The irony is that they have nothing to do with Australia, apart from the connection to the Basque herders who immigrated to the United States in the 1880s from Spain and Australia. They are credited with creating and popularizing the breed in the expanding sheep industry of the American West. The Australian genealogy is steward of many breeds. But there is no doubt, the Australian Shepherd is an All-American dog; that he can proudly proclaim, “MADE IN USA!
Medium build, and come in four colors. There are the Blacks, the Blue Merles (black and gray marble), the Reds and the Red Merles (red and gray marble). The outer coat of an Australian can be straight or wavy. The undercoat is soft and dense. Weekly grooming is a must to avoid matting.
One of their most fascinating features is their eyes. They range from glass eye, or “ghost eye” (blue), to hazel, amber, and every shade of brown imaginable. Red Merles tend to have lighter colored eyes, Blacks and Blue Merles for the most part tend to have one of the shades of brown. It’s not that unusual for an Australian to have one blue eye and one brown eye.
Interestingly, several Australians are born with naturally bobbed tails. Others, born with tails, were commonly amputated as pups. However, today many Australian dog owners choose not to dock their puppies’ tails. It’s always fun to see a tailless Aussie show off his enthusiastic greeting with that constantly wagging butt!
Before deciding on an Aussie, there are a few things to keep in mind. The breed does have certain health problems, which are quite common. They include: hip and back problems, hereditary eye defects, vision problems, thyroid and pancreas. Some may also be predisposed to epilepsy, cancer, and breathing difficulties. On average, you can expect to spend 13-15 years with a wonderful partner.
An Aussie may not be the most suitable dog for an inexperienced dog owner. Being a working dog, they can be willful. Their owner must know how to treat them fairly, firmly and consistently; apply positive reinforcement. Otherwise, they will see the bossy side of your Awesome Aussie. There is no doubt that Australians know that they are smart.
Socialize your puppy as soon as possible. Puppy Kindergarten and obedience classes will be time and money well spent. Also plan to dedicate at least 2 hours per day to vigorous physical exercise as well as mental stimulation for the next 10-12 years! Even as you get older, an Aussie still expects reasonable challenges. A bored Aussie will be in trouble in no time! They love challenges; whether it’s obedience, agility or rally. Australians are snooty and born clowns! Plan on lots of ball tossing and Frisbee, because your Aussie will love every minute. The fantastic part of spending time with your Aussie is; It’s time well spent bonding. His devotion to his owner is legendary.
Be aware if you have young children and with the elderly. Thinking they are helping, your Aussie may instinctively herd them. The same goes for cats and other small animals. An Australian can’t rest until she has everything under control. Don’t be surprised when you take your Aussie to a dog park if you don’t think he’s there to surround and contain all the other dogs! They can’t help it… it’s in their genes. It’s entertaining to watch!
With their keen senses and keen sensitivities, not to mention puritanical work ethic, Aussies have been used successfully as search and rescue dogs, as well as therapy, service, and guard dogs. Australians live to work! A jobless Australian is not a happy dog.
Bottom line: Although Aussies make wonderful family pets, they tend to gravitate towards a select person. They are known to create an unbreakable bond with a particular person. However, if you want a dog who is devoted to his family, has high energy, incredible intelligence, a great sense of humor, loves to socialize and have fun, has an incredible willingness to please, and yet is instinctively protective, perhaps a bossy Awesome Aussie may be the perfect dog for you.