Australian Shepherd

It is very obvious for a person to assume that the Australian shepherds hail from Australia as the name itself suggests, but it is actually not true. Despite having “Australian” in their name, they actually hail from the United States has developed in California in the 19th century. They are a breed of herding dog. The Australian shepherds, affectionately called Aussie shepherds, were bred for herding and working. From the time they were introduced in the 19th century, they have been the country’s most popular breed. They are active, playful, and unfailingly loyal. They are intelligent, quick learners and eager-to-please. The Australian shepherd dogs were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1993. As per the latest data of 2020, they are the 13th most popular breed of the American Kennel Club. 

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The Australian Shepherd: Taxonomic Classification

The Australian Shepherd: At a Glance

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History of Australian Shepherd Sheepdog Breeds

The Australian sheepdog developed in California in the late 1800s. It was a sheep herding dog for Californian shepherds. They are believed to have developed from the variety of herding dogs that were imported to California with sheep imports which includes collies from Australia and New Zealand. It is also believed that  Basque Shepherd Dog and the Pyrenean Sheepdog are the ancestors of the Aussie Shepherd. From California, they spread all over the western US, where it became very popular. The ranchers of the western United States valued them the most. The sheepdog’s working qualities and their ability to handle cattle and other livestock was most liked by the ranchers. 

Till the mid of the 20th century, the Australian sheepdog was not known outside of the livestock industry. They were popularised by a rodeo performer - Jay Lister. He overwhelmed the crowd of the western states with his Australian Shepherds performing all manner of tricks. Soon, the breed club - the Australian Shepherd Club of America was formed to promote this breed. The breed was also recognised by the United Kennel Club in the year 1979 and they got the kennel club recognition also. They were then recognised by the American Kennel Club in the 1990s and also by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 

By and from the late 20th century, they became very popular as the companion dog and were seen in conformation shows. In the year 2019, it was ranked as the 15th most popular breed of dog in the United States by the American Kennel Club. 

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Australian Shepherd: Description

• Appearance: The Australian sheepdog is a medium-sized herding dog with a solid build. Their body is slightly longer than it is tall and their pattern and colour vary greatly. The Aussie shepherd has a moderately long and wavy double coat. The topcoat is weather-resistant and the undercoat helps them adjust to both heat and cold. They can go weeks after a bath but they do need weekly brushing to keep them debris-free and prevent their matted fur. Some of the Aussie’s have naturally bobbed (shorter at birth) tails while few others were historically docked in puppyhood. 

Though their colour and pattern vary greatly, the United States Australian Shepherd Association has recognised four major categories: red, black, red merle and blue merle. The Red Merle Australian Shepherd dogs have mottled patches of liver and cream or in some cases, patches of white or copper. The solid red and red merle Australian sheepdog both tend to have red lips, noses, and eye rims. The blue merle Australian shepherd dog has black spots against a gray base that darkens with age. They may have stunning blue eyes, brown eyes, amber eyes or one blue and one brown eye. They have short floppy ears and have a long tail that is sometimes docked. Both the blue and black australian shepherds have black noses, lips, and eye rims. 

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• Temperament: There is no doubt that the Australian shepherds are working breeds. The Australian shepherd puppy spent hours alongside their owners in the fields herding sheep and cattle. They are a very active breed, hence, they require a lot of daily exercises, mental stimulation, and obedience training to be their happiest. A few ways to keep them happy, healthy, and adequately exercised are - Hiking, running, never-ending games of fetch, and agility course training. 

The Australian Shepherd Club of America has pointed out the fact that if the Australian shepherd dog does not get adequate exercise, they may get into trouble and become destructive if left alone for too long. The Aussie shepherds are loyal in nature and not aggressive in nature. They prefer to stick to their owners and shy away from strangers. They are protective in nature and start barking when they see any stranger. The Australian Shepherds are good with cats, other dogs, and children under supervision. 

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• Living Needs: Though the Australian Shepherd sheepdog breeds have adapted the new lifestyle of their new (kind of) owners, they still need a lot of space to be properly exercised. Brian Kilcommons, an American author and dog trainer, said, “When you have an Australian shepherd, it’s going to be very active, very smart, and tough. It has a high need for exercise and mental stimulation. You need to be willing to go to obedience competitions or agility or fly ball or something that is going to engage the dog both mentally and physically”. 

The australian shepherds are quick to learn, eager to please and they enjoy regular training sessions. They may have separation anxiety if left alone for long hours. 

