Australian Shepherd
Group: Herding
Lifespan: 12-15 Years
Pups per Litter: 6-9
Average Weight: 40-65 lbs.
Average Height: 18-23 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: High
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals 
History
The Australian Shepherd (also called the "Aussie") was originally bred in the United States and are classified under the "Herding" dog group. This breed is best known for their amazing abilities to herd sheep and cattle, as well as retrieving for sport or work purposes. Aussie's are thought to be decendants of Collie's and a variety of Spanish dogs. Although the exact blood lineage of this breed is not 100 percent certain, the Australian Shepherd has become well known as a registered breed in the AKC as well as in the public as working dogs or more commonly as family pets.
The Australian Shepherd is famously known for being a "jack of all trades". They have a very devoted personality making them an easier breed to train and gives them more of an opportunity to learn different tricks or commands. It is not uncommon to see a working Aussie participating in a Search and rescue operation, police work or even being a part of a narcotics division. This breed is intelligent and agile as well as sweet and well mannored which gives them the right temperment to become the family pet or the working partner.
Traits
The Aussie is a loving, energetic breed that will need to recieve alot of attention as they are not the type of dog that enjoys independance. They can be protective of their family and home making them a good watchdog but should be introduced to as many people as possible when they are still puppies to ensure they dont become overly protective or weary of strangers as adults.
Although they love children and other dogs, the Australian Shepherd will often revert back to their herding insticts so any smaller house pets, such as cats, hamsters, mice etc. should be monitored when in the Aussies presence so they do not become the next to be herded!
This breed is definitely going to need something to keep their minds working because they will become bored easily if they dont have something to occupy their time.An abundance of toys, exercise and a large play area would be great for these dogs and will prevent situations of boredom of which they might decide to chew on items that are not intended for them!
House training the Aussie will be quite easy if the owner is consistent with the outtings and firm when accidents occur. These dogs are playful, outgoing and curious, so if training is made to be enjoyable and there is repetition to each command, they will pick it up very quickly.
The Australian Shepherd will become attached to their owners and will require quite a bit of praise when something is done to their owners liking and some sensitivity when they do something wrong as they can be emotional dogs that will actually become sad or guilty when they have upset or done something their owner dissaproves of.
Appearance
Weighing in at 40-65 lbs and averaging 18-23 inches high, the Australian Shepherd is a well proportioned, agile dog that comes in a variety of shades and colourings. They have floppy ears that are pricked upward and fold over, giving them their alert appearance as well as a thick coat that comes in brown&white, red or blue merle, copper or black.
The double coat is straight and of medium length giving them extra warmth when working in colder climates. Aussie's have a few varieties of eye colour, being amber, a deep brown and most commonly blue.The most famous part of the Aussie is their tail, or lack there of as at 3-5 days old, these dogs usually have their tails docked but some are bred with their tails naturally short (bobtailed). The athletic build of this dog along with the beautiful colouring and texture give the Australian Shepherd great conformation in the show ring!
Health
The Australian Shepherd is a breed that will have different ailments contributing to their colouring. Blue or red merles can be born deaf or blind and should be tested at a very early age for this. Aussie's are prone to Pelger-Huet syndrome, cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy and some puppies can develop spinal problems if both parents are natually bob tailed.
As it is for all purebred dogs, the parents medical history should be checked to ensure that the puppy is not going to inherit genetic diseases or ailments that can be prevented, as well as having the puppy checked at an early age for any health problems. On average the Australian Shepherd will live approximately 12-15 years.
Training
This breed is an easier dog to train provided the owner is repetitive, firm but not harsh and can also make the training enjoyable for the dog. They tend to pick up commands or tricks after the first few times and will be the first to show new people their talents in hopes of attention and praise!
These dogs love people and constantly want to please, so as long as the commands are clear and consise, obedience should not be a problem. With most dogs, it is much easier to get through to their minds if they are well exercised first, so a long walk or a trip to the dog park first and then some training time will be the best way to have all their attention on you and the commands you are encouraging them to learn!
Care
For this breed, stripping of the coat is necessary because they don’t shed as regularly as some other dogs do. Stripping is done by a groomer who takes a serrated knife and pulls out the loose fur. As for the tail of the dog, it is usually docked ( meaning to be shortened by way of surgery) and this is done at around 3-5 days after birth! The breed standard states that this is not necessary as it is somewhat a controversial subject of owners and dog fanatics.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Herding Group. They are great for people that enjoy outdoor activities or people that will have the time and energy to take them on daily walks and trips to off-leash areas so they can run and use up their energy! Retrieving, flyball or anything that involves running, swimming, or cardio activity is the best type of excercise for this breed.
They need to have a large amount of exercise to keep mentally as well as physically healthy. If an Aussie becomes bored they will take it upon themselves to do something that is entertaing, which might involve damaging furniture or other household items not meant for their use! They average about 6-9 puppies per litter. When obtaining a baby Aussie, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/australianshepherd.htm Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Shepherd Australian Shepherd Information
http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/index.cfm Australian Shepherd AKC Standards
http://www.staar.org/adoptIntro Australian Shepherd Rescue
http://www.asca.org/ Australian Shepherd Club of America
