Information, Facts & Origins of the Australian Shepherd
Dog
The Australian Shepherd Dog was developed in the USA and was bred for herding sheep in the USA and not
in Australia as the name implies. It's origins can be dated back to the 1700's. The Australian Shepherd originated in the
region of the Pyrenees mountains where they were used by the Basque Shepherds. These shepherds came into the United States
from Australia in the 1800s - hence the name! This dog is classified as one of the Herding Dog Group which we go on to describe
in detail in the section at the bottom of this page.
The name
The Australian Shepherd is not from Australia, it is an American original developed
in the West by eastern and Midwestern sheepmen drawn to western adventure and the Gold Rush and by Spanish settlers in the
Southwest.
Basque shepherds, a group of hardy sheepmen from the Pyrenees Mountains between
Spain and France, figure prominently in the breed’s evolution. Basque shepherds came to the US from Spain, from Spanish
colonies south of the US border, and from Australia. These sheepmen needed robust dogs that could help guard the flocks and
spend months on the range with only sheep and human shepherds for company; tough, smart, and able, the Aussie fit the bill.
The modern dog
Today’s Aussie is a versatile breed that retains its herding instincts but
is happy to compete in obedience or agility events, romp with the family, or take part in a variety of activities from therapy
visits at nursing homes to search and rescue efforts to find lost persons.
A latecomer to the American Kennel Club, the Aussie was recognized in 1993 for participation in AKC conformation contests. Prior to 1993, the Aussie’s
heritage was protected by the Australian Shepherd Club of America and its National Stock Dog Registry, organizations that
still keep the stud book and organize events for the dogs. ASCA promotes the Aussie as a working
dog; many breeders stuck with this registry out of concern that AKC recognition would encourage breeders to concentrate on
the dog’s appearance rather than its working ability.
The AKC and ASCA standards for the Aussie differ slightly in some respects, but
both describe the dogs as follows: Males range from 20-23 inches tall at the shoulder, and females from 18-21 inches. The
skull is flat or slightly rounded, muzzle is tapered slightly with a rounded tip, eyes are almond-shaped, and ears are triangular
and break (tip over) forward. The body is firm and muscular, a bit longer than tall, and the chest is deep, the ribs well-sprung,
and the tail naturally bobbed or docked to no more than four inches.
The double coat is moderately long, and straight-to-slightly wavy. Hair on the
head and legs is short, and the back of the front legs are feathered. Hair around the neck and shoulders is fuller than the
rest of the body, especially on males.
Colors must be clear and rich; only black, red, blue merle, and red merle are
acceptable overall, but dogs can have a white blaze on the face, white markings on chest, neck, and legs and copper-colored
markings on face and legs.
Merle patterns consist of patches of the basic color (red or black) on lighter
shades of the same color. Black merles appear blue and are known as blue merles.
Color genetics
The striking merle pattern, which can be carried by black and red dogs, has a
down side: breeding a merle to a merle can produce deaf or blind offspring. These unsound puppies are generally white with
color patches.
Breeding a red or black dog to a merle can produce a variety of patterns and colors
in the same litter because the color or pattern of the adults may mask the expression of recessive genes in each dog’s
makeup. For example, a black dog bred to a blue merle can produce blue merle, black, red, or red merle puppies depending on
the recessives genes involved.
Character
The well-bred Aussie is a steady dog, good with children, intelligent, active,
enthusiastic, and willing to work. He still has good herding and guarding instincts and will round up children or other pets
if the occasion arises. He can be aloof with strangers but should never be shy or snippy.
Potential owners should also be aware that this is an energetic dog, needing exercise
and training to complement his work ethic. It is no surprise that he excels at agility, an enterprise that makes use of his
athletic ability and his problem-solving ability.
Health
Like many other breeds, the Aussie can suffer from hip dysplasia, hereditary eye
problems, von Willebrand’s disease, and thyroid disease. He is also subject to seizures, discoid lupus erythematosus
(an autoimmune disease), cleft palate, and patent ductus arteriosis (a circulatory abnormality). Tests exist for some of these
diseases and syndromes, and good breeders make use of the tests and carefully match breeding pairs to minimize their occurrence.
At the very least, Aussies should be certified free of hip dysplasia and have
their eyes tested before breeding. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and PennHip both examine hip radiographs to diagnose
hip health. OFA does preliminary readings before the dog reaches two years of age and permanent readings after two years of
age. PennHip takes three different x-rays to ascertain hip health. Eye tests are done by veterinary ophthalmologists and sent
to the Canine Eye Registry Foundation for certification. Eye tests must be repeated annually; hip x-rays must only be done
once unless the breeder chooses to do a preliminary check on a young dog.
Many breeders also test for vWD and thyroid to help them make breeding decisions.
