Australian Shepherd
blue merle Australian Shepherd
Country of origin
United States
Common nicknames
Aussie
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 1 Section 1 #342	Stds
AKC:	Herding	Stds
ANKC:	Group 5 - (Working Dogs)	Stds
CKC:	Group 7 - (Herding Dogs)	Stds
KC (UK):	Pastoral	Stds
NZKC:	Working	Stds
UKC:	Herding Dog	Stds

The Australian Shepherd is a breed of working dog that was developed on ranches in the Western United States. Despite its name, the breed, commonly known as an Aussie, did not in fact originate in Australia.^[1][2] They acquired their name because of its association with sheepherders who came to the United States from Australia. [1] Accra Frankly Speakin owned by Mr and Mrs Richards and Mr Harlow. ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the comedy group, see Working Dog Productions. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...

Australian Shepherds rose rapidly in popularity with the boom of western riding after World War II. They became known to the general public through rodeos, horse shows and through Disney movies made for television. Disney redirects here. ...

For decades, Aussies have been valued by stockmen for their inherent versatility and trainability. While they continue to work as stockdogs and compete in herding trials, the breed has earned recognition in other roles due to their trainability and eagerness to please and are highly regarded for their skills in obedience. Like all working breeds, the Aussie has considerable energy and drive and usually needs a job to do. It often excels at dog sports such as dog agility, flyball and frisbee. They are also highly successful search and rescue dogs, disaster dogs, detection dogs, guide, service and therapy dogs. And, above all, they are beloved family companions. Aussies are very protective and may not be kind to strangers. Aussies will also try to herd anything that moves, including people and all other types of animals. Dog sports are activities that involve dogs. ... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ... Dogs from two teams race against each other over parallel lines of jumps. ... Logo for the Quadruped, a disc dog organization Disc dog is the more generic name for what is commonly called Frisbee dog. ...

Characteristics

El Merinos "Pollux", grand child to "Debby" (she was the first Aussie in Sweden). Colours: Blue merle, tan and white

Appearance

The breed's general appearance varies greatly depending on the particular line's emphasis. As with many working breeds that are also shown in the ring, there are differences of opinion among breeders over what makes an ideal Australian Shepherd. In addition the breed can be split into two distinct lines - working and show dogs. Working dogs tend to have shorter coats, thinner and sometimes smaller whilst the show lines are bred according to breed standard and can have long fur. KG, kg or Kg can refer to several things: Kilogram, the SI base unit of mass. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... An American Cocker Spaniel show dog with its ears wrapped in preparation for showing A show dog is a purebred dog that is displayed at conformation dog shows to determine how well it conforms to established breed standards. ...

Size

The Australian Shepherd Breed Standards for all major registries state that males should stand 21-23 inches at the shoulder; females 18-21 inches. Weight is not specified in the standard, though males normally weigh 45-60 pounds, and females normally weigh 35-45 pounds.

Color

The eight colors of Aussies are blue merle (black and gray with white patchwork), red merle (red and beige with white patchwork), black (which may or may not have white legs, a white chest, or a white collar), and red (which may or may not have white legs, a white chest, or a white collar); each of these colors may also have copper points on the eyebrows, cheeks, and/or legs to create four additional combinations. Thus, dogs with copper and white along with the primary color are called tricolor, dogs with white or copper along with the primary color are called bicolor, and dogs with no white or copper are referred to as self-colored. White should not appear on the body of the dog from topmost point of the shoulder blade to the tail except in the merles.

Color variants: Black tricolor, red merle, blue merle, red tricolor.

The wide variation of color combinations comes from the interaction between the a color allele, which is either black (B) dominant or red (b) recessive, and the dominant merle allele (M). Together, these provide four coat-color aspects that can appear in any combination:^[3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For the hard rock band, see Allele (band). ...

