As an owner, breeder, exhibitor, and rescue person, I've been asked a lot about "what is it like to live with Aussies". After 22 years of giving boring explanations, I finally hit on it:
"Aussies are a breed who WILL be entertained.
You can either participate; or clean up after.

Well, that about sums it up in a nutshell. These are smart dogs, these are problem solving dogs. These are dogs who have brains, attitude, a sense of humor, a strong sense of space and ownership and, they want action.

They are BEAUTIFUL dogs and very, very cute puppies.

These are NOT dogs for the standard average "Ozzie and Harriet" type family. They want to be with you, go places and do things. And believe me, "do" is the operative word. If you are with them they will "do", if you ignore them, throw them out in the back yard, what they "do" will be doo doo. They will work to entertain themselves and keep busy - and they can do it constructively or destructively. It is up to you.

This is an intense and very focused breed. Aussies should go through obedience lessons with you, the more the better. Given that Aussies can out-think at least 4 of the last 10 humans you spoke with, it pays to train together to form a team.

This is a functional breed, they are happiest when they have a job to do. This is why they are outstanding multi-purpose stock dogs; excellent search and rescue dogs; wonderful assistance dogs in many venues; highly competitive agility and obedience dogs; entertaining tricksters and fantastic buddies.

They are a challenge and a delight to live with. These are strikingly beautiful dogs and very photogenic. One of the questions asked most frequently by aussie owners is: "…and I live with a smart dog…why????"

We have our share of genetic issues in this breed and those discussions are in the forefront of our breeders at this time. Before purchasing an aussie, I would suggest you do your research on the breed and breeders. In our "links" section there are many links to aussie health sites with invaluable information on our breed.

There are two things that characterize an aussie owner: 1) we tend to be active individuals who enjoy being outdoors and 2) we are passionate about our breed.