The Australian Shepherd
“Aussie”

Dob breed info
Australian Shepherd
“Aussie” Weight: 40 — 65 lbs
Height: 18” — 23”
AKC Rank 2008 #29
Lifespan: 12—15 yrs
Group: Herding
Origin: United States

• Breeders And Rescue Groups
• Dog Health, Dog Illness, Medical Problems

Dog Breed Info – Australian Shepherd

An Australian Shephard takes a giant
leap and catches a flying Frisbee!

Breed Overview

Origin 1800’s. Original function, sheep herding. Today, sheep herding. Colors: blue merle, red merle, black, red, all with or without white markings and/or tan points.

Sometime during the 1800’s, the Basque people of Europe settled in Australia, bringing with them sheep and sheepdogs. Shortly after, they came to the western part of the United States with their sheep and dogs. American shepherds naturally called these dogs Australian Shepherds, or “Aussies” because that was their immediate past home. The breed kept a low profile until the 1950’s when they were featured in a popular trick dog act that performed in rodeos and was featured in a film.

In 1957 the Australian Shepherd Club of America was formed and subsequently became the largest Aussie registry in America. The AKC finally registered the Australian Shepherd in 1993. The breeds popularity, according to AKC statistics, underestimates the popularity of this breed as a pet because a large portion of this working breed remains unregistered by the AKC.

Young Aussie running in a field

Yes. Very trainable. Intelligent. Eager to learn, responsive. This dog is a great candidate for clicker training and would respond very well to positive reinforcement training too. Try it.

Crate Training

Want to crate train your Australian Shepherd puppy? It’s easy and if you’re interested, take a look and you’ll see what to do. Crate training your puppy will save many headaches and problems.

Potty Training

The Australian Shepherd learns fast and is easy to house train, potty train, toilet train, housebreak or whatever you want to call it. If you have a puppy, decide if you want to crate or paper potty train it. For excellent results, we have a page at Crate vs Paper Potty Training which will help you decide and from there you can get all the information you need to get the job done. Always praise the pup profusely when she goes potty in the RIGHT PLACE so she knows she has done a good thing. Either method will work for this breed.

If you have an older dog, take the dog outside every two hours until she gets the idea which door leads to her potty area. Older dogs catch on to the potty or housebreaking pretty fast once they are shown what to do. Top

This is a handsome canine!

The Australian Shepherd has lots of stamina. He is loving, bold, confident, alert, independent smart and responsive. It this dog does not get the opportunity to remain active and exercise to challenge it’s mind and body, it will become frustrated and hard to live with. With proper exercise and training, this breed is a loyal and utterly devoted, obedient companion. It is reserved with strangers and has a protective nature. This dog may try to herd children and small animals by nipping.

If you happen to get an Australian Shepherd with a separation anxiety problem, that can be dealt with by investing a few hours of work on your part and some “tough love.”

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

Moderate. Some mix well with dogs, others don’t.

Friendly Toward Other Pets

Generally good natured and accepting of other family members. May have a problem with cats, as they appear to need herding. Top

Aussie on the agility course

Friendly Toward Strangers

Wary of strangers. The Aussie can be somewhat reserved.

Playfulness

Yes. Exceptionally playful. The Australian Shepherd has a ton of energy and needs a lot of constructive play time.

Yes, affectionate. Loyal to family, loves his home and people and must be part of all activities and everything going on.

As long as the kids are older (6 or 7 and up) and are active outdoors, the Aussie will fit in. This breed does tend to herd small children and other pets and will nip at ankles and heels as he follows his instincts.

Good with Seniors over 65?

No. Needs too much exercise.

Living environment

House with fenced yard and plenty of open space for jogging or walking and playing fetch. A farm or ranch would be nice.

Aussie playing with friend, a Weimaraner puppy.

Energy level

Very high energy.

Very high. Needs lots of exercise. The Australian Shepherd must have plenty of high quality exercise or it becomes difficult to deal with. They love to chase balls, a Frisbee, or pull a wagon or go jogging with you.

Good. Protective of family and property.

Brush and comb twice weekly with a stiff bristle brush to keep coat neat looking, especially on the chest. Top

1st book, lower row teaches HOW to play with your dog. It’s a training book. How, when and where to play plus more.

In the event you decide to go looking for Australian Shepherd puppies, be SURE to find reputable breeders that really know what they are doing. Be sure the puppy has been well socialized and started in obedience training. It’s not often that Aussie puppies turn up in dog pounds and shelters but you might check anyway.
Australian Shepherd Breeders with puppies for sale.

Australian Shepherd Rescue

In the event you are seriously considering the adoption of an Aussie and are looking for an Australian Shepherd Rescue group or groups in your state, here are several links that might help:
Petfinder – Australian Shepherd Rescue If you do adopt one, try to locate all dog health records for possible future reference.
Adopt A Pet This is an interesting site but may not have Australian Shepherd Rescue groups or kennels near you. Consider surfing the net and checking locally of course

This is basically a healthy breed. Don’t let the list below scare you! Your own dog will probably never have ANY of these problems. These are dog illness and medical issues this breed is prone to that have been listed by various veterinarians at different times over the past decade or so and some pertain to puppies and very young dogs that a breeder would deal with.

The information contained herein has been gathered from numerous books by veterinarians and is intended as general information only. Every dog and situation is different. You must see your vet. Our information is for general interest only and not intended to replace the advice provided by your own veterinarian.

Cataracts – Hazy or cloudy vision. Can cause blindness if not treated.

Other health issues could occur with your Australian Shepherd. If you notice any problems with your dog, take it to the vet immediately. This website is for general information only and is not intended to, in any way, be a medical guide.

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