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A blue merle Australian Shepherd with blue eyes sits on the floor in a drift of shredded newspaper scraps. 15 / 38

A Blue Merle Aussie Sits in a Snowstorm of Shredded Newspaper

AI imageaustralian shepherdshredded newspaperliving room

Scraps of newsprint cover the floor like gray confetti, and Storm the blue merle Australian Shepherd sits in the middle with a worried frown. His pale blue eyes are striking against his marbled gray coat, and his white blaze and paws are speckled with paper bits. A pair of slippers, a wicker basket and a heap of toys lie farther back in the room, and warm light falls across the shredded mess. It looks as though the morning paper has been read very thoroughly.

Australian Shepherds are energetic herding dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental activity. Many Aussies have eye colors that range from brown to blue to even one of each, and the blue merle coat pattern is among the breed's most popular looks. When these smart dogs get bored, they may chew or shred whatever they can find. A rolled-up newspaper or magazine is especially tempting because it rips apart with a satisfying sound. Giving your dog work to do, like a game of fetch, agility practice, scent games or a puzzle toy, can help use up all that energy. Paper is generally not harmful in small amounts, but large amounts can cause stomach upset, so tidy up quickly. Talk to your vet if you are worried about what your dog swallowed. A tired Aussie is a happy, mostly well-behaved Aussie.

Storm will get a long walk and a puzzle toy, and the paper will move to a higher spot. He is a clever one, and he knows it.

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