| General Information |
| Group(s):
Herding |
Height: 18-23 inches |
| Weight: 35-60 pounds |
Longevity: 12-16 years |
| Colors: Blue merle, black, red merle, red - all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points |
Coat type: depending on bloodline moderate to medium length, straight to wavy, does not require extensive grooming but does shed quite a bit. |
| Recognized Registries: ASCA, AKC |
| Overall Appearance: Athletic and agile, coat can create the illusion of a bigger more robust dog than is there. Intelligent, alert expression adds to the overall appearance of a canine superstar. |
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| Personaility - Behavior - Training |
| Energy Level: moderate to high |
| General Nature: |
An intelligent, active, good natured, somewhat protective dog that may be reserved with strangers but extremely loyal to their family. |
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with Children: good, especially if socialized with children, may try to herd |
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with other pets: usually good, especially if raised with other animals |
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with dogs: usually good, have a strong sense of pack order |
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| Socialization requirements: Need quite a bit of socialization especially through puppy hood. Aussies tend to be very aware of their surroundings and may be more reactive to their environment than other breeds. |
| Ideal home characteristics: Aussies love to be with |
| Temperament Notes: Temperaments vary with bloodline. Range from soft to more dominant, outgoing to more reserved. Some bloodlines can be more protective, which may not be best for a family with young children. It is very important that the owner seek out a dog with the app |
| Training requirement: Much like their cousin, the Border Collie, this is an intelligent, energetic breed with a strong work ethic. They will develop a routine and responsibilities (often undesirable ones like herding children or cars) without training and socialization. |
| Trainer notes: Aussies are easily trained and have a strong desire to please. Though they are highly intelligent, that doesn?t necessarily make them very easy to live with, as they may offer more of a challenge than some owners have time for. Aussies do well with positive training methods and excel at most dog sports (obedience, agility, tracking, herding). Socialization is important, especially for homes with young children. |
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| Background Information |
| Year range of first recognition: ASCA 1957 AKC 1991 |
| Country of Origin: USA |
| Original Function: ranch/stock dog |
| History: Despite their name, the Australian Shepherd as we know it did not develop in Australia, but the United States. The breed most likely derived from a shepherd dog from the Basque region of France and was called the |
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| Adoption Information |
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| Deviations from Standard: Tail too long; ears from button to prick; excessive white; without any white; coat longer or shorter than usual; ticking |
| Health Notes: Hip Dysplasia, Eye Problems, Auto Immune Issues, Epilepsy, Excessive white merles may have hearing and vision problems |
| Health Testing: OFA or Penn Hip; CERF |
| Questions to ask Breeder: http://www.digitaldog.com/breeder_questions.html - The Breeder Questions as listed here provided with explanations and answers you will want to be looking for!
- How often has the dam been bred?
- Why was the sire chosen?
- Could I receive a list of references consisting of past puppy buyers?
- Are you available to me as a resource for questions about my dog throughout their life?
- Have the puppies temperament been evaluated and you help with choosing an appropriate match to the my family's lifestyle?
- Will you take back or help rehome the dog if the placement is not suitable or if we were unable to keep them at any time?
- Do you provide a written contract and guarantee?
- Would you provide a copy of the pup's health record?
- Will you provide copies of the sire and dam's health clearances?
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| Web Sites: http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=6040037 - Great dogs like Donny, are available through rescue. Housetrained and living in a foster home, you can find out a great deal about their personality and more prior to adoption
www.ashgi.org/
www.asca.org/
aussierescue.leepfrog.com/
www.staar.org/
www.australianshepherds.org/
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| Other Resources |
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