“...his adopted Aussie Shepard. I really meant that she stays by his side all day, preferring his company over everyone else in the household.”
Aussie owners commonly describe their dogs as “velcro” because of the way they stick close to their people. I have two Aussies that definitely conform to the Aussie stereotype: aloof with strangers, guardians, protectors, loyal, affectionate, smart. They take their job very seriously. Mine are insanely territorial regarding “their” house. Anything within 100 yards is an intruder. I don’t have to worry about burglars. One day the dogs seemed anxious to go outside, so I opened the door to our fenced back yard. They shot out like bullets and promptly cornered a man that had jumped our fence to read the gas meter. They had him bottled up in the corner of the yard and he wasn’t going anywhere. I said, the next time you should knock before jumping people’s locked gates unannounced, it isn’t very healthy. The dogs instinctively knew to stay just beyond reach and threaten if he should move. Guests to my house must be formally introduced to be accepted. In public, off their own turf, they are more sociable, but are still protective of me. They would not be an ideal dog for most people, but I wouldn’t have any other.
Your Aussies sound almost exactly like my dobe. I am now spoiled and must forever have my velcro dobes.
I warn people who think they want a dobe to consider how it will feel to be constantly followed (literally shadowed), watched, sat upon, herded, and guarded every minute you are around them. It can be unnerving to some, and is even occasionally irritating to me even though I am accustomed to it.
It is similar to having a toddler hanging onto your pants leg all day, every day. I mean that literally. It’s purposefully bred into some breeds though, so it isn’t an issue of “balance” with these dogs.
We had an Australian Shepard/husky/??? mutt that was a great guard dog. When the kids were little they would play outside with mom, and our dog would sit there very alert of everything for hours on end. As soon as I pulled my truck in the driveway it would wander off, lay down, etc. He was the only dog to bark when someone went through the neighborhood late at night breaking into cars one time. He only barked twice though - and a quiet “woof”, and I didn’t bother getting out of bed to check.
A cop later said that if you hear something - check it out. You will probably only hear the something once!
Our current dog (lab, great dane, mutt) does a good job of barking if someone comes on to our property. Just the other day some guys were working on the yard next door (no fence). They could be within feet of the property and he would just watch them. As soon as they stepped over he would bark at them.
I’m not sure how either one would do as an attack dog. The Australian Shepherd (RIP) once took down a larger dog that got too close and aggressive with our kids once.
However, whenever our dog barks now I’ll investigate with a gun.
Yep! That’s an ACD.