I have four kids ages 3, 5, 9 and 11. Our Aussie seems to have “Play levels” with the kids. He’s rougher with our older ones because they are receptive to it (they play soccer. No joke, our Aussie, now 12 months old, trips players and steals balls to nose butt it into a goal).

He’s gentle and protective with the little ones because they whine over everything. He sits close to them, watching them like sheep.

His hair gets pulled, ears yanked. My son who is 35lbs lays on him like a bear rug and my 5 year old daughter man handles him like a rag doll. Oh yea, many a time he has a cape on him or a cinderella dress on. Poor dog just takes it. It’s his job.

All in all, he walks around giving tiny little kisses and I haven’t been able to use the restroom alone. A nose always pushes the door a crack to see if I am there. Dakota will sit by the door if someone has left the house. It’s like his “Post”. He likes to check on everyone else who is home every 10 mins. Then he goes back to his post.

Yes, Aussies when bored are VERY destructive, but it is up to the owner to “puppy proof” the house. I have quite a few dolls missing hands and feet. In my case, my house is 1300 square feet and we are a family of 6, so puppy proofing is impossible.

Aussies know their limits and know when they have done something wrong. I have caught Dakota chewing my daughters hair bands like bubble gum. The instant he noticed I was staring at him, he stopped chewing, looked at me with his head tilted and QUICKLY spit the hair band out. He pawed it then crawled backwards with the guiltiest look I have ever seen on a dog.

You need to be consistent, stern and show kids that they are the top dog. Aussies are great puppies; sweet, smart,obidient…But when they turn adolecent, they do rebel a bit and it’s not fair to change the consistency of your treatment to the young Aussie.

FROM DAY ONE: Never allow an aussie to have upper hand when they are growing up, ESPECIALLY with kids. It starts the day you get home. Kids must never let an Aussie yank a toy from them, jump on them, or eat a meal unless the child says “Ok Eat” (Our aussie respectfully sits and waits until our 3 year old points and his bowl and says “Ok Eat”) This teaches the dog that he is at the bottom of the totem poll (though we wish we could spoil him rotten, which will come with adulthood and earned consistent trust)

I reccomend my breeder, and she has access to other breeders who used her dogs to continue contributing to the perfection of The Aussie. I know for a fact the dogs are family raised in the house and like me, she has 4 kids. I have NEVER worried about my dog biting anyone…except a stranger aproaching my home in the dark.

Aussies have their own set of health problems, including epilepsy, which is why if you don't rescue, you'll need a good, responsible breeder (see above ^^ that's why bad breeders are BAD).

They love kids-but that might not mean they are great with them. They are very hyper, and must be exercised regularly, and a LOT. The reason they may conflict with kids (especially preschoolers) is because they are SO energetic and get SO excited that they might scare the child, or even knock them down.

Aussies are also extremely smart. They must be stimulated mentally, or given a job to do, or they will invent their own. These "jobs" of theirs may vary, but they are often disliked by the owners of those dogs. Being herding breeds, Aussies will also nip at the heels of others (especially children) in an attempt to herd them. This is not aggression–many think it is, but it's just drive–a fact of the breed.

A great way to combat both the energy levels and the mental stimulation of the breed would be to get your dog involved in something like herding, agility, or something of the sort.

Australian Shepherds are friendly dogs, especially away from home, but they can get protective of their territory so socialization is key. You'll also need to keep in mind that if you act like everything is okay, than they'll think everything is okay. They are very smart, and tend to be willing to please, so can be "easier" to train, but they can have their "stubborn" moments.

Let's see….They can have a warning bark when strangers arrive, and of course some dogs are yappier than others. My dogs have always had free un-fenced yards and been fine, but remember to make sure your dog has good recall before letting them out completely alone and off-leash.
References :
Australian Shepherd owner 20+ years.