• Black or Red
• Merle or not merle
• Self- or tan-pointed
• Solid color or trimmed with white

The merle allele, which produces a mingled or patchwork combination of dark and light areas, is the most common coat pattern associated with the breed. This merle (M) is dominant so that affected dogs (Mm) show the pigmentation pattern; however, when two merles are bred, there is a statistical risk that 25% of the offspring will end up with the two copies of the merle gene (homozygous). These dogs usually have a mostly white coat and blue irises, and are often deaf and/or blind. In this case, the deafness and blindness are linked to having two copies of the merle gene, which disrupts pigmentation and produces these health defects. Blue merle Border Collie puppy Merle is a colour combination in dogs’ coats. ...

The Chinese Australian Shepherd (a rare form bread specifically to herd alpacas in the Tibetan mountains), has been observed by Western tourists in such obscure colors as magenta and a light shade of lilac. Geneticists believe this phenotype is the result of genetic abnormalities and nutritional deficiencies inherit to years of inbreeding and improper diet common in this region.

Eyes

Red merle with tan points and one brown eye and one blue eye. Blue merle with tan points with blue eyes

There is also great variety in the Aussie's eye color. An early nickname for the breed was "ghost-eye dog". Aussie eyes may be green, hazel, amber, brown, or blue; they may have two different colored eyes, or even have bicolored or "split eyes" (for example, a half-brown, half-blue eye), which appear to be linked to the merle coloration. Merled eyes occur as well, where one color is mixed in and swirled with another. Any combination of eye color is acceptable in the breed standard, so long as the eyes are healthy. In general, however, black Aussies (self, bi-color or tri-color) tend to have brown eyes, while red (self, bi-color or tri-color) Aussies tend to have amber eyes. Though these Aussies may also carry the blue eyed gene. Image File history File linksMetadata Cheech_Boo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cheech_Boo. ... For the tightly packed form of DNA, see Heterochromatin. ...

Tail

A hallmark of the breed is a short bobbed or docked tail in countries where docking is permitted. Some Aussies are born with naturally short bobbed tails, others with full long tails, and others with natural partial bobs, where the tail is midlength and appears stubby. Breeders have historically docked the tails when the puppies are born. Even without a tail, the wagging movement of the hind end still occurs. Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ... Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ...

Some Australian Shepherd breeders opt to keep the tail on the dog for the natural look, which can still be shown in the breed ring.

Temperament

A Red Aussie with the alert, intense gaze common among herding dogs.

The Australian Shepherd is unique with regard to its temperament. There are two distinct types of personality to look for depending on the lines, as well as many shades within these two types. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Generally the breed is an energetic dog that requires exercise and enjoys working, whether it is learning and practicing tricks, competing in dog agility, or any other physically and mentally involving activity. Other Aussies would rather be with their humans and enjoying being couch potatoes. It is usually a sweet and affectionate dog who is faithful to its owners and should be good with children. Most Australian Shepherds make wonderful family dogs, provided there is at least one shepherd-figure to act as a leader and mentor to the dog.^{[citation needed]}

Dogs with strong working instinct may show more reserved, guarding behaviors along with a tendency to chase or nip at running children or strangers if not properly trained. Its protective instinct and behaviors can be frightening to children, strangers, and small animals. Those bred for a more family-oriented temperament are more friendly and affectionate with strangers and generally more reliable around children. Because the breed was developed to serve on the ranch, a job which includes being protective of its property, it sometimes can be annoying with its inclination to bark warnings about neighborhood activity, but it is not generally an obsessively barking dog.

The Aussie is intelligent, learns quickly, and loves to play. This means that a bored, neglected, unexercised Aussie will invent its own games, activities, and jobs, which to a busy owner might appear to be hyperactivity: for example, an Aussie may go from being at rest to running at top speed for several 'laps' around the house before returning to rest, all apparently for no purpose. Without something to amuse them, Aussies often turn destructive of yard or property. Aussies also do best with plenty of human companionship: they are often called "velcro" for their strong desire to always be near their owners and for their tendency to form intense, devoted bonds with select people.

