The Australian Shepherd is a thin, hardy ranch dog. They are a staple of the rodeo circuit and intimately related to the cowboy lifestyle. The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized working dog with a keen, penetrating glance in its eyes. It is the herding dog of choice for cowboys.
Australian Shepherd coats come in a variety of styles, including merle (a mottled pattern with contrasting shades of blue or red). They are the epitome of tough and quick stock movers in every manner. Aussies have an uncontrollable urge to herd anything, including dogs, children, and birds. Australian Shepherds may be too much of a dog for a sedentary pet owner because to their strong work ethic. Aussies are extraordinarily bright and highly capable of deceiving a gullible new owner.
Males measure 20 to 23 inches in height, while females measure 18 to 21 inches. The usual weight range for dogs is 50 to 65 pounds. Bitches come in the weight range of 40 to 55 pounds.
Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs with the average life expectancy being 12 to 15 years.
The best herders in Europe are the ancestors of the Australian Shepherd. Near the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe, the Australian’s globe tour got underway. The Basques, a native people who live on the border of France and Spain, developed their long-standing reputation as elite shepherds here. The Pyrenean Shepherd, ancestor of the modern Aussie, was their preferred herding dog. The breed entered the AKC Herding Group in 1993.
With the advent of tail docking bans in Europe, every docked-tail breed of dog in the United States has been dealing with the potential of a full-tailed dog exhibiting in the AKC breed ring. Breed clubs have been issuing ...
