Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is a natural herding dog that excels at whatever task it’s asked to perform. The history of the breed dates back to the early 19th century, when Basque people from northern Spain emigrated to the wide-open lands of Australia with their faithful companions, the Pyrenean Shepherds. These dogs were then crossed with several British imports (such as the Border Collie) to create an entirely new breed. After Basque people arrived in California, American ranchers took a liking to the breed and called it the Australian Shepherd.

The breed is truly an international success story, but it has a special place in American hearts since it became famous in the West. According to the American Kennel Club, it is still one of the more popular breeds in the United States. Mini and toy versions, along with the Aussie mix, have also become very popular. Other breeds with which it’s mixed include the golden retriever, poodle, corgi, and husky.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning an Australian Shepherd

History and Origins

The Australian Shepherd is a descendant of Europe’s most successful herders, hailing from the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain. The Basque people, who lived in the area centuries ago, were renowned for their herding skills and used the Pyrenean Shepherd as their go-to canine for the job.

In the early 1800s, people from England moved into the Australian interior, looking for land to raise cattle. A number of Basque shepherds also made their way to Australia, bringing their dogs with them. To improve their dogs, the Basque shepherds selectively bred them with British Collies and Border Collies. After building up their flocks, the Basque shepherds left Australia for California.

In the late 1800s, California ranchers became enamored with the herding dogs the Basques brought over, which they mistakenly thought were Australian-bred. Since then, Aussies have become a staple of the American Wild West and are now used in numerous roles, from therapy dogs to rodeo performers. The Australian Shepherd was officially recognized as an AKC breed in 1991.

Size and Weight

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog with a strong build. By comparison, the mini version is around 20 to 35 pounds smaller than the standard Aussie breed, while a toy Aussie weighs about 12 to 17 pounds. Here is a breakdown of the standard sizes:

Common Health Issues

The Australian Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are a few big health issues to look out for. It is prone to several types of eye diseases, the most common of which is cataracts. This is a disease that causes a cloudy appearance in the eye. Other common health issues include hip or elbow dysplasia (a genetic abnormality that causes development problems in the joint), distichiasis (in which additional eyelashes grow around the lid and irritate the eye), deafness, hypothyroidism, allergies, drug sensitivities, and cancer.

The Aussie is among several breeds that are prone to epilepsy. Unfortunately, these health issues can reduce the lifespan of your pet. Because some of these health conditions arise from genetic abnormalities (particularly in merle-to-merle breeding), it is a good idea to buy the dog from a breeder who screens for these kinds of problems early. To sum things up briefly, these are the most common health problems for this breed:

• Eye Diseases
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Deafness
• Hip Dysplasia

Temperament

The Australian Shepherd exhibits many excellent traits that should appeal to a highly engaged owner. An ideal member of this breed has a very outgoing and friendly personality that’s keen to express itself. It should also be attentive to its owner’s commands and desires. As long as its energetic and loyal behavior is put to good use, this breed is a model dog with a good sense of self-control and diligence. Its patient demeanor also makes it a great therapy dog, drug detector, and search and rescue dog. Toy and Mini Aussies both exhibit similar behaviors to the standard breed.

How to Take Care of Australian Shepherds

The Australian Shepherd is a moderate to high-maintenance breed that requires quite a lot of grooming, exercise, and attention. You should only buy this breed if you have the time, inclination, and ability to fully take care of it. You will get the best results if you train and socialize this breed early, as a puppy.

The Best Dog Food

A fully grown adult Aussie thrives on around 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dog food split into two separate meals every single day. It is a good idea to find specialized food for the dog’s appropriate age (puppies, adults, or seniors). Because it tends to gain weight, you should carefully monitor the dog’s calorie consumption and give treats only sporadically to support its training. Considering their propensity for allergies and sensitivities, Australian Shepherds may do better eating a limited-ingredient or allergy care dog food.

