Australian Shepherd Dog

With a somewhat misleading name, the Australian Shepherd is actually an American breed, bred to herd sheep imported from Australia. Shepherds from the Basque region of the Pyrenees took their native small ‘blue’ (blue merle) dogs to work in the U.S in the late 1800s to early 1900s. It is also possible that they could originate from dogs first imported from Australia, then mixed with native dogs in the U.S in the late 1800s, so there is more of a potential Australian connection. 

Since they were created, bred or imported to work, working ability was significantly more important than appearance, and it is no surprise that they share many physical traits with other well established pastoral breeds.  

The Aussie has remained a popular herding dog in the U.S. for over a century, particularly as although bred to herd sheep, the Aussie is also adept at working with cattle.  

More recently, the Aussie has turned a paw to a variety of canine sports and proven to be a versatile and adaptable competitor in obedience, scent work, agility, disc-dog, search and rescue, and field trial competition. 

Someone with a strong sense of fun, who is energetic and enjoys training and taking part in dog related activity or sports. If you can’t provide cattle or sheep to herd and move, consider agility, Disc-dog, Mantrailing, or Treibball. 

The Australian Shepherd needs at least two hours of dog exercise a day, ideally more. The Aussie also needs plenty of mental stimulation in the form of training, puppy games and puzzle solving, and this is in addition to physical exercise, not instead of! Something of a training-junkie, the Aussie is very capable of performing at a high level in a variety of canine sports and activities, so ideal owners will be those who want to compete and enjoy training as a hobby in its own right. 

The Aussie Shepherd is not in need of a vast or lavish home, at least on the inside, however a large secure garden is important, as is access to a variety of interesting walks. Access to safe outdoor space for free running and training will be necessary. Better suited to quiet suburbs, rural or country living, the Australian Shepherd may find busy towns and cities overwhelming.  

The Australian Shepherd needs to have a balanced diet, including all the main nutrient groups, and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape, and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to an Australian Shepherd lifespan reaching 15 years. 

The Australian Shepherd’s coat is medium in length, with a weather-resistant undercoat. There's some feathering (longer hair) on the back of the legs and a moderate mane, which is thicker on male dogs, and makes the Australian Shepherd grooming process a bit more time consuming, but still fairly easy. A brush through two or three times a week should suffice, with more frequent grooming needed when the coat sheds - or if your Aussie is a water or mud lover! You can find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article.  

Trained using positive reinforcement, the Aussie can learn any sport, activity or task that a dog can physically achieve; however, whilst this may sound appealing, it is not easy. They are easily capable of learning the wrong things every bit as fast, or faster, than the right things and so careful management must go alongside dog training. Early socialisation with children and other animals is vital, as is training a solid recall, walking on a loose lead and a ‘quiet’ cue! Aussies have done well at sports including agility, obedience, disc-dog, Hoopers, scentwork and more, and need plenty of activities to keep their minds busy and bodies content.  

With children old enough to take part in training, the Aussie can make a great family dog, however the time needed to exercise and train may rule out families with very small children. Keep in mind the Australian Shepherds desire to herd, which may mean they feel inclined to show such behaviour with small children. Small children, particularly those belonging to other people, often do not like to be gathered and kept in a group by a dog!  

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.