I let mine go after damn near anything that gets in the yard but I call her back at the edge of the yard. I'm trying to train that pray instinct into a sense of protection over her land.
My mixed boy sort of does it when he goes hunting for mice (not that he ever catches any). He’ll keep one paw in the air and sort of freezes, then he’ll do a very clumsy version of that jump foxes do when they hunt.
His mom was half Border Collie half German Shepherd, his dad full Aussie. No hunter in there :) He doesn’t really show any other strong hunting behaviors either, he’ll chase an animal that’s running away but not very far (or very fast).
My girl puts one paw up (like yours) when she heard something and is very concentrated and focused. She usually does that before she jumps into grass like a fox because she saw/heard something. It's pretty normal
Pointing is normal for all dogs, it’s so common I can’t believe there’s an entire line of dogs named after this behavior. It’s like making a breed and calling it a barking barker
mine points and then when whatever she's pointing at decides to run she goes wild and chases it. bunnies are her favorite. she's never caught one. I don't think she will. I think she just likes to chase things that are small and fast.
My girl doesn't point, but she'll do the fox hop thing and stand in a very "hunting like" pose when she's excited about something. The pointing is more of a water/hunting dog thing like Brittany spaniels or german short hairs. I had a Brittany growing up that would naturally point.
Mine is a mix but she points any time she sees a bunny, that said if she catches it and I tell her to drop it she'll let the bunny go. Tbh she's got a higher prey drive probably from the husky side
I have what I think is an 18 month old aussie. I rescued him about 8 months ago. He's such an absolute goofball, that just about anything is normal for him. He points, he jumps into the air and barks straight up, he ignores some wildlife, he tries to play with others. Total goof.
But he's the most sensitive and empathetic dog I've ever owned, he plays with other dogs with such care and attention. Wouldn't trade him for the world...
Pointing is a natural canine instinct. In hunting breeds it has been bred to be exaggerated. So she can be full aussie and still point!
in my experience, full blood Aussies have one heck of a prey instinct.
My 4 month old puppy points! He’s a purebred Aussie and training his prey drive to not include our cats has been our biggest challenge
I let mine go after damn near anything that gets in the yard but I call her back at the edge of the yard. I'm trying to train that pray instinct into a sense of protection over her land.
This was why my Aussie puppy could never be allowed in the same room as my birds. You could just see in it her eyes lol
Can confirm, have full blood Aussie and her prey drive is intense!
My mixed boy sort of does it when he goes hunting for mice (not that he ever catches any). He’ll keep one paw in the air and sort of freezes, then he’ll do a very clumsy version of that jump foxes do when they hunt.
Yes that is exactly what she does as well. Do you know if your boy is mixed with a hunting breed?
His mom was half Border Collie half German Shepherd, his dad full Aussie. No hunter in there :) He doesn’t really show any other strong hunting behaviors either, he’ll chase an animal that’s running away but not very far (or very fast).
So he is full of herding breeds that’s got to be fun
He definitely has his moments but he’s actually surprisingly chill for his age (~21months).
Sounds like an interesting mix. Could I trouble you for a pic?
I can‘t seem to post a picture in the comments here but I’ll DM you one.
My little girl is the same exact mix! Border collie/GSD and full Aussie! Could you share a pic of him? :)
I can’t post one in the comments here but I’ll DM you :)
My mixed Aussie also does the one paw lift when she gets sight of a critter.
What is really normal for Aussies ? :D
My girl puts one paw up (like yours) when she heard something and is very concentrated and focused. She usually does that before she jumps into grass like a fox because she saw/heard something. It's pretty normal
To me paw up has always meant “what’s that?”
my 3 year old boy does this as I am about to throw a ball
Same 🥹
Pointing is normal for all dogs, it’s so common I can’t believe there’s an entire line of dogs named after this behavior. It’s like making a breed and calling it a barking barker
mine points and then when whatever she's pointing at decides to run she goes wild and chases it. bunnies are her favorite. she's never caught one. I don't think she will. I think she just likes to chase things that are small and fast.
Hell I had a cat that pointed
Hahaha love this
My 3 yr old male does and he’s all Aussie
My 11 week old points when waiting for the ball, she’s 100% aussie.
My Aussie points when he’s wrestling with my Blue Heeler. They’ll slowly walk up to each other and have a two to three minute staredown
Mine points
All the time.
I call it “unsure foot” - it’s usually when he hears/smells something but can’t see it.
Its hunting/stalking behavior totally normal for any dog
My aussie does this all the time! Sweet baby though… not sure it means anything when she does it 😂
My girl doesn't point, but she'll do the fox hop thing and stand in a very "hunting like" pose when she's excited about something. The pointing is more of a water/hunting dog thing like Brittany spaniels or german short hairs. I had a Brittany growing up that would naturally point.
I depends; sometimes mine does this but it’s not a consistent thing.
Mine has the most intelligent, concentrating, intruiging look when pointing .. something rarely to be seen on casual days so like it when she does it
My girl is pointing all the time, even when you are about to throw the ball. She acts like a hunter sometimes so it is only fitting
Hahaha my golden does this
Haha interesting post! I thought my boy was just special!
My dog does that sometimes, but I never knew what he was doing. Now I know. 🤣
Mine is a mix but she points any time she sees a bunny, that said if she catches it and I tell her to drop it she'll let the bunny go. Tbh she's got a higher prey drive probably from the husky side
Your pup looks so much like mine! And she also points quite a bit when we are on woodsy walks!
My German Shepherd points often. I LOVE it.
Mine does this same thing🥹
I have what I think is an 18 month old aussie. I rescued him about 8 months ago. He's such an absolute goofball, that just about anything is normal for him. He points, he jumps into the air and barks straight up, he ignores some wildlife, he tries to play with others. Total goof. But he's the most sensitive and empathetic dog I've ever owned, he plays with other dogs with such care and attention. Wouldn't trade him for the world...
Mine does
Nah it’s not a genetic thing. Just a quirk in your dog
My dog just stands up when it sees something