There are many Australians who have given up for one reason or another and yet they are wonderful and loving dogs. For many potential Australian Shepherd owners, adopting a rescue dog can be an enormously rewarding experience. Instead of buying a puppy, you can choose to provide a home for a rescued Australian.

Australians are very good with people and children and this is also true of rescue Australians. These dogs are known for their intelligence and agility, and these traits are often displayed in rescued dogs. Typically, local rescue groups are non-profit organizations made up of volunteers who are dedicated to the breed and care deeply for the Australian Shepherds they are trying to save. These groups often remove Australians from shelters and place them in foster homes while the dogs wait to be adopted. While some of the rescued dogs have been taken out of shelters and pounded, others are turned over to rescue groups by their owners. It should be noted that most groups will not accept misbehaving dogs.

So if you are interested in adopting an Australian, your first stop should be locating the closest Australian Shepherd rescue group. Many cities and states have these groups and a quick web search will likely point you in the right direction. You will likely need to fill out an application form for the group. The less specific you are with the type of Australian you want, the faster you are likely to get a dog. For those who have specific size and color requirements, they may have to wait a bit longer before they can get a dog. Most of these dogs are offered on a first come, first serve basis. However, rescue group volunteers are likely to be very particular in trying to match the right dog with a potential owner.

Before you get the dog you want, you will first need to ask yourself a lot of questions to avoid choosing the wrong type. The younger the dog, the more likely you will have to prepare to give him a good training. You have to be sure that you have time to train a puppy to prevent him from developing unwanted habits. Australians are very intelligent dogs and if they are properly trained they will become a well mannered dog. However, Australians also have an internal herding instinct that usually needs to be addressed early so that they are not constantly nibbling on the heels of those around them.

Another question to ask yourself is whether you are willing to start socializing with the dog when it is still a puppy. Australians are extremely protective and could be challenging for those who don’t take the time to properly understand them. These dogs can be very protective so they do not allow strangers to approach their owners. However, if you have the ability to give an adopted Australian the right training, they can be loving and personable friends for life.