Australian shepherd never calms down?

[Anonymous]

Help needed!
I have a 11 month old Australian shepherd. I knew he would be a lot of work and I’m home all the time so I thought I could handle him. But I do 6 hours of exercise and play a day as well as 2 hours of training and he’s still a crazy dog. Won’t listen bc he’s too busy either sniffing non stop when we aren’t training or outside running around and going for runs. It’s impossible for him to just calm down. He won’t go to sleep till like 3am and is up at 6am ready to go. I’m exhausted I really need help. How do I calm with dog 8 hours he is getting mental and physical and it’s been almost 8 months of only 3 hours of sleep a night. I can’t keep going on like this.

[petitedollbabee]

Did you not research the breed before getting him? Australian shepherd’s are an insane amount of work, there’s a reason why they’re not recommended as standard pets and best to be used on farms. 6 hours of exercise and 2 hours of training is good when they’re an adult, but as a teenager they require even more exercise and stimulation. Unfortunately until they’re around 2 years old, they’re still a teenager. So you’ve got your work cut out for you. An option would be to pay someone to walk your dog each day, ontop of the exercise and training that you're already doing.

[Asker]

Yes I did research the breeder even said that 6 hours of exercise was plenty and that he needs to know when to settle. He kept one from the litter I got him from and he has the same routine as I do and that dog sleeps through the night and gets tierd. And the amount of videos I’ve watched and articles I’ve read I’ve spent years studying this dog before getting him. Everyone says 1-2 hours of exercise 1-2 hours of mental stimulation

[Asker]

And we already go on 3 walks 2 runs 1 walk run in the morning walk in the afternoon run at night those 3 hours are separate from the 6 hours we exercise.
My routine is 6am run, 7am food, 7:30- 12:30 yard working (10 mins warm ups increments whenever he starts getting cold because it’s winter here) then 12:30-1:30 walk 1:30-3:30 training and cleaning the house (he helps) 3:30-6:30 outside running and ball time and all that jazz kennel for an hour with a frozen food bowl to quickly make supper and eat then back to training for an hour kids go to bed at this time they play and run around with him during the day as well then he’s still running around not tired till 3am and we do it all over again. That should be plenty of exercise and mental stimulation he’s only not doing anything for 3 hours. A day out of 24 hours.

[purplepoppy]

He won't, it's a common problem with herding breeds. These things are bred to be intelligent and spend long hours running up and down mountains. Guaranteed he'll start trying to herd things up, if he hasn't access to sheep then kids in a park are as good as anything.

If you've a bit of land consider giving him free roam 24 hours if safe, let him play while you're sleeping. As for the sniffing, just let him do it then train when he's more focused. Remember these type of dogs need clear signals which is why farmers use whistles. Same sound same hand signal for every command.

They want to herd, they assume you do to, and they look to you as the one controlling each situation. They'll soon pick up if you're not up to it and start teaching you how they want things done.

[Asker]

I don’t have any land other then a double non fenced in lot that’s why I am outside and it’s too cold for him to be outside. It was -30 two days ago. So lots of having to warm up inside. Our breeder has his dogs as pets and said they are amazing house pets with exercise outlets. I talked to him about my dog and non of his dogs ever did this they were energetic but also chilled from a young age. A dogs gotta calm down at some point. 3 hours of sleep a day can’t be good for him then 21 hours running continuously and moving. With all the research I’ve done I’ve never seen an Aussie this hyper

[Asker]

I also do train the same way same commands and same arm as well as have a whistle and a kicker I use.

[purplepoppy]

You sound on the right track, he'll probably calm down in a few years

[midnightmoon05]

What is your question? Keep your dog or not?
it’s your choice.

[Asker]

That wasn’t even mentioned. I asked how to get him tierd when he’s being worked and exercised as well as trained 21 hours a day

[midnightmoon05]

Since you are aware the responsibilities you got yourself into… this is what you need to do…
Young puppies are full of energy… so what you have is even more work…
No one has an answer… aside from give them drugs…
Good luck and have fun. 🤩
My teens want dogs… I put my foot down… NO 😂

[Asker]

No need to be snarky. I did years of research on this breed and talked to the breeder for a year before he was even born. This problem I’m having isn’t normal and non of the breeders pups ever did this. Just bc you don’t want dogs doesn’t mean everyone else shouldn’t get dogs. I have a dog on steroids that’s the words exactly from the breeder. I was asking a question if you didn’t have any help don’t fucking answer. Not your place to be snarky

[midnightmoon05]

You got your answer from the breeder (the main source)
You also answered your own question. The dog is on steroids
why are you asking gag? When you already know what to do.
I am right… the dog can take some meds.
I am not a med person… but for your own sanity… go to the vet so you can have some free time.

[midnightmoon05]

and sanity…

Just because we know a lot about having kids/dogs…. being a parent is very different from reading about/knowing about them.