A tribute to a Dog named Winter

Can anyone out there weigh in on having an Australian Sheperd - or other working dog - as an all-around outdoor companion?

We have a shepherd-mix.  She's pretty mellow for an aussie/collie (whichever she is).  My wife works her as a search and rescue dog with Snohomish County and she really enjoys having a job to do. 

She loves, loves, LOVES climbing, hiking and skiing with us -- skiing most of all.  The 35-45# size seems pretty ideal for carrying her out should she get tired/injured.  I've had to carry her at times in particularly deep snow and she doesn't have the 100% snow-shedding coat that Chris' husky probably has, so she can get snowballs in her fur and had to learn how to manage them herself.  We also have to do more fur/paw maintenance before skiing (buy a lot of Pam baking spray).

Can anyone out there weigh in on having an Australian Sheperd - or other working dog - as an all-around outdoor companion?

Both of my sisters in Anchorage have had a series of Australia shepards, wonderful dogs, high energy, highly intelligent -- which also means doing a lot with them to keep them engaged and happy. Case in point, one sister went through a period where she was working a lot of overtime and not able to exercise her Aussie (Deke) as needed. Deke got so stir crazy that he actually dug a hole in the floor of her house and was running around in the crawl space when she got home.

We have a shepherd-mix.  She's pretty mellow for an aussie/collie (whichever she is).  My wife works her as a search and rescue dog with Snohomish County and she really enjoys having a job to do. 

She loves, loves, LOVES climbing, hiking and skiing with us -- skiing most of all.  The 35-45# size seems pretty ideal for carrying her out should she get tired/injured.  I've had to carry her at times in particularly deep snow and she doesn't have the 100% snow-shedding coat that Chris' husky probably has, so she can get snowballs in her fur and had to learn how to manage them herself.  We also have to do more fur/paw maintenance before skiing (buy a lot of Pam baking spray).

Thanks, Marcus! She looks like a great addition to your family! They are always better mixed breed, IMHO. Have dealt with the iced up paws/side fur many times, with friends' dogs....great tip. Times before, we had to haul back a few. Poor pooches! Love that eclectic breed...that and the Aussie/Heeler/Whatever here____ . Such smart and good-natured doggies! Plus, they really understand the situation(intuition)... Definitely one to consider...

Both of my sisters in Anchorage have had a series of Australia shepards,  wonderful dogs, high energy, highly intelligent -- which also means doing a lot with them to keep them engaged and happy.    Case in point, one sister went through a period where she was working a lot of overtime and not able to exercise her Aussie (Deke) as needed.  Deke got so stir crazy that he actually dug a hole in the floor of her house and was running around in the crawl space when she got home.

Hahahah! Thanks for that! Sorry...your sis and all! That is what I am afraid of...being away. Got the time between to wear them out, but can get crazy at times!They will definitely take it out on you for your lack of attention...but, definitely have them on my radar!

Aussie shepherd mix is a great outdoors dog. I have had both heelers and shepherds, heelers are pretty damn intense but great dogs, shepherds IMHO are a little mellower and in tune with their humans, a bit easier to turn of the herding drive if engaged otherwise (hiking, mt biking, chasing snowboarders, etc) and not as aggressive towards others and their flocks (including kids). I've had a 60 lb rott aussie shepherd mix in Greenwater, Brooklyn, Seattle and now Bainbridge and he is a great dog. Deals equally well with elks and hood rats, sticks close, happy to guard the front door from squirrels.

If you are concerned about keeping it active and engaged and hence well behaved, I'd suggest a mutt showing the shepherd clearly. Lab, rott, or ?. Some coke with the whiskey, if you will. Cola.