Criteria for the appearance of the Australian Shepherd, the manifestation of temperament and health features of the dog, grooming the coat, ears, teeth, walking the dog. Puppy price. The Australian Shepherd is a herding breed that originated in the United States. It is so named because it is descended from dogs brought to America from Australia, although this is unclear. The dog works with herds of cattle and sheep, but has also become known as a rodeo member and family companion. She is commonly referred to as the Australian, but is also known as the Australian Shepherd of North America, American Shepherd, California Shepherd, New Mexico Shepherd, Rodeo Dog, Spanish Shepherd, Shepherd Dog, Wiggleboot, Velcro and Short-tail Dog.
Description of the external breed standard Australian Shepherd
This medium-sized animal is similar to other herding dogs, but has a peculiar "coat" and tail. Males have from 50, 8 to 58, 42 cm in height at the withers and weigh from 22, 68 to 29, 49 kg. Bitches have from 45, 72 to 53, 34 cm of height at the withers and weigh from 18, 15 to 24, 95 kg.
- Head - in proportion to body size, with a flat or slightly rounded forehead.
- Muzzle of medium length, tapering slightly from base to tip and rounded at the end.
- Nose - dark, but the shade and color varies depending on the color of the dog's coat.
- Eyes - are beautiful and expressive. They can be brown, amber, or blue. Many individuals have eyes of different colors or several colors in the same eye. Sometimes blue eyes are called glass eyes.
- Ears - Triangular, of moderate size and slightly rounded at the tip. They should fold out to the sides when the dog is at rest and turn forward when alert.
- Neck - strong, muscular, harmonious length.
- Frame The Australian Shepherd is slightly longer than tall, but otherwise very well balanced. These dogs are very tough and somewhat sturdier than most similar breeds. However, a pedigree pet should never appear fat or stocky. Most of the body of the Australians is hidden under the coat, but they are very muscular and athletic dogs.
- Tail - short (bobtail). Many members of the breed are born with a very short tail, and those with a longer tail are usually docked by their owners.
- Front limbs - harmonious length, strong. Hind legs - with muscular thighs.
- Paws - in a ball, oval.
- Coat - two-layer, with a soft undercoat and a longer, weather-resistant outer coat. The "coat" of the Australian Shepherd is of moderately long and medium texture - straight or slightly wavy. Hair is significantly shorter on the head, face, ears, fronts of the forelegs and hind legs under the hocks. The back of the forelegs is moderately pubescent. This breed has a small coarse mane that is more pronounced in males.
- Coloration - presented in four colors: blue merle, red merle, black and red. These colors should be quite bright and crisp. All four color varieties may or may not have white spots or tan marks. Merle dogs tend to darken with age.
Features of the character of the Australian Shepherd
These animals are people-oriented dogs that want to always be near their pets. They may exhibit destructive tendencies, which can manifest in the form of separation anxiety if they do not develop the habit of being alone for long periods of time. Some Australians are affectionate towards those they know well, while others are quite reserved. Individual Australian Shepherd, especially from working lines, tend to become pets of one person. They will follow their owner everywhere, not allowing him to hide from sight, this led to the fact that this breed began to be affectionately called Velcro. However, most members of the breed form equally strong bonds with all members of the family.
Australians are very selective in their social interactions, not seeking contact with strangers or easily accepting a stranger as a friend. In many cases, adults will ignore the stranger, and their attempts to make friends will make the dog appear arrogant or rude. With proper socialization, most of these dogs will become polite or friendly, but many others will remain alienated to new people. Without proper training, this breed often becomes shy and timid with strangers and sometimes aggressive.
Breed representatives are loyal to the owner and family members. It is important to remember that the Australian can get quite irritable with outsiders. As a dedicated working breed, the Australian Shepherd may bite lightly when trying to get a cow or sheep back. Behavior can occur in situations where the dog is pushed out of its comfort zone. Don't put your Australian Shepherd in a situation that will cause your dog to bite someone. The Australian Shepherd is a guard dog that almost always warns its owners when a visitor is approaching. This breed is a fairly effective watchdog. Watchdog tendencies can vary from one individual to the next.
Adult pets usually get along well with children. Many of them are quite affectionate with children and want to play with them. Australian Shepherds are quite tolerant of rough treatment, but not everyone is willing to put up with it. These dogs have strong herding instincts and may try to collect children by pinching them on the heels. This can be corrected with training. Young Australian Shepherds may not be the best housemates for very young children because they tend to accidentally bite them when they are excited.
This breed is not known for its dog-related problems, and with proper socialization, most of these pets do not have serious problems with their brethren. Some Australian Shepherd develop territoriality, possessiveness, pack protection and dominance problems, especially in males, but these problems usually cannot be corrected with training. Territorial character or security can be manifested in their behavior, both for objects and for people. Australians are courageous and brave pets, which in most cases will compete with another dog. Their natural athleticism, strength and speed also mean that if provoked, they can cause relatively serious injury to another dog in a matter of seconds.
Despite their exceptionally high hunting ability as a herding breed, Australian Shepherds behave well with animals. They rarely seriously injure or kill another animal. Dogs, motivated ball players or flying disc. These dogs are considered to be among the most adaptable in working with various types of animals such as ducks and rabbits. They have an incredibly strong desire to graze a herd, and they will chase just about anything that moves. Owners should work with their Aussie to steer his actions and control herding behavior in particular with horses, cats and other dogs who often wish to express their displeasure.
Health features of Australian Shepherds
The species suffers from minor health problems, many of which are serious. In particular, the Australian Shepherd has high rates of visual impairment and hip dysplasia. Working pet breeders claim their dogs are healthier than those bred for show shows. Life expectancy studies vary. While in most cases it is about 12 years, in others, 9-10 years.
