Australian Shepherds

Living with an Aussie is like living with a partner who goes out of their way to find out what you want and then get it done—but who isn’t shy about suggesting a better way. Or insisting on it. Aussies are extremely smart, bred to both follow commands but to think for themselves when herding livestock. They learn quickly, want to please, and want to be active. The result is a dog who may end up watching you expectantly when it’s time for you to wake up in the morning, or get off the sofa, or just get up and get going in their opinion. This breed is great for people who like to do things with their dog, whether hiking, jogging, playing, or just working in the yard. They’re also great for people who like to compete in dog sports such as herding, obedience or Frisbee. And if you like company in the bathroom, or wherever else you may wander, they’ve got you covered. There’s also the fact that Aussies look like overgrown teddy bears. Everything looks round and soft and cuddly, although inside that fur is the body of a hard athlete. They come in several colors, all striking in their individual ways.

The Aussie is a medium-sized dog with neither heavy nor light bone for its size. It’s muscular and compactly built, powerful enough to work all day but light enough to be agile and quick. It’s slightly longer than tall, with a rounded appearance, moderate in every way. The head is fairly broad, with small triangular hanging ears and a keen eager expression. A few are born with natural bob tails, but most have long tails that are traditionally docked close to the body (4 inches or less in countries where docking is allowed). If left natural, the tail is usually long, straight, and plumed. If docked, it is performed around three days of birth, so you may not have the option of getting an undocked tail. The coat is of medium length, short on the face and fronts of legs but with feathering. It’s water resistant, with a fairly thick undercoat and an outer coat of medium texture, either straight or wavy. Colors can be red, black, red merle, or blue merle; all with or without white markings and/or copper points.

Like most dogs bred to herd, Australian Shepherds are pre-programmed to be in tune with directions from their people, but also have the ability to override them and think for themselves when circumstances call for it. This makes them not only ideal at doing what they were bred to do, but as everyday companions. They learn quickly and enjoy showing off what they can do, and they generally will do just as you tell them. But not always; if they think your directions are wrong they won’t hesitate to substitute their own “better” way of doing things. They get along well with people of all ages, as long as somebody in the family provides them with ample physical exercise. Once they’ve done their day’s running, they are fine to relax with the rest of the family. They are good with other family dogs, but some may challenge strange dogs. They are generally safe with cats if raised with them. They are not particularly gregarious toward strange people but will accept them once they become regular visitors. Aussies are among the more protective herding dogs, and they’re tough as well. Not only will they warn you of danger, but they will step between you and it, bravely facing down any perceived treat. Aussies tend to be extremely energetic and they crave activity. This is especially true of Aussies from working lines. Even though this sounds like a great thing, these dogs can require too much activity for the average family. If you want to work your dog herding or in various high-energy competitive sports and activities, a working line may be your best choice. But if you prefer a slightly toned-down version, a companion or show line might be better for you. Dogs from either line can make amazing service dogs.

Australian Shepherds were bred to follow directions. Herding dogs had to pay attention to the person directing them or they might chase the stock in the wrong direction. But they were also bred to think for themselves. Herding dogs who continued to head in one direction when an outlier took off in another needed to think fast and on their own to fix matters. Thus, Aussies had to also be self-reliant. This creates a breed that is both biddable but with a bit of independence. Most of the time, your Aussie will look to you for direction, and eagerly do as you say. But occasionally don’t be surprised if they blow you off and do as they think. That’s especially true if you try forcing them to do it your way. They were bred to be tough and tenacious and they can dig their feet in and be as willful and stubborn as any stock they ever tried to herd. When this happens it’s best to take a deep breath, start over and come at the problem from a different direction, and with a lot of treats. They really do want to please you and love showing off how smart they are. Never underestimate an Aussie’s ability to learn. Remember that while Aussies were bred to herd, they wormed their way into American families in large part through their trick dog performances at rodeos.

The breed’s origins began in Europe. From there, shepherds from the Basque region of Spain emigrated to Australia bringing with them their talented shepherd dogs. Australian cattle and terrain were much more fierce than what these dogs were used to, so they were interbred with tougher Australian stock dogs. When some of these Basque shepherds then emigrated to the western United States from Australia, American ranchers found these “Australian” dogs were ideal for the tough stock and terrain of the American west. Here they underwent even more crosses and selection, and became a different breed from their relatives in Australia. Today the Australian Shepherd is considered to be made in America. In the 1950s American rodeo-goers were treated to the show of Jay Sisler’s trick-trained Australian Shepherds. Many people left the rodeo with an Aussie puppy. The Australian Shepherd became a family dog. In 1957 the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) formed. Although not an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized club, ASCA remains the largest Aussie club in America. The AKC recognized the Australian Shepherd in 1993, with a separate parent breed club. Today the two organizations co-exist peacefully. The Aussie is a member of the AKC Herding group. Genetically, its closest relative is the Collie. The Australian Shepherd is still used as a working ranch dog in many parts of the country, but its greatest fame is as a family companion. It is also used as a service dog, drug detection dog, and search & rescue dog. Owners include Mel Gibson, Steve Jobs, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Tim Robbins, Sally Field, and Susan Sarandon. An Aussie named Hyper Hank became so famous for his Frisbee skills that he performed at the Super Bowl and visited the White House in the 1970s.