Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd, or Aussie in a different way, is a beautiful and rather rare breed in Russia, which every year attracts an increasing number of admirers. To become its proportional and bright exterior, expressive eyes can not leave anyone indifferent. For what purpose do these attractive and intelligent dogs lead, and do they really come from Australia?

History reference

Despite the name of the breed, dogs were bred in the XIX century in the United States. Used for these purposes, some breeds of shepherd dogs - collie and Pyrenean, which were brought by settlers from the territories of France and Spain.

The name itself is associated with one of the ancestors of the breed - the Bascac herding dog, which just arrived in the States from the Australian continent. Local farmers appreciated their unsurpassed qualities, and the idea was born to breed their breed with similar but improved characteristics.

After painstaking work, a new breed was born - the Australian Shepherd. The peak of its popularity came in the postwar years. It was then that a real boom of horse competitions, exhibitions and rodeos took place in the USA. Sheepdogs also used to entertain visitors in the breaks at public events. Easily trained dogs could easily attract people and surprise with their skills.

Today, the breed is quite common in the US, however, and the prices for puppies are quite high. But the true connoisseurs of the breed, this nuance is unlikely to stop.

At home, many still use the Australian Shepherd in agriculture and for grazing. Outside of the country, it serves more as a companion dog.

Only at the beginning of the XXI century, the breed deserved recognition by the international canine federation and was classified as herding and cattle dogs.

Descriptive characteristics of the breed

Aussie definitely has an outstanding appearance, which distinguishes these dogs from other breeds. Representatives acquired their finished modern look only at the beginning of the 20th century, at that time the exact description of the Australian Shepherd breed was produced and the necessary standards were determined. According to the generally accepted standard, the pet looks like this:

• The pet has a large head with a shortened muzzle, which is crowned with semi-erect ears of a triangular shape and medium length.
• The nose of the Australian Shepherd depends on coat color and is black or red.
• The eyes have an interesting almond-shaped incision and differ in a variety of colors. The iris can be brown, greenish, blue, have marbling or blotches. Often there are representatives of the breed with different eyes.
• Aussie hair is hard, can be straight or wavy, has an average length. The density of coat is moderate, the density of the undercoat is directly dependent on climatic conditions. In the area of ​​the head and ears, the front paws are shorter hair.
• The fur can be of a different color , in most cases it is a combination of several color stains. The most common are the following colors with the obligatory presence of marbling - blue, red, black.
• A distinctive feature of the breed is docked tail .

The Australian Shepherd is a medium sized breed. Their height at the withers varies in the range of 45-60 cm, and their weight can vary from 15 to 35 kg. As in other breeds, the size of a dog depends on its belonging to the sex - bitch is much smaller than a dog.

The amazing nature of the representatives of this breed

The main qualities of purebred pets can be called diligence and responsibility. They have a gentle disposition, friendliness and the desire to always please the owner. They need long walks with the owner, the attention of the person is important for them.

They have increased activity, so their content in a confined space is not recommended. To show their qualities and feel good, the Australian Shepherd needs freedom and spaciousness.

Fans of the breed are impressed with their dedication and loyalty. In addition, the Australian Shepherd has a sufficiently developed intellect, allowing them to grasp everything new on the fly. This definitely facilitates the process of training. Yes, and the pets themselves like to learn, they are happy to perform commands and various tasks.

The Australian Shepherd Aussie is great as a family dog. They get along well with children, being nannies with protective functions and companions for games.

Nature made sure that the pets of this breed were excellent guards. And they, knowing their territory, can show aggression in its defense. If you do not teach your pet the correct behavior, such instincts can significantly complicate the lives of the owners. Although most dogs are friendly enough to all people, they are often alarmed when strangers appear. Excessive aggressiveness, or, conversely, cowardice, are considered abnormal behavioral abnormalities in the representatives of the breed.

Possessing excessive energy, without sufficient walking and intensive loads, pedigreed puppies can become sad and start to bully or show their negative qualities. Therefore, it is worth paying more attention to the animal, besides walking, training, loading various tasks, whether it is guarding the house, grazing cattle, or running after the owner's bike. Only in this way can the Australian Shepherd waste energy in a peaceful way. By the way, the shepherd instincts in dogs of the Australian Shepherd are very strong.

Such characteristics definitely indicate that this pet is not for everyone. Lovers of quiet rest, couch potatoes should not get such an active dog.

Representatives of this breed are successfully used as service dogs, guide dogs, helpers for people with disabilities. Shepherd dogs are often involved in police and rescue work, and in northern areas they often perform the duties of sled dogs.

Australian Shepherd Care Rules

If we talk about the rules of feeding, the Australian pets need a balanced diet. And it is more possible when feeding a pet with natural food.

In the diet , without fail, the following products should be present:

• lean meat, various offal;
• sea ​​fish;
• milk products;
• various cereals;
• fruits, berries, vegetables.

You can alternate products, mix or allocate specific days for a particular dish. Among the prohibitions is pork, raw eggs, bread, flour, sausages and pastries, smoked meats. You can replace natural food with dry food, but only taking into account the age characteristics and weight category, and be sure to provide access to clean water. An adult pet only needs two meals a day, which it is desirable to carry out regularly at the same time.

It will take a lot of time to care for a dog of this breed, because the Australian Shepherd needs long runs, regular training , active games. Keep them best in the aviary with the possibility of free movement. Categorically it is not recommended to put the Australian Shepherd on a chain.

If there is no possibility of suburban maintenance, a pet can be taken to a country house, garden, country house in the warm season, as it may not feel quite comfortable in an apartment. Walking a pet should take at least 2.5-3 hours per day.

Hygienic procedures include the regular brushing of wool - it is necessary to do this at the usual time daily, during the periods of molting several times a day. Frequent bathing is not recommended, once every 2-3 months is enough, cutting the claws is carried out as needed, and wiping the ears should be done 1-2 times a week.

Watching the health of the dog, it is necessary to pay close attention to the organs of vision and kidney activity. Most of the representatives of this breed, and most often dogs with red color, do not tolerate the scorching sun rays very well, therefore the best conditions for walking are to be in the shade.

Australian Shepherd Videos:

Photo Australian Shepherd

We present to your attention the wonderful photos of the Australian Shepherd.

Cost and acquisition of purebred Australian puppies

If, after exploring the breed, there is a desire to acquire a similar four-sided friend, you need to know that there are only about one hundred Australian Shepherds in the territory of the Russian Federation. That is why not everyone can get this wonderful breed. Of course, it is recommended to purchase a pet from those dog breeders who have already recommended themselves.

The price may also scare away potential buyers, depending on the titles and working qualities of manufacturers, it varies in the region of 25-55 thousand rubles. However, if the owner does not plan exhibitions and breeding, then you can buy a "defective" puppy much cheaper.

Buying an Australian Shepherd puppy, the owner acquires a reliable protector, a devoted friend, a good friend.