• Care: Even though the Australian shepherds have long coats, their grooming cost is relatively on the lower side. With full baths, their upper coat, which is weather-resistant, can self-clean. But, they do need regular brushing to clear the debris, control shedding and matting and promote healthy skin. The Australian Shepherd Club of America has recommended brushing them twice a week in the spring and fall season as these seasons are the heavy shedding periods. 

Health of Australian Sheepdogs

The Australian shepherd dogs are healthy breeds with a lifespan of around 12 - 15 years. But, they can have severe health problems. Not all of them get these diseases but it is recommended to be aware of them if you are planning to own a australian shepherd puppy. A few common diseases of the dog breed are: Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Deafness, Epilepsy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD),  Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Cataract, Distichiasis, Collie Eye Anomaly, Persistent Pupillary Membranes, Allergies, Hypothyroidism, Nasal Solar Dermatitis, Detached Retina and Cancer. 

Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a condition in which the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. This is a hereditary disease. In this disease, the dogs experience pain or lameness in the rear legs. With growing age, they can develop arthritis also. 

Elbow Dysplasia: Just like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is also a hereditary disease. They are more common in larger breeds. It is caused by different growth rates of the three bones that make up the dog's elbow, causing joint laxity. 

Epilepsy: The Aussie shepherds suffer from epilepsy which causes seizures. 

Deafness: Deafness is a very common disease in australian shepherds. Some forms of this disease can be cured with medication and surgery but it is generally not curable. 

Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD): This is an orthopaedic condition that is caused by the improper growth of cartilage in the joints. It usually occurs in the elbows, but can occur in shoulders too. This disease causes a painful stiffening of the joint.  It can be detected in them as early as four to nine months of age. This disease may be cured by feeding them high protein foods. 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a degenerative eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. It can be detected years before the breed shows any signs of blindness. 

Cataract: In this disease, the dogs experience a cloudy appearance in their eyes causing difficulty in seeing. This occurs in old age. 

Distichiasis: Distichiasis is a condition in which an additional row of eyelashes grow on the oil gland in the dog's eye and protrude along the edge of the eyelid. This disease is treated surgically by freezing the excess eyelashes with liquid nitrogen and then by removing them. 

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA): Collie Eye Anomaly is a genetic abnormality which causes blindness in the dog breed. 

Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM): PPM is strands of tissue in the eye, remnants of the fetal membrane that nourished the lenses of the eyes before birth. They normally disappear at 4 - 5 weeks but may persist. 

Hypothyroidism: This is a condition where the hormone produced by the thyroid gland becomes extremely low. The signs of this disease include obesity, mental dullness, lethargy, drooping of the eyelids, low energy levels, irregular heat cycles, coarse and brittle falling furs and tough and dark skin. 

Allergies: Allergies are very common in this breed. They are prone to food allergies, contact allergies caused by a reaction of pathogens with the dog’s body such as bedding, shampoos, powders or other chemicals. They can also get inhalant allergies caused by allergens present in the air such as pollen, dust, and mildew. 

Cancer: Just like human beings, dogs also develop cancer. They can be treated depending on the type and severity of the disease. 

Drug Sensitivity: Drug sensitivity is very common in this dog breed. The cause of drug sensitivity is a mutation of the Multidrug Resistance Gene (MDR1), which produces a protein called P-glycoprotein. The function of this protein is to pump out all the toxic substances from the dog’s body to prevent the harmful effects of the toxins. If MDR1 does not work properly, the dog becomes sensitive to drugs. The signs of this disease include tremors, depression, seizures, incoordination, hypersalivation, coma, and even death. 

Nasal Solar Dermatitis: This disease is also known as Collie-nose. This disease occurs in dogs who have little or no pigment in their nose. Dogs who are super sensitive to sunlight may develop lesions on the nose or eyelids. The lesions may range from light pink to ulcerating lesions. Dogs who have this disease may avoid direct sunlight. And also, the application of dog sunscreen may help them prevent this disease. 

Detached Retina: In this disease, the retina detaches from its underlying supportive tissues. This can lead to visual impairment or complete blindness. 

Fun Facts

• Australian shepherd Hyper Hank and his owner Eldon McIntire used to perform in a frisbee routine during the Super Bowl XII pre-show in the 70s. Later, they were invited to the White House to meet President Carter. 

• They are synonymous with cowboy culture and appeared often in rodeos, Western films, and TV shows, which helped to boost the breed’s popularity. 

• The Australian shepherds were originally bred for herding, but a modern-day dog has become australian shepherd police dog, which helps to sniff out narcotics or aid in search-and-rescue missions. 

• It is very common for the Aussies to have two different coloured or marbled eyes.