The Australian Shepherd did not originate in Australia. It probably began
amongst the Basque shepherds who brought it from Spain to Australia and
then to the United States in the 1800s. It is believed that amongst the
ancestry of the Australian Shepherd, one might find the Collie, the Border
Collie and other herding-type dogs. Originally this dog was called by many
names including Spanish Shepherds, New Mexican Shepherds, and California
Shepherds. In 1989, the American Kennel Club accepted the name Australian
Shepherd and it was registered for showing in AKC shows in 1993.
The Aussie is good natured and even tempered. He is intelligent with strong
herding and guarding instincts. He is loyal, lithe, and agile. He has become
known not only for his herding abilities but also for tracking, narcotics
detection, search-and-rescue, and hearing dogs for the deaf.
The head of the Aussie should have a skull that is as wide as it is long
and a muzzle of equal length to the back skull. The bite is be scissor or
level. The ears are triangular, set high on the head and folded. The fold
is even with the top of the head and the bottom of the ear should lie down
the side of the head level to the eye. The eyes are almond shaped and the
color may be amber, brown, blue or any variation thereof. The body has a
straight top line. The chest is deep but not broad and the hindquarters
are equal in width to the forequarters. The legs are be straight with oval
feet. The tail is naturally bobbed or docked to a length of less than four
inches. The coat is a double coat with the outer coat being of medium texture
and length except around the head, ears, front of forelegs and below the
hooks, where it will be shorter. The backs of forelegs and britches will
be feathered. The Aussie coat color includes blue and red merle, blacks,
and reds, all with white ruffs and possible white markings on the muzzle
and legs. There must be no white markings on the body between tail and withers,
on the sides, or on the hindquarters. The Aussie's gait is well-balanced,
ground covering, and smooth. He tends toward a single track as his speed
increases.
kapau@earthlink.net of Portland, OR writes:
Best friend you will ever have.
I think my review will be a good addition to this site because I did
not get a puppy. I adopted an older Australian Shepherd from the local humane
society. I'm not sure how old he is; I only know that someone let his coat
get so bad that he was bald in some places and had totally neglected his
teeth as well as his social needs. Why did we pick him? For his big bright
smile and the quiet way he watched us and subtly sought our attention. We
had never had a herding dog before, but we could tell he was very smart.
Regardless of years of neglect, he is the very best dog I have ever known.
We know it can't be the training p; it's his big Aussie heart. He responded
to his name and learned not to pull the leash on the very first walk we
had together. After two weeks of total silence (and good in-house behavior,
with no chewing or restlessness), he began to "talk" to us whenever
we would come into the house after an absence. He croons, he barks, he "woo-woo-woos."
What great company! Perhaps because he is older, he only needs twice-a-day
walks. When we get to the park, we throw a ball for him to retrieve. It
seems to be enough to keep him happy and alert. We brush him, feed him well,
and bathe him about once a month. All his hair has grown back in and he
is so handsome that he gets compliments wherever he goes. When you think
about getting a dog, investigate older ones like ours. And if you really
want a dog who is a central part of your life, the Australian Shepherd would
be a very good choice. Sweet, smart, adaptable, loving, alert, trainable
p; these dogs have it all if you can spend time with them every day.
autumnsie@cheetaa.com of Indiana writes:
Give it a job or it will create one.
We rescued our Aussie from breeder neglect p; two merles, opposites.
She is 85% white and was supposed to be destroyed. We spayed her, added
her to our barn and she immediately took command of all the others p;
horses, goats, cats. At eight weeks she helped care for four rescued puppies!
She stole our hearts and keeps our hands and minds busy. They are definitely
not for everyone. She is the boss dog, even over two males. We did not train
her early enough, thoroughly enough and are working hard to correct p;
thank goodness she is smart and loyal. Be firm with this breed! They will
still love you to pieces.
Robneal2@aol.com of Seattle, WA writes:
Great dogs, but can be aggressive.
We have a two-year-old Aussie who is bright, beautiful and friendly
to everyone. However. she is aggressive toward other dogs and her behavior
around them can be unpredictable. At times she seems playful but usually
becomes aggressive toward the other dog. Dogs smaller than her are often
tolerated, larger dogs (even when friendly) usually get nipped at. We have
tried obedience classes. However we got our Aussie from a rescue and her
history of being left on her own in a pound may be the cause of this fear
aggression. This is a part of her we just have to accept and be wary of.