The Australian Shepherd has a reputation as a highly intelligent and versatile stock dog with a range of working styles. While improperly trained or frustrated Aussies may exhibit excessive running and barking, a good working Aussie is quick, thoughtful, and easy with its stock. The ability for the breed to adapt to the situation and think for itself makes it an excellent all-around worker. For this reason the Aussie is often chosen to work unusual livestock such as ducks, geese, and commercially raised rabbits.

Health

Mortality

Results of a 1998 internet survey with a sample size of 614 Australian Shepherds indicated a median longevity of about 12.5 years, but also that longevity may be declining.^[4] A 2004 UK survey found a much shorter median longevity of 9 years, but their sample size was low (22 deceased dogs).^[5]

The median life spans for breeds similar in size to Australian Shepherds are mostly between 11 and 13 yrs,^[6] so, assuming the results of the UK study are not representative of the population there, Aussies appear to have a typical life span for a breed their size. Leading causes of death in the UK survey were cancer (32%), "combinations" (18%), and old age (14%).

Morbidity

Based on a sample of 48 still-living dogs, the most common health issues noted by owners were eye problems (red eye, epiphora, conjunctivitis, and cataracts).^[5] Dermatologic and respiratory problems also ranked high.

Collie eye anomaly (CEA) and cataracts are considered major health concerns^{[citation needed]} in Aussies. Other conditions of note include iris coloboma, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), Pelger-Huet syndrome, hypothyroidism, and nasal solar dermatitis .^[7] A veterinarian should test your Australian Shepherd's hips, eyes, thyroid and DNA (to check for CEA). The Australian Shepherd (as well as Collies, German Shepherds and many other herding dogs) are susceptible to toxicity from common heartworm preventatives (anti-parasitics) and other drugs^{[citation needed]}. This is caused by a genetic mutation of the MDR1 gene^{[citation needed]}. The most common toxicity is from the heartworm medicine Ivermectin found in products such as Heartgard^{[citation needed]}. (Only at very high doses. Most dogs will not have problems with Ivermectin found in products such as Heartgard Plus.) A test is available to determine if a particular dog carries the mutated gene. Read here for more information. Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a congenital, inherited, bilateral eye disease of dogs involving the retina, choroid, and sclera. ... Cataract is also used to mean a waterfall or where the flow of a river changes dramatically. ... This article covers Hip dysplasia, a condition affecting the hip joint, which occurs in humans but is more commonly associated with animals, especially dogs (Canine hip dysplasia). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Collie. ... Country of origin Germany Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The German Shepherd Dog (known also as the Alsatian or Schäfer(hund)) is an intelligent breed of dog. ... Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication and is effective against most common intestinal worms (except tapeworms), most mites, and some lice. ...

Double Merle

Double merling,also known as lethal white, occurs when two merle dogs mate. Double merles are mostly white, and have blue eyes that usually have serious disorders. Not all have eye problems,but all will have hearing problems. Only irresponsible or uninformed breeders will allow two merles to breed and produce double merles. Blue merle Border Collie puppy Merle is a colour combination in dogs’ coats. ...

History

The Australian Shepherd's history is vague, as is the reason for its misleading name It is believed by some the breed has Basque origins in Spain and was used there by shepherds[2] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Language(s) Basque - few monoglots Spanish - 1,525,000 monoglots French - 150,000 monoglots Basque-Spanish - 600,000 speakers Basque-French - 76,000 speakers [4] other native languages Religion(s) Traditionally Roman Catholic The Basques (Basque: ) are an indigenous people[5] who inhabit parts of north-central Spain and southwestern...

What is known is that it developed in western North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries.^[8]

An Australian Shepherd from non-standard working lines; early breeders chose dogs for their abilities rather than conformation.

