(Size standards may very slightly within different clubs)
Breed Characteristics and Temperament
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, medium-sized dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is also a delightful and loyal companion and a great family dog. He loves to be part of the daily hustle and bustle, and enjoys riding in the vehicle just to be with his beloved master. As a farm dog, he diligently carries out his responsibilities, be they bringing in the stock or finding that stray one that got tangled in the brush. He is easy to train, easy to housebreak, and eager to please.
Aussies have been used as seeing-eye dogs, as utility dogs to the physically handicapped, hearing aid dogs, police and narcotics dogs and search and rescue dogs. In the northern areas they have also been used as sled dogs. Many go with their masters as volunteers to children's homes and nursing homes to do therapy work. Truly, the Australian Shepherd is a highly versatile dog.
The Aussie (as he is lovingly nicknamed) is a very active dog that needs a great deal of exercise on a daily basis to prevent him from becoming bored or frustrated and developing destructive habits. Because of their high energy level, combined with high intelligence, Aussies need to be given a "job" to perform, be it shepherding the children, protecting the house, herding livestock or competing in dog events.
One of the most frequent reasons Aussies are turned over to rescue groups is because
their owners didn't realize how much energy the breed has, and weren't willing to channel
that energy through training. Aussies are also quite demanding of their owners' time and
attention and want to be constantly with them, following them from room to room in the
house, and going along in the car or truck on errands. They can be highly territorial and
protective of their masters' possessions, which can cause serious difficulties unless
controlled with proper training. They MUST BE SOCIALIZED daily or bad habits may develop in this protective/possesive behavior that most aussies develop during the bonding process.
BREED HISTORY
While there are many theories as to the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed as we know it today developed exclusively in the United States. The Australian Shepherd was given its name because of their association with the Basque sheepherders who came to the United States from Australia in the 1800's. The Aussie rose rapidly in popularity with the boom of western riding after World War II, becoming known to the general public via rodeos, horse shows, movies and television. Their inherent versatility and trainability made them useful on American farms and ranches. The American stockmen continued the development of the breed, maintaining the versatility, keen intelligence, strong herding instinct and eye-catching appearance.
Australian Shepherds have been registered with various registries since the early 1950's. In 1990, the United States Australian Shepherd Association was established as the parent club of the Australian Shepherd representing the breed to the American Kennel Club. On September 1, 1991, the AKC recognized the Australian Shepherd breed and on January 1, 1993, accepted them into the Herding Group.
HEALTH CONCERNS
You want to buy an Aussie that will be a wonderful companion for the next 12 to 15 years. By asking the right questions, you will be able to determine whether or not you are purchasing a dog who has the best chance of a long, healthy life and who has a good disposition.
Here are some health issues to ask about before buying a puppy.
HIP DYSPLASIA
The most common orthopedic problem in all dogs is hip dysphasia, a condition of the hip joint in which the bones are not properly formed. It results in a loose hip socket to thighbone connection causing hip pain and lameness ranging from mild to crippling.
Hip dysphasia is genetically transmitted, although environmental factors such as excessively rapid growth and excess weight gain in puppies can make the problem worse. The disease can be diagnosed by x-ray, which are normally taken at 24 months of age (or earlier if a problem is suspected). The film is sent to The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) , where it is read by three specialists who rate the quality of the hip joint conformation as excellent, good, fair, or dysplasic (ranging from mild to severe).
Responsible breeders x-ray their breeding stock and use only adults that are certified free of hip dysphasia. If you are buying a puppy, you should ask for and receive certification that both parents of the puppy have normal, disease-free hips. Ratings from Fair to Excellent are excepted as normal. Anything less than that from one parent or both parents would be a good reason not to purchase a puppy from that particular breeding.
HEREDITARY EYE DEFECTS
Aussies can inherit a number of eye defects that could impair vision in varying degrees or cause complete blindness. They include ocular coloboma, iris coloboma, juvenile and senior cataracts, detached retina, persistent papillary membrane, progressive retinal atrophy and distichiasis.
Responsible breeders do everything possible to produce normal-eyed puppies, which includes annual eye exams of all breeding adults, and using only dogs that are certified to be normal by a board-certified ophthalmologist. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is a registry that monitors eye problems in all purebred dogs and which also provides certification of normal eyes.
Puppies eyes can be examined as early as 6 weeks of age, thus ensuring new buyers that they are receiving a puppy with normal vision. If the breeder has not taken the puppies for their eyes to be checked before placing them into new homes a guarantee on the health of the puppies eye results should be given to all new puppy owners in writing from the breeder at time of purchase. Don't hesitate to ask the breeder about the eye exams and guarantee. A responsible breeder will provide you with one or the other. When you buy a puppy, documentation of both the sire and dam's most recent eye exams should be included in the information you receive.
OTHER HEREDITARY PROBLEMS
A few Aussies, as all dogs, can develop other hereditary diseases including epilepsy, thyroid dysfunction, heart disease, elbow dysphasia, a familial tendency toward cancer, and allergies resulting in serious skin problems. These health conditions cause a great deal of suffering and medical expense. Needless to say, dogs with family histories of such health problems should never be used for breeding purposes. Before you buy a puppy, ask the breeder if such diseases have appeared in relatives of the puppy's sire or dam. A responsible breeder will know which problems crop up in their bloodlines, how to test for it, and how to plan breedings to reduce the frequency of occurrence.
SPAY AND NEUTERING
About 17 million cats and dogs are turned in to animal shelters across the country each year. Only 1 out of every 5 finds a new home, while the rest are "put to sleep". That's almost 37,000 cats, dogs, kittens and puppies killed every day, 365 days a year.
The suffering caused by pet overpopulation is overwhelming, yet, much of it could be avoided by spaying and neutering. Living with a spayed female is more pleasant for you -- no messy heat cycles or midnight visits from neighborhood males, and your female pet will have a decreased risk of mammary cancer and uterine infections, not to mention a much more stable moodiness. Neutering your male discourages "wandering," marking of territory by urinating on every little thing may soften aggressiveness and reduces the risk of prostate infections and cancer.
Won't children miss the chance to witness the miracle of birth? Chances are, they'd miss it anyway, because most litters are born late at night or when people are not watching. However, schools and libraries offer excellent films and books on the subject.
If you've ever tried to find good homes for your pet's babies, you know how difficult it can be. And if you do find homes, are you sure the animals will still be loved and cared for when their cuteness wears off? How many of them will go on to add to the overpopulation problem by having litters of their own? If you're unable to find a home for just one of your pet's offspring, raising the kitten or puppy for one year will cost more that the price of spaying the mother.
Remember -- almost 37,000 cats, dogs, kittens and puppies are euthanized every day. Be part of the solution -- spay or neuter your pet.
Enjoy searching for your future family member, but at the same time remember all dogs have different needs, different natural instincts, and different natural habits. Be sure to research all the information regarding the type of puppy you would like to own to make sure the puppy will fit into your life style and fulfill the needs you are looking for while asking yourself if you can fill the puppies needs as well. Thank you for considering a Maple Hills puppy. : )
