Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd

Although there are many theories about the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed as we know it today developed exclusively in the United States. It probably originated in the Basque region of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, but was dubbed the Australian Shepherd because of its association with Basque shepherds who came to the United States from Australia in the 1800's.As with most working breeds, the Australian Shepherd was initially called by many names, including Spanish Shepherd, Pastor Dog, Bob-Tail, Blue Heeler, New Mexican Shepherd, and California Shepherd.

Basic obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership. It will make your dog a better companion and will help establish a stronger bond between the two of you. Because your Australian Shepherd wants to please you and is eager to learn, training can be a very enjoyable experience. Positive training methods using lots of praise and/or treats will work well for most Aussies. Harsh corrections are seldom necessary for this breed.

Training &Temperament

History

Animated, adaptable and agile, the Australian Shepherd lives for his job, which still involves herding livestock and working as an all-purpose farm and ranch dog. He needs a lot of activity and a sense of purpose to be truly content. Today, due to the breed's intelligence and versatility, "Aussies" also excel in AKC events such as agility, obedience and herding. Their coats can be black, blue merle, red merle and red with or without white markings.

meet theAustralian Shepherd

colors & MarkingsBlue MerleRed MerleRed TriBlack Tri

The Aussie's popularity boomed with Western culture and horse-riding after WWII and was often featured in rodeos, horse shows, movies, and TV.The Australian Shepherd is not registered in Australia as a native breed, although it has been registered by other registries since the 1950's.The Australian Shepherd is AKC's 135th breed.

Informative"Aussie" Video

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