Australian Shepherds?

Question

Does anyone know anything about this breed? thx!

Answer 1

There is a lot of reading that you can do on this breed anywhere on the internet that will give you normal statistics, etc. I'll just give you my first-hand experience with my aussie, as well as some knowlege that I've picked up along the way.

Aussies are very loving and loyal dogs. That are NOT friendly with strangers, but they also aren't nasty with them either. They are fairly reserved until they know that everything is okay. They DO bark, but for the most part it is only when they think the home is in danger, whether it actually is or not. (My aussie will 'guard me' by barking when the UPS man shows up. He is a very very large man. Nice guy, though.) A lot of aussies get along with other animals, but there are quite a few who can't be around cats. Whether they want to chase to kill, or they're just playing, I can't say. My aussie is very good with my 3 cats .. she does chase them, but she just licks them when she catches them. She doesn't mean them any harm. It all depends on the dog. They are also good with children, but they do herd, so you wanna watch them.

They are EXTREMELY intelligent, and will out-smart you if you let them. They learn tricks with ease, and in no time flat. Within a week of getting her, my dog knew sit, down, off, paw (with the left hand), paw (with the right hand), high five, "tell me" (same as speak), and "kennel, baby." When we trained her to leash walk, we were teaching her to sit at corners. If she didn't sit, we would say "Where are we?" and she would sit. *shrug*

Aussies *must* have exercise. It is a good idea if you have a fence, because they can run full-force in circles all day long. They are good lap dogs when they are tired, but when they aren't? Holy cow. We usually have to walk 3-5 miles a night before she will start to get tired. We also have to play tug with her for a loooooong time before she gets tired. They are very, very active dogs. Agility classes and manners classes are good for them ... they get exercise and they get to use their mind. They WILL demolish the house if they get bored, and I can promise you that. We have lost so many pairs of shoes because she got bored while we were at work. We finally started kenneling her while we are gone for long periods of time (work,etc.) She can stay out if we are going to the store, but otherwise it's the kennel.

Aussies can be many different colors. The most common are red merle, blue merle, or tri colored. Some are also almost pure white with freckles. These aussies are homogeneous, meaning they were merle-on-merle breeding, and are deaf more times than not. It is NOT true that all purebred aussies have one blue eye and one brown eye. Some have brown, some have blue, some have one of each. It is hard to find two aussies that look alike. I've been trying to find a 'twin' to my Trinity for almost 6 months with no luck!

All-in-all they are very good pets for someone that has the time. You WILL be rewarded with all the love in the world, I can assure you. They just aren't for everyone, so you really want to read up on them and see if an Aussie would be a good match for you. Sorry this is so long! :)

Answer 2

Generally, these are great dogs and very easy to train. They do need a good daily run, but they don't have the psychotic intensity of the Border Collie. If you have a lot of kids running around, you might have a problem with the dog nipping them. Might be too much into barking if you live in an apartment. I've got a friend who has three of them and I'm considering one for my next dog.

Make sure you go to a good private breeder and see at least one of the parents. The pups temperament is going to be very similar.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/index.cfm

You can also find out about the breed clubs on the AKC site - the best breeders will belong to their club.

Answer 3

Country of Origin: United States.

Size: Shoulder height: 50-57 cm (19.5 - 22.5 inches).

Coat: Hair ranges from medium to long with a dense undercoat.

Character: This dog is intelligent and eager to learn. It is loyal and bonds closely with the family.

Temperament: This dog is generally good with children and other pets. They can be shy around strangers.

Care: Relatively little grooming is required, however a good combing is needed when shedding.

Training: Training is easy because this breed learns quickly and easily.

Activity: Not only does this dog need a lot of exercise, it needs to keep occupied. This dog is an excellent companion for people that are very active, particularly in outdoor activities.

Answer 4

The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, medium-sized dog of strong herding and guardian instincts

Aussies have been used as seeing-eye dogs, as utility dogs to the physically handicapped, hearing aid dogs, police and narcotics dogs and search and rescue dogs.

The Aussie (as he is lovingly nicknamed) is a very active dog that needs a great deal of exercise on a daily basis to prevent him from become bored or frustrated and developing destructive habits.

The Australian Shepherd comes in four acceptable colors: black, blue merle (a marbling of gray and black), red (ranging from light cinnamon to liver), and red merle (marbling of red and silver or buff).

