Aussie Puppy Keeps Leaping Off Couch Into Owner's Arms

Those of us who have had a dog like Moose the Australian shepherd in our lives count our blessings. They are filled with a contagious unbounded joy. We want to scold, “Enough is enough,” but we just can’t bring ourselves to arrest their hyperactive affection.Show more

The young lady could stop Moose in his tracks, but it’s apparent she doesn’t really want to Moose picks up subtle cues from his mistress: she sets up for the next catch, she smiles, she laughs. Moose likes it when his girl laughs and smiles and plays. It all adds up to a form of praise to him. Praise, to a dog, is more rewarding than food. In a healthy home, food is something you get, anyway, at regular intervals. Praise, however, is earned. A dog can’t just lie around and expect to be praised. You have to work for it. Everybody benefits from this expenditure of energy. A good way to burn off excess nervous energy, and get a good night’s sleep!

Mini Australian shepherds were first bred in the Basque area of Spain, but later more fully developed in North America. So the “Australian” is a little bit of a deception, but “shepherd” isn’t since that’s what the dog’s purpose was before modern recreational pets became a 20th Century cultural phenomenon. Of course, it is a small breed, topping in at 40 pounds, but Moose looks to be smaller still because he is a puppy. Or, at least we think he’s a puppy if his springy playtime energy is any indicator. He dives into the girl like a barrel bomb, and she is only too happy to catch him in midair. And that puppy fur—prime petting material!

If Moose is representative of his breed, then the mini Australian must be a recreational pet, one that needs to regularly exercise its ambition in the outside world. A dog park would be the perfect environment for Moose to both learn socialization skills and run rampant in a dog’s world. The mini Australian shepherd is said to never outgrow being a puppy, so the young lady can look forward to years of amiable companionship. The mini Australian is a wise choice for the urban and suburban young and upwardly mobile. You get a lot of positive feedback wrapped in a portable, compact package.

Not only is Moose physically a good match for apartment dwellers because of his size, but he’s highly responsive to human interaction. Enriching his environment with toys and even human visitors will keep him curious, friendly, and sharp. We see the small dog crate, with a blanket draped over the top. Is that where Moose sleeps when he’s all tuckered out? Is that his safe space where he can turn to for security, or even—shun the thought!—where he gets his timeout on those rare occasions when he’s a “bad dog”? It’s impossible to imagine there’s anything bad about Moose.

Come back and visit us again Moose. We miss you already.