The Australian Shepherd, Aussie is a medium-sized ranch-bred dog breed in the western states of the United States. Despite the name, they are not related to Australia, their homeland is America. Popularity for Australian Shepherds came after the First World War, through participation in rodeos, horse shows, and Disney cartoons.
Abstracts
- For the Australian Shepherd, you need 30-60 minutes of exercise daily, preferably with high activity and stress. In addition, they need a job (ideally a shepherd), or obedience training.
- They can become destructive or bark endlessly if they do not receive physical and mental stress for a long time.
- Aussie will warn with a voice if he sees or hears something suspicious and will defend home and family with amazing fearlessness.
- Although it is believed that these dogs should live in the country and in the open, they do well in the city, with good loads. But, for keeping in an apartment, they are poorly suited, at least a small yard is needed where she can live.
- This herding dog rules herds, and an inexperienced owner can take a dominant position in the house. If you have never owned a dog before, then the Aussie is not the best choice.
- They shed moderately and grooming includes weekly brushing and occasional trimming to keep the dog looking well-groomed.
- They love the company of people and stay close to them.
- Australian Shepherds are naturally suspicious of strangers, if they have not been introduced to different people since puppyhood, they can be distrustful of strangers. This manifests itself in aggression and biting. Introduce your puppy to friends, family, neighbors, even strangers to help develop social skills.
- If you decide to buy an Aussie puppy, then choose only proven kennels. Buying an Australian Shepherd from unknown sellers risks your money, time, and nerves.
History of the breed
The history of the emergence of the Australian Shepherd is as confusing as the appearance of its name. Some believe that they could have entered the United States, along with Basque immigrants from Spain, and in their homeland, they were herding dogs.
However, scientific research suggests that they come from dogs that came to America through the Bering Isthmus. It is also quite clear that they formed in the western states of the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. They are definitely working blood, the first breeders chose dogs by ability, not by conformation.
Aussies have become indispensable helpers when grazing livestock in the Rocky Mountains, as they are insensitive to elevation changes. Farmers in Boulder, Colorado were the first to breed these dogs, as the fame of their ability to manage sheep spread far beyond the state borders.
Many of the breeds that exist today did not exist in the Victorian era, their ancestors came to America with their owners. Many of them disappeared, some mixed with other breeds and gave new ones.
Apparently, the same thing happened with the ancestors of the Australian Shepherd, because shepherd dogs were never something immutable, they were bred and adapted to new conditions. In the eastern states of the United States, conditions resembled those of Europe, so the dogs brought from there were well adapted.
But in the West, they were significantly different. In these states, Spanish sheep were actively raised, valued for wool and meat. But, the Spanish dog breeds turned out to be unsuitable for this harsh land, despite the fact that at home they coped well with herds.
These arid lands are characterized by large changes in temperature and altitude, and ranchers preferred more aggressive dogs, capable of not only leading the herd but also protecting it.
With the onset of the California gold rush in 1849, massive migration began. The Gold Rush and the Civil War created a great demand for wool and lamb. Along with the people came new breeds of dogs, including those from Australia.
There is no certainty about the name of the breed, it is likely that the Australian Aussies were called so by the place of origin of the sheep they grazed.
Why exactly it was fixed, we will never know, because in the beginning they were not named as soon as possible. And the Spanish Shepherd and Californian, and Mexican and even Austrian.
Description
Australian Shepherds are similar to other herding breeds, but they have a distinctive coat and tail. They are one of the medium-sized dogs, males reach 46–58 cm at the withers, females 46–53 cm.
Weight ranges from 14 to 25 kg. They are slightly longer than tall, but balanced. Aussies should not appear squat or fat, just strong. And although most of the body is hidden under thick fur, these are athletic and muscular dogs.
One of the distinctive features of the breed is the tail, in order for the dog to take part in the show, its tail must be shortened, the so-called bobtail.
Many Aussies are born with short tails and those that do not go through docking. If not docked, it remains fairly long and covered with long hair.
The head is in proportion to the body, with a smooth stop. The muzzle is elongated, of medium length. The color of the nose is usually dark but may differ depending on the color of the dog. The ears are triangular in shape, with slightly rounded tips, of medium size.
According to breed standards, the ears should hang down when the dog is relaxed and point forward when alert. The eyes can be brown, blue, or amber, and many Aussies have different eyes when the eyes are different colors. The general impression of the muzzle is intelligence and quick wits.
The coat is double, with a soft undercoat and a long, all-weather guard coat. It is of medium length, straight, or slightly wavy. On the head, muzzle, ears, and forepaws, the hair is much shorter. The neck may have a mane, especially in males.
Australian Shepherds come in four colors: blue merle, black, red merle, red - all colors with or without white markings. As the dog grows older, the color darkens.
Of course, they are born in other colors, and such dogs are not suitable for the show ... But, these are great pets, the price for them is much lower.
Character
Australian Shepherds are people-oriented, they need a family and do not tolerate loneliness. If you leave it alone for a long time, it will result in destructive behavior, gnawed objects, barking.
Some of them, especially working blood, are attached to one person, they follow him everywhere, not letting them fall out of sight. They are even affectionately called Velcro. But, by no means do all Aussies behave like this, in general, they are in equal relations with all family members.
All Australian Shepherds are watchful with strangers and can be good watchmen. They are very selective in forming relationships with strangers, do not seek contact or friendship with them.
In most cases, a shepherd dog will ignore an unknown person, and it seems that they are rude, but this is not so, it's just a property of their character. Trusting shepherd dogs do not exist, they were not created for this.
