Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog with a coat of medium length. Aussies come with a range of tail lengths due to a natural bobbing gene. Some dogs will have little or no tail while others will have a full-length, feathered tail. The gait is smooth and free. ‘Grinning’ is a characteristic of some Australian Shepherds and should not be mistaken for snarling.

The Australian Shepherd was actually developed in America but there is much debate over their origins. It is generally believed the dogs came to Australia from Spain, before traveling on to the United States in the late 1800s with flocks of Merino sheep and the Basque Shepherds who tended them. Another theory is they were Australian Sheepdogs derived from the Smithfield and some type of collie, possibly the German Coolie or its ancestor. The name was coined in the United States because of the believed link between Australia and the herding of the Australian Merino Sheep. Nowadays they are very popular as a family pet, an obedience and agility dog, a worker, and more recently as a show dog.

Initiative, affectionate, loyal, and enthusiastic. Aussies are known for their ability in obedience, agility, tracking, frisbee catching, and endurance. Aussies are extremely motivated to please their owner and thus are easily trained. They will match their lifestyle to that of their owner and for this reason, there are Aussies living in a diverse range of housing situations from farms to backyards to units and apartments. Aussies love their people and do require quality time.

Moderate, weekly brushing will keep the double coat clean and shiny. Seasonal shedding will occur but is limited if the coat is brushed regularly. It is important to watch the weight of an Aussie as they are good ‘doers’ and can become overweight quickly.