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 Dogs - Australian Shepherd Breed
Breed: Australian Shepherd
Cost: $1000-$2000 in Australia; $500 in US
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Recommended for: open space, active families & agility enthusiasts
Maintenance: medium
Appearance
The Australian Shepherd (known as 'Aussies') is a medium-sized dog,
slightly larger than a Border Collie, which has a wavy coat. Adult males
stand at 50 to 57.5 cm (20-23") and females at 45 to 52.5 cm (18-21"). A
range of colors is available, including blue merle, red merle, solid black
and solid red, and variations with white and a copper trim. (Merle is a
coat color due to a dominant color pattern factor distinguished by the
presence of irregular dark blotches against a lighter background of the
same general basic pigment. Merle is usually applied to long coated
breeds, an exception being the smooth coated collie. The most common type
of merle is blue merle - black patches or streaks on a blue-grey
background).
 The
breed standard allows for blue eyes, or one blue and one brown eye, or
marbled eyes in the red merle and blue merle varieties. Up to 25% of the
nose may be un-pigmented, and tails can be either natural or docked. In
the United States some Australian Shepherds are known to be born with
bobtails.
Temperament
Breeders say Australian Shepherd have excellent temperaments which make
them popular as a family pet, or an obedience or agility dog. They tend to
bond with one person.
In the US, the Australian Shepherd is mainly considered a working dog with
strong herding and guarding skills. More than half of the Australian
Shepherds in the US are used as working dogs. They are also used for
acting, police work, at rodeos and as guide dogs.
Health and lifespan
Australian Shepherds usually live between 12 and 14 years, and enjoy good
health. Responsible breeders screen their animals for hip dysplasia.
 Housepet
potential, space and exercise
Pups can be destructive until they are about eight months old. The
Australian Shepherd is an intelligent breed, and is responsive to
training. They thrive on the mental stimulation that agility circuits
provide, but it is important to start training early.
Australian Shepherds do not have a problem with housetraining, and
breeders claim that they can live comfortably indoors or outdoors.
However, as they are an active breed, a backyard fence will need to be at
least 1.2 m (4') high.
Breeders say it is vital an Australian Shepherd has at least 30 to 60
minutes daily exercise.
Ideal owner
Australian Shepherds are well suited to families with active children, or
young couples or singles who have the time to go for a run with their pet.
 Origin
of The Australian Shepherd
The early formation of today's Australian Shepherd is credited to a people
known as the Basques. They were some of the earliest people to domesticate
animals and during the nineteenth century, they began to immigrate to
Australia and to the United States with their sheep and dogs. Basques
sheep herders also immigrated from Australia to the western United State
as Australian wool became more in demand. Americans imported boatloads of
Australian sheep in the late 1800s and early 1900s, accompanied by their
Basque shepherds and their dogs. It was at that time that the "little blue
dogs" began to be noticed.
 Historians
know that these dogs show up quite frequently in photographs taken during
the 1800's and early 1900's. As Australian Shepherds moved across the
United States, it became suited to its own region. Legend has it
that the Native American Indians held a reverence for these dogs because
of their unusual and often blue eyes. Indians left these "sacred dogs" and
their owners unharmed. Australian Shepherds first really became noticed
publicly with the help of Jay Sisler, who introduced Australian Shepherds
with trick-dog acts performed at rodeos throughout the United States and
Canada during the 1950's and 1960's.
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Second Time Around Aussie Rescue, Inc.
Our goal is to achieve the day that rescue of the Australian Shepherd is no longer needed. Supporting Our Work...
Australian Shepherd Rescue and Placement Helpline
Official rescue organization of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Guidelines of the adoption process, pictures of available dogs, and...
Australian Shepherd, australian shepherds, dog breeders, puppies
Australian Shepherds classified ads for purebred puppies and dogs from professional to hobby Australian Shepherd dog breeders...
Australian Shepherd Rescue Page
Australian Shepherd Rescue Page Listings of purebred Aussies available for adoption...
Australian Shepherd Club of America, inc | ASCA Information
Aussie Times ... Recommended Links ... Login. Location: ASCA Information Join ASCA Search Welcome to the Australian Shepherd Club of America
USASA Australian Shepherd Home Page
AKC parent club for the Australian Shepherd. Breed information, membership, club and show information.
HoustonChronicle.com -
Also living there are another horse, Cacahuete, and two dogs — Cheyenne, an Australian shepherd, and Dot, a Jack Russell terrier.
Dogs - Pictures, Breeders, Puppies, Rescue, Photos
Dogs pictures. Pictures of DOGS has great Dog pictures! New dog pictures added periodically! DOG pictures of interesting dogs. www.gotdogsonline.com...
Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute, Inc.
Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute, Inc.
Australian Shepherd Club of America, inc | Conformation
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