10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Ausky
Have you ever heard of a dog called an Ausky? If you haven’t, you might have already guessed that it’s a mixture of two other popular breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog and the Siberian Husky. If you’ve never seen one of these dogs before, you really don’t know what you’re in for. The level of cuteness involved with this breed is practically off the charts. More often than not, they end up looking like a miniature husky as far as their shape and build is concerned, yet they have the unique coloring of the Australian Shepherd. They also have the personality that comes with these two breeds, something that requires a good deal of experience if you plan on getting one for yourself. If you want to know more about this unique dog, here are 10 things about the breed to consider.
1. They need exercise
There’s no doubt that these dogs are cute, in the extreme. Perhaps the only thing that equals their level of cuteness is their need for exercise. These dogs need more exercise than most people could even fathom. It’s easy to understand why when you stop and think about it. Both the Siberian Husky and the Australian Cattle Dog are high-energy dogs. They have to have something to do or they potentially have a tendency to get destructive. When you combine the two breeds, you’re left with a dog that has loads of energy. If you fail to give that dog an avenue to direct that energy, he or she will put that it wherever it’s most convenient to do so, and that’s not always ideal for you or the dog.
2. They tend to be very intelligent
These dogs have a tendency to be extremely smart. That might make you think that they would be easy to train, but it really depends on the individual dog’s personality. They definitely know what you’re asking them to do, but that doesn’t always mean that they’re going to do it. In fact, they may or may not decide that their goals are in line with your own. Truthfully, the last thing you want to do is end up butting heads with one of these dogs because you’re probably going to lose. It’s a lot better if you can find some common ground and work from there.
3. They can be quite headstrong
If you haven’t already figured it out, this is a breed that can be very headstrong. They have their own way of doing things, there’s no doubt about that. That certainly doesn’t mean that you should refrain from getting one of these dogs, as they can be great companions. However, it does mean that it works best when you and the dog decide to work together in order to achieve a common goal. Simply trying to force your dog to do something because that’s what you want is only going to make them less likely to do it.
4. They know what they want
This is a breed that knows what it wants. While some breeds are very laid-back and happy to do virtually anything asked of them, others have a tendency to demonstrate a bit more personality. This is definitely not a breed that merely lies around and waits for you to tell them what to do. In fact, they can entertain themselves just fine. If you’re looking for a dog that actually has some personality and will give you a run for your money, this might be the breed for you.
5. They might tear up your house
Don’t let this scare you from the possibility of getting one of these dogs for yourself. Dogs that are very high-energy have a tendency to get destructive when they don’t have enough to do and this breed is no different. The key to preventing them from tearing up your house is to make sure that they get that all-important exercise.
6. They’re considered a designer breed
Make no mistake about it, these dogs are indeed considered a designer breed. In short, you’re probably not going to be able to go to your local shelter and find one of these dogs unless you get lucky. The truth is, a lot of people would be willing to pay a very big fee to get their hands on one of these, as they are in exceptionally high demand. When you consider all of the qualities that make them so special, it’s easy to understand why so many people want one for themselves.
7. They make great companions for the right owner
This is not a breed that’s for everybody, there is no doubt about that. If you are not somebody who leads a relatively active lifestyle and has a considerable amount of experience with rather headstrong breeds, you’ll probably end up not knowing what to do with a breed like this. That said, anybody who does lead an active lifestyle and knows a thing or two about raising a headstrong companion animal is probably going to fall in love with this breed at first sight.
8. They have more personality than some people
A lot of people say that they have more personality than some people and that very well could be true. They certainly don’t lack in the personality department. In fact, that’s the very thing that some individuals love so much about them. They have a tendency to display a genuine personality that is very much their own as opposed to just lying around like a furry lump of clay.
9. They’re not exactly a new breed
Some people have the misconception that these dogs are a new breed, but that’s not true. In fact, people have been breeding them for about 20 years now. Despite the fact that they’ve been crossbred for two decades, they are still a relatively rare breed.
10. They can be big or small
Another great thing about them is that they can be relatively small or quite large in their physical composition. It all depends on the size of the dogs that are crossbred. By the same token, most of them tend to live anywhere between 8 and 12 years, giving them a fairly decent lifespan.
