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The Australian Shepherd is an attractive long-haired breed with a bobtail and striking, varied, coat coloration. Each dogs coat and eye color are highly variable, it is not uncommon to have a dog with one blue eye or one that is half blue and half brown. This does not affect their vision or their standings in the show ring. Australian Shepherds have strong herding and sheep guarding instincts and has been known to performs well in areas such as search and rescue. They are reserved with strangers, but is a dependable, tireless worker who is devoted to their owner. An attentive and animated dog who is strong and agile with great stamina the Australian Shepherd will make a great family pet.
Height: 18 - 23 inches
Weight: 35 - 70 lbs.
Colors: Blue merle, black, red merle and all red with or without white markings and/or tan points.
Coat: Double coat is medium length and straight to slightly wavy.
Temperament: Australian Shepherds are active, intelligent, responsive.
With Children: Yes, most make great family pets, but some lines have been bred to be more aggressive.
With Pets: Yes
Special Skills: Sheepdog.
Watch-dog: High, a passable watchdog
Guard-dog: Medium, they usually protect their people.
Care and Training: The Australian Shepherd needs minimal grooming of they coat. Bathe them only when necessary. Special attention to their coat after an outing to remove burrs and foxtails. Australian Shepherds require daily exercise as this helps to maintain good muscle tone. Obedience training come easy to them and they should receive this training.
Learning Rate: High
Activity: High
Living Environment: Rural or semi-rural with lots of outdoor activities such as herding livestock, flyball and obedience trials.
Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, eye problems such as juvenile cataracts and deafness
Life Span: 14 - 16 years
Litter Size: 5 - 8
Country of Origin: USA
History: The Australian Shepherd does not come from Australian as their names suggest. Australian Shepherds were developed in the US to work as a herding dog on ranches. It is said that in 1875 Baxque sheep herders began to migrate to the United States bringing their sheep dogs with them. At that time the breed developed into the Australian Shepherd. They were recognized by the Canadian and Mexican Kennel Clubs in 1976, and by the United Kennel Club in 1979, but they did not become part of the AKC until 1991 when they were admitted to the Miscellaneous class.
First Registered by the AKC: 1993
AKC Group: Herding Group
Class: Herding
Registries: AKC, KC (GB)
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