Australian Shepherd?

Question

We have adopted an Australian Shepherd we have been told she is appr. 1yr old. We only have had her for almost a month now, the Shelter say she an Australian Shepherd mix, Our vet says she is not a mix breed but looking @ the pictures of A. Shep. on the Internet she looks like she is not a mix breed, she has the short tail (wiggle butt) and she is mostly black with tri color brown and white. Anyone out there who know a lot about this breed
do they shed their coat big time? She shed a lot !

Answer 1

Yeah, they do shed a LOT..You may be able to reduce the shedding, by feeding a diet with no corn, wheat, soy or beet pulp..
this little gadget really works! I had my dog "furminated" in Feb, and it cut out nearly all shedding until July..> http://www.furminator.com/testbed/indexnew.html

Be sure to watch the videos..
You can get them cheapest on eBay..

Answer 2

The color you describe is called a tri-color. Aussies come in that color as well as the blue merle and the red merle and black .

It is just rarer than the others.

You can read the breed standard here at the AKC:

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

Here is the website for the National breede club for Aussies that sets the breed standard and governs the breed and promotes it and regulates it member-breeders:

http://www.australianshepherds.org/

Yep - they shed - clouds of the stuff about 2 times a year. Try a shop-vac or find an older Electrolux canister vaccum - the only vaccum that has survived 30 years of my long haired heavy coated large breed dogs!

Answer 3

I had an aussie in fact I have his grandson now, but he's mixed. My Aussie, Pheonix Arizona but I called him zona for short was Black with brown and white mix, I too was told he was mixed but knew very well his parents were both full bred, he looked like a rot mix cause his colors were like a rottwieller, another of my fave breeds, but he only shed in the spring time when he would lose his winter coat. Most of the aussies, unlike their american cowdog cousins who are short hair, have long coats and should not really shed very much. Try changing her diet or maybe her shampoo, alot of times a dog or cat sheds too much because they may be missing something in their vitamins, if there is a certain vitamin missing or their diet is inconsistent this could cause it or so could bad brands of shampoo. Try one of these good luck these are very protective dogs who see their families as the herd they are instinctively known to protect. Also a very loving breed. Enjoy. I did.

Answer 4

yes

But realize all dogs shed...some owners think that if the dog sheds "too much" they need to get rid of it - true story about a boxer whose owners after 3 1/2 years wanted to put her to sleep cause she shed and drooled (it wasnt even that bad)

I suggest brushing ALOT...consult your vet though cause they can give you some really good suggestions on how to control it if it really is that big of a problem

Answer 5

Yesss they do lol...It also looks like a rabbit has been murdered in our house..... When it's shedding time..... Ours seems to shed alot at anytime. They are awesome dog's. Lot's of energy full of love:) Good-Luck!

Answer 6

I personally own an austrailian shepherd and yes,what youve described is an austrailian shehperd,when there young,they are real monsters,chewing anything they can get their teeth on,but they get better rather quickly