My friends aussy shepherd dog (a 12-month old female names “Sasha”) does something very weird. She will come up toyou, turn around, and push her ass into you! (While turning her head towards you)-sort ofgrinning while doing this. I understand that this breed exhibits this behavior-it’s called"bumping". Does anybody know why these dogs do it? Is it something to do with herding sheep?
Aussies are aggressive dogs, but not vicious. They will generally bump you rather than bite. She is probably trying to “herd” you in some fashion.
Dogs of all breeds do that. They want their butts scratched, usually, although other forms of attention are acceptable. It’s a personality thing, not a breed thing.
Hey, owner of another Aussie named “Sasha” checking in! My Sasha is a 9 year old black tri sweet baby dog.
When my Sasha does this, she wants her butt scratched.
I don’t think it’s herding behavior. Aussies are fairly forceful when they’re herding, but they don’t herd butt first.
And Chefguy, Aussies aren’t usually aggressive. Many have strong personalities, and they’re good watchdogs. But aggressive? Nah…
Archergal, owner of 2 purebred Aussies and 2 Aussie-?? mixes.
My friend Carole had a loveable Australian Shepherd named Adrian. Among his eccentricities was ‘rock gathering’. He would wade out onto the river and come back with good-sized rocks in his mouth, which he would drop into a pile on the bank.
I can’t explain this behaviour or what he got out of it, but it certainly was startling to see this large dog standing in the Hudson, his head underwater for quite a stretch at a time, an ocassional large bubble popping at the surface.
My Sasha likes to put her head underwater too. She doesn’t pick up rocks, though, just likes to get her face wet.
She did eat one rock when she was a pup. Fortunately, it didn’t stay down too long.
I still have it…
I also had an aussie when I was a teenager. His name was “Taco”, because my neighbor, a Basque shepherd, said he was useless as a herding dog, and that the only thing he was good for was lunch. Instead, he gave the dog to me. Thanks, Peeto.
Taco was a “bumper”, with his shoulder not his butt. He’d push all us kids into a little group, especially if we were running around. He was also a tree climber, and could work his way onto the roof until we cut the branch off. He also chased trucks (never cars).
He got ran over by a cement truck early one morning while following me on my paper route. He probably tried to herd it. 
Peace,
mangeorge
I meant ‘aggressive’ in a good way. I had two Aussies and loved them both. Perhaps ‘high energy’ would have been a better choice of words. They’re aggressive in that they initiate play and are always up for ‘doing’ something.
My brother told me of a couple he knew. She had Aussie shepherds, he had border collies. When they got married, they had a big outdoor reception, under a huge tent in a light rain. After an hour or so, all the guests were gathered closely in one corner of the tent. The dogs had gently, quietly herded them there.
“I heard ‘em speakin’ Arabic in their tiny voices. I guess they were West Nile mosquitoes.”
Ach!
Taco was not an aussie. He was a border collie. Black and white, one blue eye. Thanks for the brain bump, AskNott. 
Why do I get those two mixed up???
Well, ok then, Chefguy! I’m with you all the way on the “high energy” bit. That describes (most) Aussies pretty well!
And mangeorge, people get Aussies and Border Collies confused all the time. I’m always being asked if my Aussie is a Border Collie.
I love herding dogs. Dogs that herd, that is. I don’t personally herd dogs, myself. 
In my mum’s village, there was a cattleman and sheep farmer who was famous for beling polite to his dogs when working them. It was quite funny: “Hup! Hup! Get around (please)! Come around (please)! Get back get back (please)! Thank you!”
Smart dogs. I used to live by the ocean (miles away from any farm), and there was a poor, bored dog who’d herd the seagulls in the tennis courts.
To anybody who has one of these as a pet - please, please give them lots of mental and physical stimulus. They want to work.
My Shar-pei does this because he wants a good butt scratch, nothing more
Is the “Australian Shepherd dog” known by another name outside of the US? I’m Australian and I’ve never heard of the breed.
Are we talking about Blue Heelers here? AFAIK they are the best of the Australian herding breeds. We had one that would herd cattle, pigs, other dogs, anything. I wouldn’t call them agressive, they just never take no for an answer.
KenGr: I just looked up some pictures and the breed in question doesn’t look anything like a Blue Heeler (which was also my first guess) – in fact, I’ve never seen a dog like it.
Looks a bit like a splotchy border collie, for want of a better description.
Australian shepherds are indeed an American breed. I have no clue what they call them anywhere else. They’re terribly cute, though. And they’re very intelligent and energetic, like most herding breeds.
A female dog bumping you with her rear, while looking 'round at you? I’m afraid she wants to have your puppies, as you are the head of the flock.
I BUMPING YOUR DOG!
I don’t have a herding dog, but I think these stories are staggeringly cute.
Flock? Pack, dammit, pack! Where the flock did that come from?