Maintenance and Grooming

The Australian Shepherd has a thick double-layered coat that does require some attention. For most of the year, this breed only requires weekly brushing. But in the shedding season, the fur needs to be raked once every two or three days, followed by a quick cleanup with a wire brush. Because of its frequent outdoor adventures, the dog may require frequent baths to prevent dirt from accumulating. You should also try to keep their nails trimmed regularly.

Training

The Australian Shepherd is a highly trainable and obedient dog that easily takes to various skills, commands, sports competitions, jobs, and almost any other task you can imagine. Perhaps no other breed is quite as eager to please. One of the things you should look out for is the dog’s herding instincts. If you don’t want it herding, then you should spot the signs (such as chasing and heel sniffing) before they become more serious.

You can eliminate undesirable behavior by gently telling your dog no or walking away. You can also redirect its behavior toward more acceptable activities. Do not punish your dog by yelling at it or lashing out, even if it’s stubborn. This may discourage it or make it more distrustful of you. You can reinforce the dog’s behavior with treats or clickers. Professional training is also recommended for more serious owners.

Exercise

The Australian Shepherd is a high-energy breed that requires at least an hour or two of exercise every single day. If you already have a large yard, then you should be set, but any wide open space should suffice, and the dog should be overjoyed to come with you on walks, hikes, or biking trips. It also loves to perform tricks, agility competitions, and herding tests. The dog’s long double coat should insulate it from heat and cold, but it can become rather uncomfortable in extreme temperatures. On an exceptionally warm day, you should make sure the dog is comfortable and has enough to drink.

Puppies

There are a few things to keep in mind with your new dog. Puppies should be exposed to as many different situations and people as possible. If it’s not properly socialized from an early age, the Australian Shepherd may become wary of strangers. You should also give it an exam at the vet as soon as possible to screen for any early health problems.

With Children

The Australian Shepherd is a loyal companion and excellent playmate, but the first introductions with your children should be carefully thought out and managed. Because of its herding instinct, the Australian Shepherd may at first tend to chase or nip new people it encounters. Once the dog grows accustomed to your children, though, they will get along very well with each other. In fact, this breed may become quite protective of your children. But you should teach your children never to tug at the dog’s fur or disturb it while it’s trying to eat. The Australian Shepherd can tolerate rough play, but it doesn’t want to be annoyed or harassed. It is also never a good idea to leave the dog alone with young children in case interactions go poorly.

Dogs Similar to the Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is just one of many different types of herding dogs. Here are some of the closest breeds in terms of appearance, behavior, and temperament. Some of these breeds also have their own Aussie mix.

• German Shepherd – This very large working dog, which originated from Germany, is one of the most popular breeds in the world. Like the Australian Shepherd, it is diligent, smart, loyal, and hard-working, but also requires some work to fully meet its needs.
• Border Collie – Hailing from Northern England and Scotland, the Border Collie is another herding dog with a loyal personality, diligent work ethic, and energetic behavior. Its unique mixture of colors also resembles the appearance of the Australian Shepherd.
• English Shepherd – Descended from various collie breeds, the English Shepherd is a medium-sized dog with some combination of black, white, tan, or sable colors. It shares ancestry with both the Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd. This is reflected in the excellent work ethic, high intelligence, and fierce loyalty.

Famous Australian Shepherds

The Australian Shepherd is one of the most famous breeds in the world. It makes frequent appearances in both fiction and popular culture.

• A blue merle Australian Shepherd named Bunk was the sidekick of the cowboy actor Jack Hoxie and appeared in several films throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
• Jay Sisler, an Idaho rancher and rodeo competitor, toured the country with his popular trick-performing Australian Shepherds in the middle of the 20th century. Some of them even appeared in the Disney films Run, Appaloosa, Run, and Stub: The Best Cow Dog in the West.
• Stephen Spielberg, the famous director of E.T. and Schindler’s List, once owned an Australian Shepherd called Harlow.
• Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak owned an Australian Shepherd (along with llamas, donkeys, and Siberian Huskies) in the 1980s. Steve Jobs supposedly owned the breed, too.