Australian Shepherd 'Splits the Housework' with Mom Like the Most Dutiful Little Helper

Dogs are famously not very helpful. They're not supposed to be: their job is to be cute enough that we forget that. Over our lives, we spend thousands on them, and they just kind of sit there!

Maybe it's time we start making them pick up the slack! On September 5th, one dog mom showed all of the ways she makes sure her Australian Shepherd is pulling her weight around the house. She honestly don't even seem to mind - this is genius:

Mary, Secret, and Promise could start a business with this. I would totally pay for them to come and clean my house!

Related: Boston Terrier's Attempt Outrun Australian Shepherd to Avoid Being Herded Is Too Cute

The dog in this video is Promise, a two-year-old Australian Shepherd. She loves her mom, and she loves to help out: she puts laundry away, cleans up spills, and helps mom makes the bed. She likes to think of it as herding the mess! Before Promise, there was another Aussie named Secret; she passed a few years ago, and her mom says she liked to clean, too!

When they're not busy cleaning, Promise and her mom are usually together napping, playing, or walking. Promise needs a lot of attention and exercise, and she gets it! Cleaning is just another way to keep her busy. Believe it or not, this is legitimately a pretty solid form of enrichment!

How to Keep Australian Shepherds Happy

If there's one thing Mary must know, it's that Promise is a very happy girl. Keeping your dog happy involves a lot more than just loving them, or even spending lots of money in them. Some of the most-loved, most-spoiled pups in the world are still bored.

All dogs need physical and mental enrichment, including lots of interaction with you, playtime, and exercise. They need to run a little, and the toys you get for them should be toys that suit them, not just whatever toys you like. For example, a happy Australian Shepherd:

1. Has space to run, either in a yard or with regular dog park visits.
2. Has puzzle toys, lick-mats, and even herding balls to encourage them to use their brains and natural instincts.
3. Spends a little bit of time every day "working," even if that just means practicing their commands.
4. Eats a good diet.
5. Gets lots of time every day to be with you (or their spare human, if you can't swing it).

If your Aussie is not happy, they'll let you know. You might notice that they start sleeping more, or that they're being more destructive than normal. They're seeking out enrichment because they're not getting enough, but luckily, that is an easily-fixable problem. Just make them put some laundry away every day! A win is a win!