Australian Shepherd
Aussie, Little Blue Dog
This magnificent dog is very intelligent, elegant and proud looking. The Australian Shepherd is very cheerful and energetic. It has an effervescent personality, is active and a good player. It can be an excellent pet as well as a working dog. The Australian Shepherd is just as happy working as it is exercising. It is very close to its owners and dislikes solitude.
Quick Overview of the Australian Shepherd
Temperament
- Very sharp
- Sociable and very tolerant
- Adapts well to family life
- Courageous and loyal
Appearance
- Robust, muscular and supple
- Proud looking
- Well proportioned
- Well adapted for sports enthusiasts
Health
It is frequent to encounter a few hereditary problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia and many eye problems.
Temperament of the Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd sticks to its owner like glue - it requires lots of attention on a daily basis.
Very sharp and well adapted for sports enthusiasts, the Australian Shepherd is known for its great speed. It has all the qualities required to be an excellent herd keeper whether it be for bovine animals, sheep or feathered animals.
This breed is also used for canicross and search and rescue.
Very sociable and tolerant, this dog easily adapts to family life. It is very endearing and loves company.
It loves to do work and does it with enthusiasm and by displaying a proud attitude.
The Australian Shepherd hates solitude and follows its owners everywhere in the house.
Breed Appearance
The Australian Shepherd is very proud looking
Very agile, it can change directions instantaneously. It is well proportioned and is slightly longer than it is high. This breed is also robust, muscular and supple.
Height
Between 51 and 58 cm (20.08 to 22.83 inches) for the male
Between 46 and 53 cm (18.11 to 20.87 inches) for the female
Weight
Between 25 and 34 kg (55.12 to 74.96 pounds) for the male
Between 19 and 26 kg (41.89 to 57.32 pounds) for the female
Color
The Australian Shepherd can be found in 16 colors. Four of them are very popular: black tricolor (black coat with some white and copper), blue merle (silver patches with some white and copper), red tricolor (brown with some white and copper) and red merle (golden spots with white and copper). The other indexed colors are the following: bicolor (4 coats without white), bicolor (4 coats without copper), self black (4 coats without white and copper).
Hair
Its robe is smooth and very weather resistant. Its hair, straight to wavy, is medium length. It is short on its head, ears, the front of its forelimbs and under the hocks.
Morphology
The tail is naturally short or docked short at birth (certain countries no longer authorize the docking of the tail). Its head is well proportioned with respect to the rest of the body. The nose can be of different colors. Its eyes are brown, blue, amber or a combination of these colors.
According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 1, section 1 and is #342
Characteristics of the Australian Shepherd
Does this dog suit your lifestyle?
Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.
Price and monthly budget
Australian Shepherd puppies near me
Australian Shepherd pictures
Tips About this breed
To be happy, it requires lots of physical exercise. This breed should therefore not be considered for adoption by sedentary people. It is the ideal companion for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding and running. It can easily travel many kilometres per week.
Everyday and preferably a few times per day, this dog needs physical and mental activity. People living in an apartment should strongly consider adopting a different breed that will be better suited to their situation. The Australian Shepherd requires large areas of open space.
The Australian Shepherd dislikes solitude. In fact, it simply does not tolerate it. This breed should not be placed in a cage and let alone because it will be very unhappy. You must be present in its life and avoid being away from home frequently.
In addition, please note that the Australian Shepherd is not meant for adoption by rookie owners and you should have extensive experience with dogs. Although it is a very intelligent dog and relatively easy to train, you will need to spend many hours with it.
Health of the Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd may encounter hereditary problems
Hip and elbow dysplasia are potential problems for the Australian Shepherd. Generally, breeders perform tests in order to eliminate potential risks caused by these diseases during reproduction. Creatures affected by these diseases are withdrawn from consideration for breeding.
Eye defects such as pink eye (conjunctivitis), cataracts or watery eyes are very common for this breed. It is also common for this dog to suffer from epilepsy problems.
In the case of the Australian Shepherd, it is preferable not to mate two merle-colored parents. At the homozygous state, the "merle" gene is recessive. It can lead to the birth of puppies with health problems such as deafness and/or blindness.
GROOMING
The Aussie coat is "self-cleaning" so bathing is not necessary on a regular basis. Regular bathing would actually damage its fur. Regular brushing once or twice a week would be enough. During shedding season (spring and fall), daily brushing is recommended. This way you will prevent the formation of knots and eliminate lots of dead hair. When brushing, pay special attention to areas where knots are likely to form (behind the ears, behind the legs and its britches.
Also do not forget to clean its ears regularly in order to prevent the accumulation of wax. In addition, its teeth should be brushed 2-3 times per week to avoid the build-up of tartar. Also, when you start hearing your dog’s nails touching the floor, it is time to trim them.
History of this breed
Notwithstanding its name, this breed originated in Basque country
The Australian Shepherd is said to come from the Basque Country. It is only after the emigration of shepherds to Australia with their dogs that the name changed to this one. Later, shepherds continued to emigrate, but this time to the United States. As the dog arrived from Australia, the Americans gave it the name "Australian Shepherd dog".
Nowadays, Australian Shepherds are frequently used in the United States to herd sheep. Thanks to its docile nature and versatility, this dog is very precious for farmers and ranchers.
American breeders continue to develop this dog. Their total devotion to their family and owners result in them being excellent herding dogs. The reputation of this magnificent breed is already greatly established in America.
This breed was popularized in the United States through horse races, rodeos, television shows and cinema.
