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Australian Shepherd |
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Description... |
 The
Australian Shepherd, or "little blue dog" as it is often called
because of some of the breed's blue Merle colour, is a
medium-sized dog trained originally as a herder. This breed is
attentive and animated, solid and muscular. Its docked or
naturally bobbed tale complements its solid physique. His moderate
length coat, somewhat coarse, comes in an assortment of four
colours: black, blue Merle, red Merle, and red. This dog does best
in the suburbs or in the country with an active, experienced
owner. The dog is very intelligent, and its instinct to herd can
often overpower any desire it may have to obey. Leashes and fenced
yards are a must!
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History...
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While the origin of the Australian Shepherd, or
Aussie, is not completely known, the breed is thought to have
derived from the Basques people who immigrated to Australia and
the United States in the nineteenth century.
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Traits...
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 The
Aussie makes a wonderful companion for an intense Frisbee-throwing
session. This dog is also a great herder, and will nip at people's
heels to "herd" them. Perhaps the ideal companion for the large
family on the go?
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Good aspects...
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The Australian Shepherd is an excellent herding
dog, excelling as well in Dogs for the Deaf programs, narcotics
detection units, and on search and rescue missions. This dog is
easy to train, likes a lot of exercise, is good with children and
can be taught to be friendly to strangers. In addition, this breed
makes an excellent watchdog, and bonds well to the entire family.
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Health...
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Some genetic problems in Aussies include
malocclusions (faulty bites which may affect a dog's health),
juvenile cataracts, Collie Eye Anomaly (symptoms range from
choroidal hypoplasia to optic nerve coloboma to retina
detachment), cleft palate, epilepsy (not necessarily hereditary),
primary glaucoma, homozygous merles (defective double-gene found
in some white Aussies), hip dysplasia, Progressive Renal Atrophy
(PRA), spina bifida, and iri colobomas (may not be hereditary). In
addition, reds and red Merles are susceptible to sunburn.
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Be aware...
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Because the Aussie is a herder by nature, and an
energetic dog in general, if it is kept confined and not kept
busy, it can become prone to destructive chewing. In addition,
this dog is highly reflex-responsive, and will scramble away if
suddenly touched. Although this is a prized quality for a herd dog
so that it can get out of the way of aggressive cattle, it makes
for an annoyance inside the home. This dog will also shed a lot,
and requires a weekly grooming, lots of exercise and a large home
to live in.
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Summary...
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Leashes and fenced yards are a must for this dog,
whose instinct to herd is often greater than its desire to obey!
Also, if you are looking for a family pet, avoid the strict
working lines of this breed. The working line of the Aussie breed
may be too intense to be a good family pet.
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source: petcare information centre-
petcare.umn.edu
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Further resources... |
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