I’ve been seriously thinking about rescuing a dog and making sure I can give it the care it needs. My dream dog would be a 1-2 year old Australian Shepherd! I still have a lot to learn and want to make sure I’m really ready for this responsibility, but I think having a dog would be a great experience that’s totally worth the effort.
As part of preparing, I’ve been looking for a good training guide—something that lays out what to teach, in what order, and the best ways to do it. I know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach and that training depends a lot on the dog, but I’d love a solid starting point with the best advice people have shared here.
Are there any guides or books you’d recommend? And do you have any general advice for someone in my position?
If you’re looking for great training videos, Zak George has a ton of useful content on YouTube. His positive reinforcement approach works well for a lot of dogs. Might be worth checking out!
Roberts said:
If you’re looking for great training videos, Zak George has a ton of useful content on YouTube. His positive reinforcement approach works well for a lot of dogs. Might be worth checking out!
I just watched 38 of his videos! He explains things really well, and I’ve learned a lot already. Can’t wait to try out what I’ve picked up!
Kikopup on YouTube was a huge help for me. Also, Ian Dunbar’s ‘What to Do Before Getting a Puppy’ is a great resource. The PDF is free if you search for it online!
I have a 6-month-old Australian Shepherd, and getting him was the best decision ever. They’re super smart but need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Watching training videos is great, but if you can find an Aussie to spend time around, that might help too. They behave differently from a lot of other breeds, especially when playing.
If you’re in the Chicago area, you could meet my pup to see what they’re like in person. And if you have any Aussie-specific questions, I’d be happy to help!
As for the order of training, there’s no strict right or wrong way, but most people start with:
Potty training
Name recognition and focus
Sit
Down
Leash walking
Other important things include:
Crate training
Teaching calm behavior
Socialization
Bite inhibition
The best training method depends on you and your dog, but it’s good to learn about learning theory and operant conditioning. Positive reinforcement tends to work best for most dogs, and setting them up for success is key. If you want to dive deeper into the science behind training, you can check out this article on operant conditioning.
Aussies are really smart and thrive on structure, so the more training you do, the better!
I highly recommend ‘The Culture Clash’ by Jean Donaldson. She has a strong opinion on training styles (she’s big on operant conditioning and against punishment), but the book is full of great info. I have a Mini-Aussie, and it really helped me understand training better.
‘Training Levels’ by Sue Ailsby is a fantastic step-by-step guide for training a dog from the basics to advanced skills. You can get the digital version here. It’s priced in Canadian dollars, but I got it for about $19 USD. Totally worth it!
What I love about this book is that it explains what to train first and why, so you’re not just randomly teaching commands. If you get an Australian Shepherd, you’ll have a super smart, high-energy dog, so having a structured training plan will help a lot.
It doesn’t cover potty training, but since you’re thinking about adopting a slightly older dog, that might not be as big of an issue. If you do need help with that, there are plenty of good resources online.
Kikopup and Zak George both have great videos, but if you find it overwhelming to figure out where to start, ‘Training Levels’ will help you organize everything step by step. I’ve been using it with my dog, and it’s making a huge difference.