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Article Series: Dog Breeds, Breeders & Breeding
Dog Breeds & Dog Breeding Made Simple
Dog
Breeds: Australian Shepherd (Herding Group)
The Australian Shepherd is a bold, loving,
smart and energetic member of the Herding Group. These dogs
have an athletic build and are medium in size. With amazing
agility and a powerful body, they can work hard all day without
sacrificing speed or stamina. Australian Shepherd dogs were
bred to guard livestock and to this day maintains the genetic
drive to herd.
The temperament of the breed can vary from being overly playful
with its owners to an imposing and courageous watchdog against
intruders. They are typically friendly towards other dogs and
pets, but reserved around strange people. Without proper exercise
and mental stimulation through games and dog training, the
Australian Shepherd tends to become bored and may act out in
a destructive manner through barking and chewing.
A Brief History Of The Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd's assumed area of origin can be misleading
because it is not actually an Australian Breed. Although the
exact details of the dog's history is unclear, we do know that
they made their way to the United States, from Australia, where
they were used to herd sheep.
One theory suggests that the breed started when the Basque
people of Europe settled in Australia with their sheepdogs,
then relocated to America, bringing their dogs with them. The
name “Australian Shepherd” was given due to the breed's past
residence and function, but they were still largely known as
the Basque dog.
The Australian Shepherd excelled at overcoming the harsh conditions
of herding through rough terrain in both Australia and western
America. They were crossed with various other breeds and were
mostly kept under the radar in terms of popularity. During
the 1950s, the breed gained exposure as they were seen in various
dog trick shows and even in film.
The International English Shepherd Registry registered the
very first Australian Shepherd (today known as the National
Stock Dog Registry). The Australian Shepherd Club of America
was formed in 1957, and in 1993 the AKC officially recognized
the breed. Today the Australian Shepherd is still used as a
sheep herder and can be seen winning herding trials.
Upkeep Requirements For The Australian Shepherd
This breed must have vigorous exercise on a daily basis, both
physically and mentally. And with its ease of training ability
and high intellectual levels, the Australian Shepherd is the
perfect candidate for advanced obedience training. These dogs
thrive on human contact and are not meant for sitting around
the house all day.
Australian Shepherds can tolerate both hot and cool temperatures
but should not live outdoors completely. The ideal living arrangement
is to allow the Aussie to have access to a safe outdoors area
during the day and to sleep inside with the family at night.
Grooming requirements call for a heavy brushing of its thick
coat about two to three times weekly.
Health Concerns
The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is between
twelve and fifteen years. Major health concerns that run common
in the breed are CEA and cataracts. Minor health issues include
CEA, Pelger-Huet syndrome, hypothyroidism, CHD, iris coloboma,
and nasal solar dermatitis. Rarely seen is PRA, PPM, distichiasis,
PDA, epilepsy, lumbar sacral syndrome, and vWD. Veterinarians
suggest that the Australian Shepherd get specifically tested
for DNA for CEA, hip, thyroid, and eye problems.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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