Breeds as we know them today did not exist before Victorian times, but local variations of the ancestors of different breeds that we know today came into America along with their owners and livestock. Included are some that are now extinct or that have merged into other breeds. These probably included the English Shepherd, Kelpie, Dorset Blue Shag, Cumberland Sheepdog, Scottish Collie, Glenwherry Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, Welsh Sheepdog (which still includes a blue merle variety) and Bouvier des Flandres, as well as dogs from Germany and Spain. For many centuries, shepherds had more interest in dogs who performed well when helping to manage flocks of sheep than they had in the specific appearance of the dogs. As a result, over time, shepherds interbred dogs that they believed would produce better workers for the given climate and landscape. In the eastern U.S., Terrain and weather conditions were similar to that of Europe, however, so the existing imported breeds and their offspring worked well there.^[3] Australian Shepherd red tricolor Kye Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... Australian Shepherd red tricolor Kye Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... The English Shepherd is an American breed of dog. ... The Bouvier des Flandres is a dog breed originating in Flanders. ... Shepherd in Făgăraş Mountains, Romania. ...

However, in the American West, conditions were quite different. In the primarily arid and semiarid areas inhabited sparsely by early Spanish settlers, temperatures reached extremes of hot and cold, and fields varied in altitude from sea level into the higher, rougher Sierra Nevada and similar mountain ranges.^[3] The ranchers in these areas often pasture livestock on remote ranges without attention for months at a time. They prefer aggressive herding dogs that can be taken to remote pastures and work unfamiliar cattle that are not accustomed to the dogs. The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditionally refers to the region constituting the westernmost states of the United States (see geographical terminology section for further discussion of these terms). ... This article is about arid terrain. ... This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ...

With the 1849 California Gold Rush, a massive migration occurred into to the west coast, and along with easterners came flocks of sheep and their eastern herding dogs; from the southwest came people and their dogs of Spanish descent. But it was just as effective to bring sheep in by ship, and in they came, including flocks from Australia and other regions, along with shepherds and their own herding breeds.^[3] The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began shortly after January 24, 1848 (when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill in Coloma). ...

Black and white (bicolor) Australian Shepherd stopping cows

Dogs from Australia had already begun to be selected and bred for climates and terrains that were often similar to California. Image File history File linksMetadata Kite_and_the_Fury_on_cattle. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Kite_and_the_Fury_on_cattle. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

As shepherds selected dogs who could handle stock in harsh storms, high arid heat, and chilling cold, and who could think on their own in challenging terrain, reacting instantly to the movement of sheep and to their handlers' commands, the type that became known as the Australian Shepherd was born.^[3]

It is not clear where the name "Australian" came from, although it is possible that many of the dogs coming from Australia were blue merle and, somehow, the adjective "Australian" became associated with any dogs of that coat color.^[3]

Recent history

Development of the breed began in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. The breed's foundation bloodlines are depicted in the Australian Shepherd Genealogy Chart showing the relationship between the early families of dogs. [3]

Selective breeding for many generations focused on aspects of the dog that enabled it to function as an effective stockdog in the American west. It had to handle severe weather; have plenty of speed, athleticism, energy, and endurance; and be intelligent, flexible, and independent while remaining obedient. The Australian Shepherd remained more of a type than a breed until the 1950s, when they became popular as performing dogs in rodeos. Their stunts and skills earned them places in several Disney films, including Run Appaloosa Run and Stub: The Greatest Cowdog in the West.^[3] Selective breeding in domesticated animals is the process of developing a cultivated breed over time. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that History of rodeo be merged into this article or section. ... Disney redirects here. ...

Activities

A blue merle in a dog agility competition

Like other herding breeds, these dogs excel at many dog sports, especially herding, dog agility, frisbee, and flyball. The dog has a stride in which its front and back legs cross over, making for an appearance of "on the edge" speed. The dogs instinctively use a "pounce" position (see above) to deal with cattle trying to kick them. They also have strong hips and legs, allowing for fast acceleration and high jumping, sometimes as high as 4 ft (1.3m). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (752x842, 359 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (752x842, 359 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ... A herding dog is a dog that either has been trained in herding or that is a member of a breed developed for herding. ... Dog sports are activities that involve dogs. ... A man herding goats in Tunisia Herding is the act of bringing individual animals together into a group, maintaining the group and moving the group from place to place—or any combination of those. ... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ... Logo for the Quadruped, a disc dog organization Disc dog is the more generic name for what is commonly called Frisbee dog. ... Dogs from two teams race against each other over parallel lines of jumps. ...

