lol but Jamie forces her way up!). They are also very HIGH energy dogs who need LOTS of exercise. My two LOVE being outdoors. Well, Jamie loves being with me, Charlie does too but he loves cooler weather so since it's fall now I can never get him to come inside!

They are very tricky dogs, the second you think you've outwitted them is when you really haven't at all. They are always one step ahead of you I can't count how many times I have come home and Jamie was out of her crate. The tray pushed all the way out, the latches undone and the door wide open (but I think she had an accomplice...).

They also require training as early as possble. I can not stress this enough. AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. And stick with it, don't slack, because when you do they know it and they will exploit the opportunity for their benefit!

They are very trainable dogs though, you can teach them any trick in the book easily and within days. I had Jamie bowing after only a few hours (ok, she knew how to do it, she was just stubborn and didn't want to until dad came home from work, then she wanted to show off and be like "see Mom was lying to you on the phone, I do too know how to do it!")

If you are not an active person, I do not recommend the Aussie. Also if you have irritable cats in the house... I do not recommend an Aussie. Because their herding instinct is high and they will attempt to herd anything that moves... children, cats, even you just trying to walk downt he hallway!!

Also they are nicknamed "velcro dogs" because they ae just that. They will follow you from room to room and sit outside the bathroom door. Even if you just get up to grab something and sit back down again they will follow you. If you get annoyed easily by animals being underfoot... then an Aussie is not for you.

Also if there are any kids in the house who will be frightened by them trying to herd them (they can and will nip sometimes, too. Charlie does this, Jamie has never tried herding us, but Charlie will nip at the inseams of my jeans and try pulling me around haha), then I don't recommend them either, HOWEVER, it can be trained out.

Anyway I can never see myself without an Aussie in my life, if not two, or three, or five. They are my breed and they really are a joy to have, if they are right for you.