When socialized properly, most of their Australian Shepherds will be polite, but that doesn't mean they're comfortable with strangers.
But, without socialization, they will be shy and timid, or aggressive towards strangers. If a new person appears in the family, then history repeats itself, but in the end, most of them thaw out and accept him.
As an Australian Shepherd owner, appreciate her incredible dedication and do not make strangers greet or be upset if she ignores them. Respect your dog's character and tendencies.
Remember that strangers annoy them, and if they are intrusive, they can get hurt. But these are working dogs, and in order to make a bull or a sheep move, they pinch it by the paws. In the same way, they can drive away someone they don't like.
Aussies keep a good watch, always warning the owner about the approach of guests. At the same time, they are also a little territorial and are well suited for protecting the yard.
The tendency to guard functions depends on the line, but most of the working dogs perform them well enough, they can both raise barking and bite.
They get along well with children, sexually mature dogs are quite gentle with them, even during games. Basically, they are tolerant of small rudeness, such as that small children can tolerate.
But, remember about the instinct forcing them to pinch the sheep. This behavior can be removed with training, but don't leave children unattended even with the kindest dogs. Especially small ones, as the Australian Shepherd can accidentally knock them down while playing.
In general, this breed is moderate in everything. They do not have aggression towards other dogs, and with proper education, and other animals. Some Australian Shepherds may be territorial, dominant, but this is all adjusted through training.
By the way, territorial or proprietary behavior also applies to objects: they can guard toys, food, be jealous of other animals if the owner pays attention to them.
Note that the Aussie, despite being considered a herding dog, is brave and brave and in most cases will not avoid fighting. They are ready to get a hoof from a cow, but to continue their work and in their eyes another dog is not something to be afraid of.
And natural athleticism, strength, and speed allow you to inflict serious wounds within a few seconds, especially to the ears and paws. Whereas their double coat serves as a defense against retaliatory attacks.
Despite the developed instinct directed at other animals, the Australian Shepherd gets along well with them. This hunting instinct is not aimed at killing or injuring another animal, but at what to control it.
Aussies adapt so well to the work that they are often chosen to control non-herd animals such as rabbits or ducks. The flip side of the coin is the desire to control everything that moves, and they do it with tweaks. The owner needs to eliminate the undesirable behavior, fortunately - this is quite possible to do.
These dogs are very intelligent and learn extremely quickly. Australian Shepherds grasp on the fly everything they are taught, and there are no things that they cannot understand. They constantly participate in agility and win prizes.
However, they can be stubborn, and while they mostly want to please the owner, some can be stubborn. The main reason for this behavior is boredom because when the dog quickly understands the essence, the monotonous repetition bothers him. And not being dominant, they can be mischievous if the owner allows them.
Aussies are a lot like chess players, they think three moves ahead. Remember that on duty they don't just rush back and forth, they plan, direct, share other animals.
For them, it is as natural as breathing, and obstacles that will baffle other dogs, for the Australian Shepherd is just an interesting puzzle. The owners are surprised when their dogs disappear from the locked rooms.
And just something: open the handle, if it does not open, jump out the window (they jump perfectly), or climb over the fence, or dig it, or gnaw a hole. For example, one bored Aussie learned to open a door with her paws on the handle, and when the handles were replaced with round ones, she used her teeth to twist them. They are also gourmets and use their minds to get to the food.
Australian Shepherds are very energetic and need a lot of activity every day.
Most experts recommend a minimum of two hours of work, three would be ideal. They are designed to accompany the owner on the road and can exhaust the most athletic family. It is imperative that you give your Australian Shepherd the work it needs. If she does not expend energy, then behavior problems will begin.
Most of these problems are the result of unspent energy and boredom, and developmental and emotional problems. Bored Aussies will incessantly bark, rush around the house, or destroy furniture. Because of their intelligence, they are more than just a dog. They need not only physical but intellectual stress.
Note that these dogs remain efficient in the most extreme situations and work literally until they fall. For an inexperienced owner, this can turn into problems, since they will follow his commands despite wounds, sunstroke, and pain.
They will play when their paw is injured or dislocated, and it is important to monitor their behavior. If your Aussie has shown that she is not well, there are always very good reasons for that.
Care
The coat needs regular grooming, but not as often as for other similar breeds. They need careful brushing to remove potential tangles. However, it is enough to do this once a week, and they practically do not need professional grooming.
Australian Shepherds molt, but how profusely depends on the dog. Even those that do not shed much, fall asleep with wool during seasonal molts.
Health
There are several diseases that Australian Shepherds are prone to. Poor vision, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and merle color problems.
Life span
Surprisingly long for dogs of their size, they live significantly longer than similar breeds. A 1998 survey found that the average life span of Australian Shepherds was 12.5 years.
In 2004, the study showed only 9 years old, but the sample was significantly smaller (22 dogs). The leading causes of death were cancer (32%), a combination of factors (18%), and age (14%).
A study of 48 dogs showed that most often Aussies suffer from eye diseases - cataracts, red eyes, lacrimation, conjunctivitis. Then there are dermatological and respiratory diseases, dysplasia.
One of the biggest breeding problems is the problem with the merle gene. This gene is also responsible for many other functions, including vision and hearing.
Merle Sheepdogs are prone to serious eye and hearing problems, ranging from weakening to complete blindness and deafness. Although not always, it has been noticed that the more white in the color, the greater the tendency to problems.
The gene transmitting the color is homozygous, which means that both parents must be merle. Heterozygous dogs, when one parent is merle and the other is not, are much less likely to suffer from these diseases.