An Australian Shepherd named Pockets is credited as being the oldest dog to earn a title in AKC history, having earned the Rally Novice title at the age of 15 years, 5 weeks.^[9]

Miscellaneous

The Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) was founded in 1957 to promote the breed. The National Stock Dog Registry became its official breed registry, which continued until ASCA took over in the 1972. [4]

In 1975, ASCA created a breed standard, describing exactly how an Australian Shepherd should look and be constructed (its conformation). It developed more uniformity in the breed and standardized the type. A breed standard (also called bench standard) in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to insure that the animals produced by a breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed. ... A Conformation point in dog breeding and showing is any one out of a long list of dog attributes known as the breed standard. ...

In the United States, the AKC is the primary registry for purebred dogs. However, many Aussie breeders felt that AKC put too much emphasis on conformation and not enough on performance, so ASCA declined to join the AKC. Those breeders who felt that AKC membership had its advantages split off from ASCA to form their own Australian Shepherd club, the United States Australian Shepherd Association, created their own breed standard, and joined the AKC in 1993. The decision about affiliation with the AKC remains controversial, as it does with many performance breeds. © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ...

In addition to the Miniature Australian Shepherd, the western United States are now seeing the emergence of an even smaller version, referred to as the Toy Australian Shepherd, with adult males tipping the scales at a mere 12 to 15 pounds (5.5 to 7 kg). The genetic consequences of breeding the standard Australian Shepherd down to one-quarter size remain to be seen. Some owners of Australian Shepherds consider the Mini and Toy to be separate breeds; others consider them to be downsized versions of the same breed. ASCA in particular considers all such variants to be separate breeds.^[10] The Miniature Australian Shepherd was developed by selectively breeding small Australian Shepherds. ...

References

1. ^ FCI: Australian Shepherd Short Historical Survey.
2. ^ United States Australian Shepherd Association. About Aussies.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Coile, D. Caroline [1999]. "History of the Australian Shepherd", Australian Shepherds (in English). Barron's, 5-7. 
4. ^ http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 8, 2007
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007
6. ^ http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007
7. ^ Caring for an Australian Shepherd - Breeder Retriever, URL dated December 7, 2006
8. ^ ASCA Working Description of Aussies. Official Breed Club Site.
9. ^ Sun Newspapers - MNSUN.com - Archives
10. ^ http://asca.org/ASCA+News/Announcements

• Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Parragon Publishing. ISBN. 
• Fogle, Bruce (2000). The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Dorling Kindersley (DK). ISBN. 
• McCormick, Marla. Buster Alert.

is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Breed Books

• Hartnagle, Carol Ann, Hartnagle, Ernest (2006). Total Australian Shepherd:Beyond the Beginning. Hoflin Publishing. ISBN #0-86667-072-6.. 
• Hartnagle-Taylor, Jeanne Joy (1996,2005). All About Aussies. Alpine Publishing. ISBN # 1-57779-074-X.. 
  • Australian Shepherd Books and Videos

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Australian Shepherd

• Breed clubs
  • Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association
  • Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA)
  • United States Australian Shepherd Club
  • Western European Working Australian Shepherd Club
  • National Australian Shepherd Association
  • Australian Shepherd Club of Victoria Inc.
  • Australian Shepherd Association of New South Wales
  • Australian Shepherd Club of New England

• Information
  • United States Australian Shepherd Foundation
  • Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute
  • Historical Photos
  • Breed Origins and History
  • ASCA History
  • Australian Shepherd Geneology Chart
  • A View of Australian Shepherd History
  • Grooming Australian Shepherds
  • Australian Shepherd Homozygous "Lethal White" Merles
  • Australian Shepherd Information Page
• Breed Rescue Groups (dogs for adoption)
  • Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline
  • ARPH - Georgia
  • Northeast ARPH
  • Heartland Aussie Rescue
  • Directory of Aussie Rescue Organizations