The Australian Shepherd, also known as the Australian, Is a medium-sized dog, agile and intelligent, for its energetic and hard-working character, is one of the best shepherd dogs that exist, so it can be a difficult animal.to drive for those who do not have time and space, however, it is a very noble dog, intelligent and beautiful that if it belongs to an active, dynamic and educational family ideal for this dog, will have by his side a best friend like no other.
The Australian shepherd should not be confused with the Australian cowboy, two dogs with similar names, but very different physical abilities.
- In this sheet of Animal Expert we will detail some curiosities about the history of the Australian shepherd and explain what are his characteristics and personality of this breed.
- Read on to learn all about the Australian shepherd.
Incredibly, the Australian Shepherd has nothing to do with Australia, it is one of the breeds of dogs developed in the United States, although it is of Spanish origin.
Some Basque migrants have settled in Australia to try their luck in raising their sheep and have taken their shepherd dogs with them, however, around 1800, they decided to emigrate to America and of course they took their dogs and herds.
Migrants who settled in the United States gave newly arrived shepherd dogs the name Australian Shepherd because he was from Australia where they came from.
Over time, the Australian shepherd has demonstrated great qualities to guide different types of cattle and has become the favorite dog of many American shepherds and farmers.
After World War II, the popularity of these dogs increased in North America.Today, the Australian shepherd is very popular in much of the United States and in many European countries.It excels in canine sports such as agility and canine freestyle, but it is clear that it is in the grass where it best develops.
The body of this beautiful dog is medium, somewhat longer than large and muscular, the back is straight and flat, while the rump is moderately descending, the chest is deep and the lower line retracts slightly in the abdomen.
The head of the Australian shepherd is strong, thin and well proportioned with the rest of the body; the nose is black in black dogs, but is pink in red and white dogs; the eyes are almonds and can be brown, blue, brown or any combination of these colors.The ears are triangular, medium and tall.
Depending on the standard of the breed, the dog’s tail should be straight and can be naturally long, short or, in some cases, amputated.Fortunately, many countries prohibit the cutting of the tail today, so many dogs are saved from this cruel and meaningless practice.The short tails of this breed can also be signs of problems, as they have a genetic relationship with spinal problems.
The coat of the Australian shepherd dog is of medium length and texture, and can be smooth or wavy.The inner layer of the hair varies depending on the climatic differences.The accepted colors for this breed are: blue, black, red and white.
These dogs are excellent shepherds and have a safe and very energetic temperament, similar to that of the Border Collies, they usually have a strong guardian, herd instinct and are very curious and intelligent.
Although they are dogs with a strong tendency to guard, they are also friendly and faithful animals, they are usually not pendent or aggressive, although they can be reserved when they meet someone, they can get along with other dogs and animals, as long as they have received a proper socialization, in any case it is important to start socializing these dogs, since they are an Australian shepherd puppy, , to reduce the risk of developing aggressive or fearful behaviors.
Due to their great intelligence, Australian shepherds can be trained easily, however, they are very active dogs that can have difficulties with a quiet and low intensity training, get good results in sports training in all their specialties and, of course, in training.Clicker training may be the best way to train these dogs, as it gives them a lot of mental stimulation.When left alone for a long time, they tend to be destructive dogs.The same can happen if they don’t exercise, enough physically and mentally.
In any case, Australian shepherds can be great pets if they get the exercise and attention they really need, they really need.If you don’t have enough time and energy to give it to the Australian shepherd, this is not the dog you need.
The fur is not difficult to maintain and it is usually enough to brush and comb twice a week, however, these dogs lose a lot of hair and it is not recommended to swim very often, you only have to do it when it is really necessary. .
Australian shepherds need a lot of exercise and company, they can’t live in an apartment because of their energy, but they can’t be isolated in the garden either, ideally living in houses with large gardens or in rural properties, where they can exercise.outdoors, but also share with the rest of the family most of the time.Participating in one of the most popular canine sports can be a great way to exercise and achieve good physical health.
In addition, mental stimulation through different types of intelligence games will be an excellent tool to avoid behavioral problems, such as stress and anxiety, in addition, they are a fantastic way to train and make the dog useful, it is very important to think about these factors before deciding to adopt such a noble dog.
The Australian Shepherd is a very intelligent dog that needs more education and training than usual in dogs.Lack of motivation and development can lead to serious behavioral problems, such as compulsive behavior.It is necessary to work intensively in the education of the puppy quickly and already.at this stage we will enter the basic orders.
Once you take the basic commissions it will be very important to continue working on new forms of creative training, the combination of advanced sport and training can be a great alternative for our Australian shepherd dog, for this sports as agility are excellent.
Unfortunately, and like other shepherd dogs, the Australian shepherd is prone to several inherited diseases, such as cataracts, collie eye abnormality, hip dysplasia, sun-induced nasal dermatitis, Pelger-Huet syndrome, iris coloboma, lumbar sacrum syndrome, progressive epilepsy.retinal atrophy, von Willebrand disease, dystocia and arterial canal persistence.
In addition, crosses between black dogs usually result in blind and/or deaf puppies, and crosses between natural short-tailed dogs can produce puppies with severe spinal defects.
However, with regular veterinary checks and good care, it is possible to prevent the appearance of certain diseases, as well as to respect the dog’s vaccination and deworming schedule.