Can an Australian Shepherd Be a Good Hunting Dog? Breed Characteristics & FAQ
Updated on
Australian Shepherds, also known as Aussies, are a popular working dog breed. They are professional herders, thanks to their athleticism, instincts, and above-average energy level. But can this herding breed also be used as a hunting dog? The answer is yes!
You can definitely train your Aussie to be a hunting dog. Its high intelligence, boundless energy, and love of the outdoors can boost its drive and desire to hunt. Keep reading to learn more about training an Aussie to be a hunter and not a herder.
What Is a Herding Dog Anyway?
All herding breeds have instinctual skills for controlling the movement of other animals. They were developed to herd and protect different kinds of livestock. These pastoral dogs can be trained to act on the sound of a whistle or specific commands.
The herding behavior that these dogs present is modified predatory behavior. They have been selectively bred to minimize the dog’s natural propensity to treat livestock like cattle and sheep as prey while maintaining the pup’s instinctual hunting skills.
Can a Herding Dog Be a Good Hunting Dog?
Now that you know what a herding dog is and what the job entails, you’re probably wondering if a herding dog can be a good hunting dog, too.
The short answer is herding breeds like Aussies can make great hunting dogs. They have many qualities that are required in the perfect hunting dog breed. But because Aussies were bred to be herders, they’ll need extra training and conditioning to fulfill the duties of a hunting dog.
You shouldn’t expect your Aussie to pick up hunting on the first try, either. Training it to hunt can be challenging and may take several months.
What Makes an Aussie a Potentially Suitable Hunting Dog?
Aussies have several characteristics that can potentially make them excellent hunting dogs.
1. They Love the Outdoors
First, they naturally love the outdoors. Their original role as a herding breed makes them predisposed to live outdoors. This makes them an excellent tag-along for hunting trips. Since they were bred to herd, Aussies are natural at chasing prey and cornering it.
2. They Have a High Prey Drive
Having a high prey drive allows herding breeds to follow their flocks. Some will even nip at the animals’ heels in the flocks to keep them in line. This prey drive makes Aussies adept at both tracking and chasing animals.
Aussies’ senses are top-notch, which will aid in tracking, a necessary skill for hunting.
3. They Have the Right Personality Traits
Aussies are hardworking dogs, so they enjoy keeping busy and active. The happiest Aussies spend a lot of time physically active, so having your pup tag along on your hunting trips will keep it content.
They are bold and alert, so they can sense when other animals are around.
The Aussies’ seemingly infinite energy will lend itself well to long, grueling hunting trips. In addition, Aussies are athletic, fast, and agile, making navigating rugged terrain a breeze.
4. They Are Intelligent
Aussies are a brilliant dog breed. This intelligence will help you train your pup to be an excellent hunting dog. It’s easy for them to learn new things, and their eagerness to learn and please their owner will make them simple to train.
How Can One Train an Aussie to Be a Hunting Dog?
If you want your Aussie to be your hunting buddy, you’ll need to do some additional training.
Start With Basic Training
Before you train your pup to hunt, you must start with the basics. When your Aussie is old enough, obedience training should be the first thing you focus on. Teaching your pup to listen to and learn commands is an essential skill for any dog, especially hunters.
The best commands to start with include “sit,” “heel,” and “lie down.” These commands are invaluable in the sport of hunting, and if your Aussie doesn’t know or understand them, it’s easy for it to get out of control, chasing everything in sight and making too much noise.
Teach Hunting-Specific Commands
Once your pup knows and understands basic commands, you can move on to more hunting-specific ones. “Drop,” “quiet,” “no,” and “come” are great to start with. When your Aussie knows these commands, it’ll be easier for you, the hunter, to control the environment in which the two of you are hunting.
Choose a Hunting Methodology
There are three main hunting methods you can teach your Aussie.
-
The Freedom Method is best when you’re in a place where you know the prey you want to hunt is present. For example, if you’re trying to hunt rabbits, you’ll need to be in an open field or wooded area.
You’ll need to use the scent of a previously hunted animal (e.g., its carcass, feet, skin, etc.) to get your dog’s attention and allow it to begin tracking. Tie a rope to the dead animal (or its body parts) and drag it in front of your pup. Let your dog follow the scent and give a reward when it catches up to it. Then, train your dog’s tracking skills by hiding the prey out of sight and allowing it to go off-leash to recall and track the game. Offer praise and treats for every successful attempt.
-
The Tracking Method requires you to train your dog to first track scents indoors. Allow your pup to watch you place treats around a room of your home so it can use its sight and smell sense to hunt down the treats. Over time, start hiding treats in more difficult-to-find spots to get your dog used to tracking with its nose. Once it has this skill down pat, you can begin familiarizing it with the scent of small game like rabbit feet or skin by letting them play with the objects.
Once they have the scent of the game down, hide it along with treats in the same spot. This will help your pup associate the smell of goodies with the scent of prey. Once your dog has this tracking method perfected, you can take your training sessions outside. Start with a small backyard spot before moving into larger areas.
- Finally, the Brace Method requires using an experienced hunting dog (aka a “brace”). Think of the brace dog as your Aussie’s training pal. Take your pup to his pal’s usual hunting ground and let both dogs off leash so your pup can follow around the experienced dog on a routine hunt. Continue allowing your dog to tag along on these hunts a few times a week for two or more months. This should help it become accustomed to the ins and outs of hunting. Your dog should have a good recall before trying this method.
What Can Aussies Hunt?
The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog breed, so they’re more suitable for hunting certain types of prey over others. The smaller the animal, the better.
Aussies can successfully hunt animals such as:
- Rabbits
- Raccoons
- Ducks
- Foxes
- Groundhogs
Though Aussies can hunt small mammals and waterfowl, remember that they are not built for strenuous water activities. Your pup may have a hard time retrieving animals from the water.
Final Thoughts
You shouldn’t expect your Aussie to pick up on hunting on its first try, but with a lot of training and a little patience, it is possible that this herding dog can become a hunting companion. Their reliable instincts and senses lend themselves well to hunts, but you must be realistic with your expectations.