El australian shepherd dog or Australian Shepherd in English, it is one of the most versatile animals: it does its job as a shepherd as well as acting as a guide dog. In addition, it is an excellent companion for children, whom it can come to love very much and with whom it will have a great time running and playing.
Do you want to know everything about him? Don't miss out on this special.
Origin and history of the Australian sheepdog
Despite its name, this beautiful dog is originally from the United States, and not from Australia. In fact, it was developed on ranches in the US. Its name comes from an association with Basque shepherds who went to the USA from Australia. It has become a very popular breed, especially after World War II, which is when the public began to get to know them through Disney movies, and through horse shows.
Ranchers have always been have valued the intelligence of these dogs, and the extraordinary ability they have to do their job so well. Of course, although today they continue to accompany the ranchers, they are increasingly seen in grazing trials, as well as living in families as one more member.
The Australian Shepherd is a working dog. You have a lot of energy and you always need to be busy with something. For this reason, excels in dog sports, like agility, flyball or frisbee. They are also excellent as search and rescue dogs, as well as guide and therapy dogs.
Physical characteristics of the Australian Shepherd
The general appearance is highly variable depending on the insistence of the particular line. Australian Shepherd Dogs are classified according to their work or exhibition. The former have less fur, and a bone structure that can be small, medium or large; on the other hand, the show ones have a denser and whiter coat, as well as a heavier bone structure.
They have a robust body, with a broad chest. They are longer than they are tall. The head is broad and long, with almond-shaped eyes that can be brown, blue, amber, or any combination of these colors. The ears are triangular in shape and drop. Its tail is straight and short. The hair is of medium length. Colors include blackbird blue, black, red and red blackbird.
According to the canine organization FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), its measurements are:
- Height at the withers: from 51 to 58cm in males, and from 46 to 53cm in females.
- Weight: 25 to 29kg in males, and 18 to 25kg in females.
Behavior of the sheepdog
The sheepdog is an animal that he does not like to spend a lot of time alone. He quickly gets bored, and may start doing things he shouldn't, like breaking furniture out of boredom. Keep in mind that you can run 60km a day, which means that you have practically inexhaustible energy.
He loves to learn new things, and he is always up for it. But he also enjoys playing with children, with whom he can be very protective. The Australian Shepherd is a intelligent, faithful, attentive and affectionate dog that he will go crazy with joy if you take him for long walks, or if you start doing some dog sport.
By the way, it is important that you know that he can be suspicious of strangers. But that has an easy solution: there is nothing that a dog treat cannot solve. If someone you don't know comes home, ask this person to give the dog the award, You will see that soon he trusts him! 😉
Sheepdog care
If you are an active person, the Australian Shepherd will undoubtedly be one of your best companions, if not the best. As we said, if it is not exercised, both physically and psychically, it can become a destructive and sad dog. Need that time is spent every day so that you can stay in a stable state of mind.
Therefore, in addition to practicing a dog sport, at home you should also have it entertained, either with food dispenser toys, with interactive games for dogs, with balls or ropes ... In pet stores you will find a wide variety of toys for your friend.
And, of course, it must be brushed once or twice a day to keep its beautiful coat tangle-free. Also, once a month you must go through the bathtub to make it look clean.
How is the health of the Australian Shepherd
The sheepdog is disease resistant and highly adaptable. However, you may suffer hip dysplasia, epilepsy, collie eye abnormality, nasal dermatitis caused by the sun, progressive retinal atrophy, deafness, blindness o kidney stones. When you are preparing to choose your puppy, ask the cattery if the parents suffer from any of these health problems, since they can be hereditary.
Even so, if you give him a quality diet, without grains, and give him a decent and happy life, the animal will take advantage of every moment learning as much as possible and having fun.
Australian Shepherd vs Border Collie
Physical characteristics
These two breeds are very similar, so it is important to know what their differences are. Let's start with the physical characteristics of the Australian pastor:
- Colors: blackbird blue, blackbird red, red, tricolor red, tricolor blackbird, black, copper.
- Floppy ears.
- Size: measures between 46 and 58cm and weighs between 25 and 30kg.
- Life expectancy: 15 years.
And these are the border collie:
- Colors: black, blackbird blue, gray, speckled, blue, blackbird red, tricolor blackbird, brown, Australian red, sable.
- Ears: erect or semi-erect.
- Size: it measures between 46 and 53cm and weighs about 20kg.
- Life expectancy: 17 years.
Character
The Australian Shepherd has a strong protective instinct; it is also perfect for guarding and controlling any type of livestock; instead the border collie is a dog that guides sheep from a distance.
Despite this, both animals need a good family that wants to feel very loved by them, since They are very affectionate, attentive, faithful and, above all, active which means that they have to go out to exercise every day.
Care
If we talk about basic care (food, hygiene, education, vaccination, deworming) they are the same in both dogs. However, the Australian Shepherd needs only one or two weekly brushings while the border collie needs one or two daily brushings.
Miniature australian shepherd
The variety was created from the selective crossing of standard Australian Shepherds with smaller ones. Thus, a dog was obtained that weighs 11 to 19kg and measures 38 to 45cm. Otherwise it has the same characteristics as the standard.
Australian Shepherd Dog Names
If you are planning to acquire one and you do not know what name to give it, we suggest the following:
Macho
- Arnold
- Bold
- Body
- Chambi
- Dyon
- Enzo
- Hulk
- Wolf
- Tyrion
- Valdo
Female
- Aisha
- Brisa
- Cleo
- Elsa
- friska
- Gina
- Ivy
- Isis
- Time
- Zaira
How to buy a sheepdog
Do you dare to live with an Australian Shepherd? If so, first of all, give you my most sincere Congratulations. Now, it is time to look for a responsible and professional kennel. You will know that you are in one if ...:
- The facilities are clean.
- The animals are well cared for, with the drinkers and feeders clean and full.
- Puppies must have the typical puppy character, that is, they have to be active, curious, and free of parasites.
- The manager must answer all your questions and, on the day the puppy is delivered to you, He will also give you his veterinary card and pedigree papers.
It is also important that you know that dogs cannot be separated from their mother until they are at least two months old. Doing so can cause behavioral problems in the dog, since its parent will not have been able to teach it the social norms that every dog must know and respect, such as controlling the intensity of the bite, or respecting the "personal" space of others .
The price of the Australian Shepherd is $600.
Do you want to pass 15 years of your life having a great time with an Australian Shepherd? 😉