Others have told me this breed tends toward this so, please consider it
if you are looking for a pet. But Aussies are smart and ours is a lot of
fun. Good with cats! Just those other dogs. And yes, they do "herd"
children.and adults.
gregly311@aol.com of Topeka, KS writes:
Best choice for our family.
We chose our black tri-colored Aussie, or she chose us, we're not sure
which. She has been a blessing to our family, which includes a six-year-old
boy and a four-year-old girl. We worried over the herding tendencies of
this breed and have had a few mishaps. But once our children learned (we
ALL went to obedience/training classes) how to work with her and play with
her, it has been great. We have four acres for her to run over, including
woods and an area that has been set up just for her to run, jump, dig or
whatever. We have found that we need to play with her immediately after
getting home, which has never been a problem especially as the kids love
to play with her outside. They definitely have an abundance of energy! She
is so smart, she has learned the electronic fencing quickly and doesn't
go out of the boundries. She likes to lay on her big blue pillow with a
chew bone and just be with her family. She is very protective of her "kids"
which is a comfort to us. She especially likes to wait until the school
bus drops off Matthew (we live approx. 370-feet from the road) as soon as
he gets off, she is off and running down the driveway to greet her boy.
He has become more social just being around her. She has been a great addition
to our family and hopefully will be with us for a long time to come. Aussies
are a wonderful breed of dog and we'll always have one.
kwha1e90@epals.com of Edmonton, Saskatchewan writes:
The best dog.
Australian Shepherds are the best dogs because they are good-looking
and very energetic. They are also good at agility and Frisbee which are
very fun games to play.
eckwok@netvigator.com of Hong Kong writes:
An Australian Shepherd is a human's best friend.
Australian Shepherds are loyal dogs. They are protective of their owner.
They are also smart and learn things fast. They have good hearing which
makes them a great watchdog.
Aigel3@aol.com of Pennsylvania writes on 2/21/01:
Needs an informed owner.
I have owned a beautiful Aussie for almost 6 years. I had researched the
breed before applying for a dog, and I knew Aussies exhibited certain qualities
that made them suitable only for experienced dog owners. I found this to
hold true in every respect. Ours is a high energy animal, extremely alert,
active, agile, and protective dog. He needed lots of space to run in and
lots of activities to keep him busy. When he is not busy he is nervous,
anxious and bored, although he does stay alone in the house while I'm at
work, without doing any damage. But, as soon as I'm back home, I have to
take him out to run or catch frisbees or balls or to practice obedience
and agility moves. Otherwise he can drive you crazy by pacing back and forth
in the house or by constantly picking up things to get your attention,or
by becoming neurotic.
He bonded with me so totally that he has become almost over-protective.
When we became unable to control this over-protectiveness with obedience
commands, it got out of hand, and we had to call in an animal behaviorist
to give us certain protocols to change his behavior in some ways. We now
think that he was not properly socialized in his previous home. It's important
to socialize your dog as soon as you get him. Don't wait! And don't wait
to start obedience training; these dogs are so intelligent that they can
easily decide to rule the roost by getting the "upper paw", and
then you have much more difficulty modifying that learned behavior. Begin
by letting him know that you are boss. Make him work for everything he gets.
Don't give him treats because he is "cute"; give him treats for
doing sit-stays or recalls, etc. Don't reward him unless he does something
correctly.
Have a fenced yard or kennel for your Aussie, with enough room for him to
run and play and exercise. Some Aussies can jump as high as 6 ft. and some
are climbers and diggers, so watch him to see what kind of enclosure you
are going to need. Your Aussie is going to need lots of grooming, nothing
fancy, just a lot of brushing to get rid of fur that is constantly shed
(Aussie's have double-coats), otherwise you'll have a house full of fur
- you're going to have a lot of it anyway when the dog "blows"
its coat which is usually once a year.
