Your
Online Guide to Information & Facts About Australian Shepherd Dogs and Puppies

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.
Alternate Names:
Common Misspellings: Minature Aussie, Minature Australian Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Australian Sheperd
Learn all about Australian Shepherd Dogs and Puppies
through our in-depth guide to the Australian Shepherd dog breed.
You'll find solid information about Australian Shepherddog history,
Australian Shepherd life expectancy Australian Shepherddog
appearance, Australian Shepherdtemperament
and personality, Australian Shepherd health problems,
Australian Shepherd puppy care, training Australian Shepherd
puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information
about choosing a responsible Australian Shepherd dog breeder.
Known as one of the most intelligent breeds of dog in the world, the Australian Shepherd is a wonderful and seemingly tireless companion. Bred for the task of tending unruly sheep, these beautiful canines require athletic humans to keep up with their fast-paced lifestyles.
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Country of Origin:
Australia
Australian Shepherd Height: 14-18 inches for Miniature Aussies, 18-23 inches average for standard
Australian Shepherd Weight: 17-35 pounds average for Miniature Australian Shepherds, 40-65 pounds for standard
Australian Shepherd Color Variations: colors Australian Shepherd Size Variations:
sizes
Australian Shepherd Exercise Needs: Demanding
Australian Shepherd Grooming Demands: Moderate
Australian Shepherd Training Ease: Moderate
Australian Shepherd Life Expectancy: 12-13 years
Average Australian Shepherd Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on
Pedigree
Are Australian Shepherds Good With Children?: Yes, with supervision.
Are Australian Shepherds Good With Other Pets?: Usually
AKC Breed Group: Herding
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With origins as mottled as his coat, the Australian Shepherd is a unique little working animal that has been capturing the hearts of dog lovers since the end of WWII. While it is believed that this beautiful breed may have originated near the Basque region of the Pyrenees Mountains, he was dubbed the Australian Shepherd, due to his close association with the Basque shepherds who made their way into the United States, from Australia, during the 1800’s. In fact, the Australian Shepherd is not even registered in Australia as a native breed, despite the dog’s gaining recognition throughout the world since the 1950’s. Regardless of his origins, however, this beautiful dog was further developed within the United States, where he was not only recognized as a registered breed, but he was also quick to gain popularity, featured in various rodeos and wild west shows, movies and on the television. In no time flat, the Australian Shepherd became a part of Western culture.
A favorite amongst ranchers, the Australian Shepherd is an excellent herder, able to control sheep, cattle and even horses, through a complex collection of movements, techniques and, of course, the herding 'eye' (a term which refers to the herding dog's ability to control the herd through eye contact). This dog is extremely attentive and quick, allowing him to not only notice the calf that is about to break from the herd but, even more, allowing him to head said calf off before it gets more than a few bounds away. At times, these movements are so quick, and so precise, it seems like the Australian Shepherd knows what each member of the herd is going to do, before they even do it.
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As if the intelligence and extreme trainability of the Australian Shepherd wasn't draw enough, this scruffy little dog is truly a prince amongst the canine world as well. Sporting coats of red, black, or the more exotic red or blue merle, they are a sight to behold and their eyes are jewel-like, ranging in shade from amber and blue to a rich brown, as well as mottled, marbled and flecked, with any combination of the mentioned colors. It's not uncommon to find yourself captured by an attentive mismatched gaze; a sight which only helps add to this wonderful breed’s allure. Additionally, the Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized herding dog, standing only 20-23 inches at the top of the shoulder, which makes him small enough to comfortably enjoy life both inside and outside the house.
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While the Australian Shepherd may not require weekly trips to the groomers, he falls under the high maintenance category, simply due to the fact that he requires frequent and diligent brushing. While the Australian Shepherd's coat rarely gets mats and needs no trimming, in order to keep it in good condition, Aussies do shed. In fact, Aussies can shed a lot, all year round. If you’re interested in one of these wonderful dogs, it’s best to keep in mind that you may spend a lot of time vacuuming the floor and the furniture with this hairy bundle of joy.
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One downfall of the Australian Shepherd is that they are a very active dog and do require a good deal of exercise, so they are not well-adapted to a city lifestyle in an apartment, unless you’re prepared to spend a lot of time down at the local dog park - of course, they are also known to make excellent Frisbee dogs, with their athletic frames and high-energy personalities, so this may be an option for you yet!
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A very quick and intelligent dog, the Australian Shepherd is sometimes seen as a bit of a challange to train. While the combination of their intelligence, happy-go-lucky personality, and athletic ability makes them perfect dogs for agility training, getting these independent thinkers to work with you takes patience and a gentle hand. The Australian Shepherd will also react in a very stubborn or shy manner to any who apply a heavy hand or stern voice. Persistence and a whole lot of patience are the best techniques to bring to these training sessions. Be patient and try to remember that he doesn't mean to be impudent, but he's used to tending sheep, not rolling over and playing dead.
Like any breed of dog, the Australian Shepherd is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Australian Shepherd puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Australian Shepherds include:
Hip dysplasia Cataracts Ocular or iris coloboma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Distichiasis Epilepsy Heart problems Thyroid problems Merle-to-merle breedings resulting in deafness
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The Aussie, as he is affectionately known, is a sweet-tempered dog and rarely aggressive with other animals. He can be, at times, somewhat shy and does best with quiet voices and gentle, slow touches. If you're expecting a lot of traffic or noisy visitors, it's probably safest to provide your Australian Shepherd with a quiet place that he can retreat to, should noise levels become too much to bear.
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Fans of the breed are quick to say that you're bound to fall in love with the keen Australian Shepherd and why not? What is not to love about this gorgeous and highly intelligent canines? For many, the Australian Shepherd may seem like the perfect pet.
Nevertheless, it's important to weigh the facts when you take any new pet into consideration - How much time do you have to spend with a dog? How much time do you have to devote to his training? While Australian Shepherds can be fairly independent, they still respond well to company and slow training. Particularly young dogs do not do well when left for long periods of time. Also take into consideration that these are very high energy dogs and need a fair amount of exercise - if you don't have the time to make a commitment to a dog such as this, you might prefer someone more tame and laid back. If you don't mind the exercise level and aren't adverse to a bit of dog hair, then the Australian Shepherd may be the perfect dog for you!
Average Australian Shepherd Price:
$750 - $1000
Price always varies when it comes to the
purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Australian Shepherddog
or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight
on acquiring a great Australian Shepherd puppy
from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the
price
as a secondary concern in making your decision.
Buying a Australian Shepherd dog or puppy at a cheap price from
a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to
heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life,
should your Australian Shepherd puppy have hereditary health problems or
behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with
cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Australian Shepherd
breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized,
healthy puppy of stable temperament.
Australian Shepherd prices also will vary according to
the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will
generally be less expensive as show-quality Australian Shepherd
puppies
intended to be shown in conformation.
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If you are ready to add an adorable Australian Shepherd puppy to your
family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of
Australian Shepherd Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and
information posted by
reputable Australian Shepherd breeders. We actively screen
Australian Shepherd breeders who wish to advertise on our service
by asking that they meet and follow our
Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and
check - three references from each breeder.
By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope
that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible
Australian Shepherd breeder near you. We cannot physically
inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us,
so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and
interview.
Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money
out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores.
Buy your Australian Shepherd puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby
breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home
environment.
When you locate that perfect Australian Shepherd puppy
- please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our
growing gallery of Australian Shepherd dog and puppy pictures!
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Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.
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