Most of the problems the breed faces are the result of traits associated with the genes responsible for the color of the merle. Genes that influence coloration also affect a number of other functions, such as vision and hearing. Merle individuals are susceptible to a range of severe visual and auditory problems, ranging from mild deterioration to complete deafness and blindness.
Blue-eyed dogs are also more likely to suffer from disabilities. Many health problems found in merle dogs must be homozygous to take effect, which means that both parents must be merle. Heterozygous animals, those with one merle parent and the other a different color, rarely suffer from flaws. Thanks to this knowledge, the vast majority of breeders now refuse to breed individuals with merle wool.
Australian Shepherd Care Requirements
- Wool - does not require special attention, but the Australian needs regular and thorough cleaning. Potential tangles and tangles must be removed. This process is done a couple of times a month with a scallop. Even those members of the breed who, as a rule, do not shed much, require systematic combing out with a furminator during the seasons. The coat of pets is of a rigid structure and does not need constant bathing. The shampoo, which is selected according to the type of coat, is thoroughly washed off the hairline after application.
- Teeth Australian Shepherd should be cleaned at least every 2 days using a dog paste and brush. If this is not done, the accumulated plaque is transformed into a stone, in which there are many bacteria, which creates a favorable environment for the occurrence of various diseases in the oral cavity.
- Ears dogs are periodically cleaned. By keeping your ears hygienic, you can prevent inflammation and various infections in your pet. Cleaning will be facilitated by prophylactic drugs for animals that soften the earwax and create skin care. They must be applied to the inside of the ear canal and massaged to wipe the outer part of the ear.
- Eyes Australian Shepherds require increased attention as they are prone to disease. They must be constantly checked, especially if the dog is working. During grazing, there are traumatic situations that subsequently require the prompt intervention of a veterinarian. Ordinary contamination or irritation can be eliminated by the owner by rubbing his pet's eyes with medications.
- Claws active Australians usually grind off naturally. But, if the pet is underutilized or sick, not being able to fully move, then they will surely grow back and interfere with the animal. As soon as the owner discovers this, the length of the claws must be shortened with clippers.
- Feeding Australian dogs must be selected individually. A working pet should eat full and vigorous. His body needs not only a balanced composition of food, but vitamins and minerals. Also, the dog is given chondroprotectors and fish oil in courses to strengthen ligaments, tendons and cartilage, since the breed is prone to hip dysplasia. Sometimes breeders prefer to select special professional feed, which contains a balance of all substances and added vitamins, minerals and chondroprotectors. It is important to find the right portion. It must be remembered that you cannot underfeed and overfeed your four-legged friend. Such factors will lead to the development of unwanted diseases, especially at a young age, which in most cases become chronic.
- Walking. Australian Shepherds are very energetic dogs. Although some members of the breed are more active than others, all of these dogs require a lot of vigorous exercise. Most experts recommend that Australian Shepherd get at least two hours of classes every day, with three or more being ideal.
Australian Shepherds will keep moving for as long as their owners allow, and these dogs can tire even the most active and athletic family. It is imperative that the owners of these pets provide their animals with the necessary loads. If this breed is not given an outlet for its energy, it will find its own way to realize. Most of the behavioral problems that manifest themselves are the result of inadequate exercise and the Australian Shepherd becomes so bored that he develops severe mental and emotional behavior.
Pets in work are strong and endured to the extreme. Heat and injury will not stop the dog from grazing or playing. An inexperienced owner may not notice how the dog will develop heatstroke or exhaustion, since it will not show any other signs other than an immortal desire to continue playing. The same can be said for stretched muscles, injuries to joints, ligaments or other parts of the body, the Australian in many cases continues to work steadily. The owner must carefully monitor the pet so that he does not overdo it.
A bored Australian Shepherd will constantly bark for hours on end, bounce hyperactively, and destroy everything in the house. Agility classes or search and rescue training are perfect for these guided dogs. Despite the fact that many dogs are extremely burdensome, an Australian's boundless energy and drive is highly desirable for many families. This breed competes in the highest dog competitions. Extremely hardy, the Australian Shepherd is always ready and can go anywhere, anytime.
Fences that other dogs may view as insurmountable obstacles, Australian Shepherds, are seen as a puzzle to be solved. Then the dog will begin to test numerous ways to overcome this obstacle, which in most cases will be successful. Many owners are amazed at the breed's ability to traverse reliable fences, and many Australians are killed every year in a traffic accident after escaping.
Raising an Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd are extremely intelligent and most of the breed learns very quickly. They are one of the most capable of all dogs, and, with the exception of several tasks, requiring tremendous strength and sensitive sense of smell. Australian Shepherds regularly compete at the highest levels of obedience and agility competition, and are considered one of the most adaptable of all grazing breeds.
However, many individuals create serious learning difficulties. These dogs are more than smart enough to ignore commands and therefore consistency is a must. While many Australians live to please and do something just because their master wants them, some are largely self-serving and can be stubborn. Breed representatives can get so tired of monotonous training that they refuse to carry out repeated commands. Australian Shepherds will always take the lead where these positions are weak. Despite the established leadership rights of the owner, this breed can challenge his authority if he does not control the situation. In order to maintain obedience, their masters must constantly remain the "leader of the pack."
The intelligence of this breed allows one to have the ability to solve problems. Australians are constantly planning and thinking 3 steps ahead. It is important to remember that they are the prime grazing breed in the west. Dogs do not just react to the movements of their charges, but plan where to take them and direct them to the right place.
Australian Shepherd puppy price
The price for a puppy is $ 600-800. For more information about the breed, see the video below:
