All dogs and cats are different in their own special ways. This is what makes each and every one of them unique.
At our home, we have a three-year old female Australian Shepherd. Her name is Phoebe.
She was born at a small hobby farmer/lobster fisherman's place in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
Unfortunately, at three days of age her tail was removed by her breeder. This is because according to "breed standards", Australian Shepherds are not supposed to have a tail. They have been bred to be born without one. If they are born with a tail longer than four inches, it is removed. Phoebe has a small stump which she wags all the time. She sort of wags her entire back end, perhaps compensating for her short tail. She is not embarrassed about her short tail. Quite often when she wags her back end, she curls it around and sticks it right in your face. My wife and I wish she still had her tail.
We have an invisible fence on our property. This is an electronic containment system which works very well. It gives her the freedom to run in the yard at will. In the mornings we keep her on leash until she has her bowel movement. We do this so we can pick up after her. If not, she sometimes will eat her own stool. Picking it up prevents this and breaks this unappealing behaviour.
Phoebe has an independent streak to her personality. She will quite often not come when she is called. A few dog treats will remedy that problem and she'll come running. She is only independent until food is involved.
She constantly herds our cat Sparky around the house. She is trying to reinforce that she is above the cat in the household hierarchy. With a husband, wife, and two boys, 14 and nine, Phoebe doesn't stand much of a chance of climbing the hierarchal ladder. I have to say, the top of the ladder seems pretty much up for grabs between everyone; except Phoebe and Sparky.
Phoebe is afraid of strange men, especially if they have facial hair. She barks very excitedly at them. She will not bite them, but she makes a lot of noise. I don't think she will ever get over this behaviour. Her mother did the same thing. She definitely inherited this behaviour from her mother. My wife says this is not a bad thing (she is not a fan of facial hair either). Once Phoebe gets to know a person, she does not forget them.
She gets along amazingly well with our two boys, and any children for that matter. They have lots of fun with her. She is also great with other dogs. She loves to play with them for hours. Friends and neighbours frequently bring their dogs over to play with her. She is extremely difficult to tire out as well.
As for strange behaviours, most dogs sleep in a crate, on the bed (which is a no-no by the way), or beside the bed. Phoebe sleeps under our bed every night. She manages to crawl under on her stomach and stay there until morning.
Sometimes we wonder how intelligent Phoebe is. Believe me, sometimes we have good reason to wonder. She can be very sharp. If she is made to sit and stay for her food she will not move a muscle until we say "good girl". Sometimes for up to five minutes. Again, anything for food.
No wonder she gets confused sometimes, she has many nicknames. Phoebes, Phoebles, Beebes and Beebles to name a few. Fortunately she responds to them all.
Phoebe is a great dog and we couldn't imagine life at our house without her.