Dog Breed Information on the Australian Shepherd

The Australian shepherd is not of Australian origin despite its name. The dog, a medium-sized canine, has the potential for unique color patterns known as merles, which describes a lighter background color marbled with a darker hue of a similar color. Australian shepherds are not suitable pets for you if you reside in a city setting, as the breed likes the open spaces and is an active animal.

  1. Size

    • Male Australian shepherds average 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh in the range of 50 to 65 lbs. The females are about two inches shorter and approximately 10 lbs. lighter. Australian shepherds live from 12 to 15 years when in good health, says the Terrific Pets.com site, and the females will have an average litter of seven puppies.

    Identification

    • The hair length of an Australian shepherd is about medium and the dog sheds at a moderate to heavy pace. The coats come in many color combinations, such as blue merle and red merle, with the blues and reds showing up against each other mixed with such hues of white, black and cream. The eyes of Australian shepherds are of particular interest, as the dog can have eye colors like green, blue, amber, brown and hazel. Some dogs have different colored eyes. Others can have an eye that is a combination of colors, making for an unusual look.

    History

    • Classified as herding dogs, the Australian shepherd has multiple talents in addition to herding livestock and can serve as a watchdog, police dog, retriever, search and rescue dog, and even as a competitive species in obedience and agility training. The Dog Breed Info website states the exact origin of the species is hazy but that it probably comes from the region between France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains. A variety of breeds likely contributed to the Australian shepherd's make-up, including the Cumberland sheepdog, the Scottish collie and the English shepherd. The Australian reference in its name may be because most dogs originating from that continent possessed the merle coloration pattern.

    Temperment

    • This is a very smart breed of dog and it is typically intent on pleasing human beings. The Aussie has a good nature and makes a great companion canine, attaching itself to its master and/or family. The dog may seem a bit shy around new faces, but not around those with which it is familiar. Australian shepherds do well with children, although some will allow their herding instincts to take over and try to corral little tykes using methods better reserved for livestock, such as biting at a child's heel. The breed usually interacts well with other dogs.

    Health Concerns

    • Problems involving the eye can occur in Australian shepherds, with cataracts in older dogs and such conditions as detached retinas and retinal atrophy potential ailments. Australian shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia, where the hipbones are malformed. When worming an Australian shepherd, try to avoid using a product called Ivermectin, as the breed seems to have sensitivity to this medication.