I wouldn't recommend having an Aussie around small children. My Aussie herded
my grandchildren when they were smaller, and they often fell because of
this. Also, ours rushed at them when they ran. Aussies also are velcro dogs
- they stick to your side like glue. If you don't like a furry friend accompanying
you everywhere you go (including the bathroom), you won't like most Aussies.
But, no dog is as smart or as agile as an Aussie! Ours excelled at obedience
and at agility, although his lack of socialization made him a persona non
gratis with the other dogs (he jumped on them and pestered them whenever
he got a chance). But he was amazing at agility. He is very athletic and
fast as lightning! The trainers loved him.
So, if you've got lots of energy, lots of patience, and are willing to work
hard with your Aussie every day, you might make a suitable Aussie owner.
Just DON'T buy your Aussie from a pet shop! PLEASE!! Contact the breed club
(Australian Shepherd Club of America) or Aussie Rescue (ARPH), and/or pick
your Aussie from a reputable breeder who will be willing to take the dog
back if it is not right for you. Become familiar with the Aussie through
books about him and by talking to other Aussie owners and breeders. There
are some very important reasons for being very careful about your puppy's
health and his genetic background. Research the breed before you buy and
make sure the breeder will certify the hips and eyes of the puppy's parents.
AQUARIANSTARR@WEBTVT of Pomona, CA writes on 2/7/01:
Aussies will steal your heart!
I've had my little girl for four and half years now, and have never been
in anyway ever disappointed in choosing this breed. In fact, to be truthful,
she picked me to be her owner, and that was when she was only a month and
three days old. She's the best companion I've ever had and there are no
complaints here! She's my companion, my protector, my little clown, my comforter
when I'm blue, she's my shoulder to cry on, and just about the best friend
I could ever have. You could say this little darling has truly in all stolen
my heart, and she has! I'm an Aussie fan through and through, everyday is
a brighter day for me, knowing that my Aussie is always beside me.
jonfimz@yahoo.com of Slovenia writes on 10/31/00:
Bright and intelligent, yet not for anyone.
I've got involved into Aussies only this year after getting my first one
that has now 8 months. As I'm also an enthusiastic Golden retriever owner/breeder
that works with all dogs (S&R, agility, field trials), I figured it
out that an Aussie shoudln't be much different. Oh boy was I wrong. This
girl is learning x-times faster then GRs, by now she obeys like GRs hardly
do at age of 4 years! Not having any big problems, she is a true wonderful
companion, watched over litter of 5 GR puppies, taught them basic behaviour
around dogs etc. Becoming better and better also in agility though we're
training it only 1-2 times per week now. The thing I noticed with her is
that she needs to be occupied (at least mentally) almost all the time we're
at home. She gets bored really quickly and starts to collect attention.
Good that we have 3 GRs, cannot imagine how this would look like if she
was alone. Otherwise all our dogs are family members living in the house.
brigitte.waelchli@bluewin.ch of Switzerland writes on 10/12/00:
The most wonderful dog we ever had.
Bevore we had our Aussie, we owned 2 Spaniels. At the moment we bought our
horse, we were looking for a dog that we could take along for riding. Friends
showed us their Aussie, and for us it was clear, that this is the right
dog. Choice has now 2 jears, comes along for riding, loves all other animals
(chicken and cats...), plays all day long with our 5 children, and comes
everywhere with us. A perfect family dog.
ktrenkie@Yahoo.com of Alma, MI writes on 10/9/00:
Brave, brains, and beauty.
Australian Shepherds are one of the world's greatest companions. Very kind
and loving. Mine sure love agility and to please in the show ring! Agility
was probably created just for Aussies! They come in many colors, like blue
merle,red merle, tri-colored, red, liver, or black. All equally great looking
in any color. Best friend to any human, from a small child to a 80 year
old man. They will do anything for you and if they could risk their life
just to save yours, they are so loyal!
dmjesper@facstaff.wisc.edu of Wisconsin writes on 9/1/00:
The A in Aussie is for Active and Attentive.
The Aussie is a wonderful breed for those who appreciate a certain kind
of very active, trainable dog. Many books on Aussies do not give their negative
points as well as the positives. Aussies were bred to be working dogs, controlling
large animals by the force of personality. If you are not willing to channel
that drive, you can end up being controlled by your dog. Also, many Aussies
are fearful, so socialize your dog early and often even if it seems friendly
as a puppy. They go through fear stages
during adolescence, so be prepared to deal with that. Buying a shy puppy
is asking for heartache. This can be genetic or due to lack of exposure
to new people- either way it takes patience, expertise and more patience
to turn a very shy dog into a decent pet. Sometimes it is impossible.
