United States of America
Australian Shepherd dog breed - photos and description
Photos of the breed
Main characteristics of the breed
| Care: | Need regular care |
| Size: | Large |
| Molt: | Shed moderately |
| Need for activity: | Need vigorous daily exercise |
| Domination: | Lowest level |
| Tolerance of loneliness: | They really need people |
| Type of wool: | Long - haired |
| Temperament: | Phlegmatic |
| Friendly to strangers: | Warning |
| Intellect: | Working intelligence |
| Learnability: | Very easy to learn |
| Specialization: | Companions, Watch dogs |
| Tendency to bark: | They love to bark |
The Australian Shepherd probably came from the Basque region of Spain. Basque shepherds first took their dogs to Australia and then to the United States, so Americans called the dogs Australian Shepherds. As we know it today, the breed was developed solely in the United States. It is classified as a large breed in the herding group, and its name is popularly abbreviated to Aussie.
In addition to herding dogs, Australian Shepherds serve as Seeing Eye dogs, hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Because of their high intelligence, Aussies are well suited to do a wide variety of jobs. Australian Shepherds can live for 12 to 14 years, and the females have 6 to 9 puppies per litter once per year.
The Australian Shepherd breed is a model dog with a good sense of diligence and self-control, as long as its loyal and energetic behavior is put to good use. The Aussie's patient demeanor makes it a great therapy dog, drug detector, and search and rescue dog. Toy and Mini Aussies both exhibit similar behaviors as the standard breed. Australian Shepherds may do better eating a limited ingredient or allergy care dog food considering their propensity for allergies and epilepsy and sensitivities.