Answer 5

My aussie is awesome (he's 11 and I've had him since he was a puppy)

very intelligent. if the purpose of getting a dog is to be active, consider this a candidate. my dog has always taken pleasure in having me shower praise on him. he lives to please!

true aussies have 2 different colored eyes. tails do not have to be docked anymore. (check standards if you're going to show. )

bishop is an excellent hiker companion dog, i've seen a number of them involved in outdoor activities including agility contests

one-person dog primarily. treat with gentleness and kindness and he/she will respond

coats can be individually different within a litter, coat length and/or color

need lots of room and outdoor time, mine was an apartment pooch for a while, but i always 2-3x a day took him out for exercise

I used 'monks of new skete : art of raising a puppy' to determine personality type and consequent training. never regretted it.

good luck and enjoy

Answer 6

The Aussie, as it is known, is a medium-sized, robust, well-balanced, rustic dog. The ears are set on high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip. The coat is of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy, weather resistant, of moderate length with an undercoat. The quantity of undercoat varies with climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, outside of ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Backs of forelegs are moderately feathered; breeches are moderately full. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than bitches. An identifying characteristic is his natural or docked bobtail. He should be attentive, lively and agile with a body slightly longer than its height at the withers. The Aussie has a strong, deep chest and stands squarely on all fours. The front legs are straight. Front dewclaw removal is optional, but rear dewclaws are generally removed. The feet are compact and oval with arched toes. The top of the head is approximately the same length as the slightly tapering muzzle. The head has a moderate stop. The teeth form a scissors bite. The medium-sized oval eyes come brown, blue, amber, or any variation or combination including flecks and marbling. The ears are set on high at the side of the head, triangular and slightly rounded at the tip, of moderate size with length measured by bringing the tip of the ear around to the inside corner of the eye. The medium length coat comes in blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black, and solid red (liver) all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no order of preference. The hair around the ears and eyes should not be white. The coat may be straight or slightly wavy, and should have feathering on the back of the legs, and a mane and frill around the neck. Hair on the head, front of the forelegs and on the outside of the ears is shorter than the rest of the coat. The tail is generally docked if it is longer then 4 inches, though most are naturally short. Each individual's masculinity or femininity is clearly defined.
Temperament
Australian Shepherds are easy going, perpetual puppies that love to play. Courageous, loyal and affectionate, they are excellent children's companions that are great with active children. A devoted friend and guardian, for they are naturally protective. Very lively, agile and attentive - they are eager to please, with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. Though aggressive when at work with livestock, the Aussie is gentle with human friends. Australian Shepherds needs lots of exercise and a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and easily bored. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without exercise. They are naturally suspicious of strangers, so they should be well socialized as puppies. Working lines of Australian Shepherds may be too energetic to be suitable pets. Some like to nip people's heals in an attempt to herd them. They are quiet workers, unlike some breeds, which are bred to bark constantly at livestock. This breed is not usually dog aggressive.
Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 20-23 inches (52-58cm.) Bitches 18-21 inches (46-53cm.)
Weight: Dogs 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)
Health Problems
The gene for the beautiful merle coloration also carries a blind/deaf factor. This may be expressed only in merle/merle crosses. Be sure to check the hearing on merle puppies. Natural bobtail-to-natural bobtail breedings can result in some offspring with serious spinal defects. Major concerns: cataract, CEA. Minor concerns: CHD, nasal solar dermatitis, Pelger – Huet syndrome, iris coloboma. Occasionally seen: lumbar sacral syndrome, epilepsy, PRA, vWD, distichiasis, PDA, PPM. Suggested tests: hip, eye. Some are prone to hip dysplasia This breed is often sensitive to ivermectin; however, the dosage for heartworm preventive is considered safe. Also IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia)
Living Conditions
This breed is not recommended for apartment life. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least a large yard.
Exercise
This energetic working dog needs plenty of vigorous exercise to stay in shape, or better yet, some real work to do.
Life Expectancy
About 12-15 years
Litter Size
6 - 9 puppies - Average 7
Grooming
The coat is easy to groom and needs little attention. Brush occasionally with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin
Despite the misleading name, the Australian Shepherd is not Australian at all, but was developed entirely in the U.S. to work as a herding dog on ranches. It is possible that the name was derived from one of the dog's ancestors. The breed's principal forebears were most likely Spanish dogs that accompanied the Basque shepherds and herds of fine Merino sheep exported to both America and Australia in the early days of the colonies. At some point it probably crossed with Collie stock. It has only recently gained recognition as a distinct breed. Its many talents include, retrieving, herding, watchdogging, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, search & rescue, agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks.
Group
Herding, AKC Herding
Recognition
ASCA, UKC, NKC, AKC, NZKC, CKC, APRI, ACR

For information on other dog breeds - go here: www. dogbreedinfo .com

Answer 7

look in www.akc.org

Answer 8

no