Some books say that Aussies will herd children. If you have not experienced
this, you may not know that untrained herding dogs bite! You must train
and supervise an Aussie with children. They should never be left alone together,
and the dog should be trained not to chase the kids. Also, Aussies want
to be with people. They don't deserve to sit out in a run or on a chain
by themselves. They love and need training, time, and attention. Neglecting
this can lead to problem barking, digging, chewing
and aggression. Not a pretty sight.
name withheld by request of Arnpiror, Ontario writes on 1/7/00:
Active dog needs activity to keep them out of trouble.
Lots of these dogs land in rescue because they are so cute but those owners
do not take into consideration the amount of time it takes to train and
keep them occupied. They are not dogs that can be left alone all day and
bring out for a walk after supper. They like to herd so running children
being nipped as often a problem. Activities like agility are great for channeling
their energy and gives them a "job" to do. You should buy from
a breeder that checks hips and eyes and has certificates to prove this.
Check out the temperament of the parents of this puppy too, as some are
higher energy than some, but they all need exercise. I would say a minimum
of 15 minutes 4 times a day.
sharonnass@hotmail.com of North Carolina writes on 11/18/99:
Good dog for the right owner.
Australian Shepherds are wonderful dogs and make fantastic pets and protection
dogs. However, with owning an Australian Shepheerd comes alot of responsibility.
Aussies need lots of attention and companionship in the way of training
in the early puppyhood stage. They need to be told who is boss from the
very beginning. This is not a breed for a couch potato or a tremendously
busy professional. This dog needs to have a job to do. Sitting in a house
or pen all day long is not the ideal situation for this breed. The owner
of the Australian needs to be two steps ahead of this dog in the intelligence
department. Aussies are amazingly smart dogs. You can often see them working
problems out in their heads. This can lead to many headaches for the rookie
owner. With the right training and plenty og socialization at a young age
Autralian Shepherds are the perfect family pet and guardian.
DMurphy859@aol.com of Chicago area, IL writes on 10/4/99:
Superb Family Dog
The Australian Shepherd makes a wonderful family pet, due in great part
to its easy trainability. Aussies are as much at home in the cottage as
they are guarding a flock on a hillside; in fact, they will adopt the family
as their pack, the children as their flock. They require minimal care and
suffice beautifully with bathing, brushing, and nail care. A double-coated
breed, they shed little and the semi-annual blowing of the coat is easily
managed by routine brushing. They are generally healthy, although one would
be wise to check with the breeder for a history of hip dysplasia or "collie-eye,"
two maladies which occasionally occur in the breed. A larger-sized dog,
an Aussie is ominous to an intruder, yet not so large as to overpower a
youngster visiting your home. Although they definitely have the ability
to jump fences or dig beneath them, they rarely do this because of the desire
to protect their masters and their territories. They do not run as do the
hounds or the ratters, being more inclined to remain at home and protect.
Aussies quickly become "family members" and learn house manners
in record time. I have personally had Australian Shepherds both from wonderful
breeders who provided us with well-chosen "children," as well
as a rescue waif who has proven to be a loving companion after a period
of transition and training. Unfortunately, in my experience as a 4-H trainer,
I found that Aussies who had been indiscriminately bred (in some cases in-bred)
by an unreputable breeder, had caused much sadness to those who unwittingly
trusted the breeder. Children were unable to train these crazed dogs and,
although quite beautiful, many of them had to be destroyed due to extremely
poor temperament. Note that this is a VERY UNUSUAL situation for Australian
Shepherds, but one would be wise to investigate the breeder and think it
over before making a (perhaps) 15-year commitment to an animal. It would
not be fair to either of you to change your mind after one or both of you
had formed an attachment. A reputable breeder will become your friend, as
the breeder is giving the "child" up to its "adoptive family."
A good breeder will provide you with more than a dog, he/she will provide
you with information and resources for the life of your dog.