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Home > Dog Breeds > Adopt an Australian Shepherd

Adopt an Australian Shepherd


Australian Shepherd Dog Breed

Picture: Kent and Donna Dannen

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Family:

livestock, herding


Area of origin:

United States


Original function:

sheep herding


Average size of male:

Ht: 20-23, Wt: 50-65


Average size of female:

Ht: 18-21, Wt: 40-55


Other names:

none


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    Energy

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    Exercise

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    Playfulness

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    Affection

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    Friendliness towards dogs

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    Friendliness towards other pets

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    Friendliness towards strangers

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    Ease of training

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    Watchdog ability

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    Protection ability

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    Grooming

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    Cold tolerance

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    Heat tolerance

Australian Shepherd Dogs Available on Petfinder Right Now

See more adoptable Australian Shepherd dogs available on Petfinder

Australian Shepherd Dog Temperament

The Australian Shepherd has a great deal of stamina and is loving, bold, alert, confident, independent, smart and responsive. If he doesn't get a chance to exercise and challenge his strongly developed mental and physical activities, he is apt to become frustrated and difficult to live with. With proper exercise and training, he is a loyal, utterly devoted and obedient companion. It is reserved with strangers and has a protective nature. It may try to herd children and small animals by nipping.

Australian Shepherd Dog Care

This breed needs a good workout every day, preferably combining both physical and mental challenges. Even though he is physically able to live outside in temperate climates, he is a breed for which human contact is so vital that he is emotionally unsuited for a life in the yard. His coat needs brushing or combing one to two times weekly.

Australian Shepherd Dog Health

Major concerns: cataract, CEA
Minor concerns: CHD, nasal solar dermatitis, Pelger Huet syndrome, iris coloboma
Occasionally seen: lumbar sacral syndrome, epilepsy, PRA, vWD, distichiasis, PDA, PPM
Suggested tests: hip, eye
Life span: 12-15 years
Note: This breed is often sensitive to ivermectin; however, the dosage for heartworm preventive is considered safe. Merle-to-merle breedings result in some offspring that are homozygous merle, which is detrimental to health, commonly resulting in deafness and blindness. Natural bobtail-to-natural bobtail breedings can result in some offspring with serious spinal defects.

Dogs Related to the Australian Shepherd

Australian Cattle Dog
Bearded Collie
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Border Collie
Bouvier des Flandres
Briard
Canaan Dog
Collie

Interested in the history of the Australian Shepherd dog breed?

The Australian Shepherd is not really an Australian breed, but came to America by way of Australia. One popular theory of the breed origin begins during the 1800s, when the Basque people of Europe settled in Australia, bringing with them their sheep and sheepdogs. Shortly thereafter, many of these Shepherds relocated to the western United States, with their dogs and sheep. American Shepherds naturally dubbed these dogs Australian Shepherds because that was their immediate past residence. The rugged area of Australia and western America placed demands on the herding dogs that they had not faced in Europe, but through various crosses and rigorous selection for working ability, the Basque dog soon adapted and excelled under these harsh conditions. The breed kept a low profile until the 1950s, when it was featured in a popular trick-dog act that performed in rodeos and was featured in film. Many of these dogs can be found in the pedigrees of today Aussies. The first Aussie was registered with the International English Shepherd Registry, now known as the National Stock Dog Registry. In 1957 the Australian Shepherd Club of America was formed and subsequently became the largest Aussie registry in America. Because many ASCA members felt that AKC recognition was not desirable for their breed, proponents of AKC recognition formed the United States Australian Shepherd Association. The AKC recognized the Australian Shepherd in 1993. The breed's popularity according to AKC statistics underestimates the popularity of this breed as a pet because a large proportion of this working breed remains unregistered with the AKC. The Australian Shepherd is among the most versatile of breeds, excelling at conformation, obedience, herding and agility competition. The Aussie is also adept at working cattle; in fact, some believe his close working style is more suited to cattle than to sheep.


Shelters with Australian Shepherd Dogs

Some animal welfare organizations with Australian Shepherds ready for adoption:

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