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History
The origin of this breed is unclear and that is why it is has a misleading
name. Though it was developed in North America, it is supposed that this
breed originated from the shepherds in Spain. These shepherds mainly sought
dogs that could perform duties and gave little consideration to the dog’s
appearance; therefore, many dogs were interbred. There was an immense
migration to the west coast during the Gold Rush in California and people
who moved with flock also migrated with the herding dogs. The Latin American
dogs were interbred with the Australian dogs to produce a breed that would
do well in warm climate. This interbreed is what is now known as the
Australian Shepherd. These dogs were identified due to the merle markings
and thus the use of the name “Australian”.
General Description
The color of the Australian Shepherd varies from black, red, red-merle and
blue-merle. Also known as Aussie, the Australian shepherd’s muscular and
athletic body is covered with a coat that usually has white markings. The
undercoat has very thick hair and its coat’s hair is medium-sized to long
which can either be curly or straight. The back is seen to be level but
slopes slightly towards the tail. The body is also longer than its overall
height with a short tail that is docked and of less than 4 inches. The ears
are high-set and are rose-shaped or semi-pricked. The eye color is as varied
as the color of the coat and also depends on the coat color; they can either
be blue, brown, amber or a mix. The nose though rounded, usually tapers from
the base.
Temperament
As a result of the Australian shepherd’s intelligence, the breed is a very
quick learner and tends to please its owner. They sometimes are reserved
around strangers but playful and affectionate towards family and children.
As with many breeds, the Australian Shepherd needs to be socialized as they
have a tendency to run excessively and bark when around strangers and
sometimes nip at children. They also provide moderate level of protection
and can therefore be used as a watchdog. Since the Aussies are energetic,
they enjoy physical involving activities such as learning new tricks or
competing in agility oriented activities. Therefore, an idle Aussie will
create its own games and this may come across as a hyperactive dog and can
be destructive. They also have a high affinity towards human contact can be
at times seen to have a special bond with babies and special-needs children.
Health and Care
Since the Aussie was bred to be a herding breed, short walks do not suffice
the exercise that is required by these dogs. They should have a large field
where it is possible to have daily exercises for long periods. If this is
neglected, the dog can become hyper and bark endlessly. Though they are
capable of living outdoors, it is not advisable to leave them out as it may
inhibit the mental development of the dog. Aussies do not shed excessively;
therefore, brushing of the coat should be done once a week, twice at most.
The training of Aussies should begin when they are still puppies as this is
when they are still impressionable. General health problems that may be
experienced by this breed include cataracts, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and
autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism and allergies. There are some drugs
that when given to this breed can cause Multi Drug Reactivity (MDR1) and
this can result in death.
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