ABOUT AUSSIES

COLOR VARIATIONS AND NBT – AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS

When researching any breed, it is important to remember there is a lot of misinformation on the internet. I am extremely surprised with the amount of incorrect information posted on the internet regarding the Australian Shepherd breed. An example is this video posted by Animal Planet: VIDEO . You would think that Animal Planet would be reliable source; however, this video has many incorrect statements starting with "Aussie's come in many color combinations". That is not correct. There are four recognized colors by AKC & ASCA & only four choices given for the breeders to select from on the registration paperwork: Blue Merle, Black, Red Merle and Red.

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Puppies from two merle parents do not have a 1:4 chance of being born blind & deaf; they have a 1:2 chance of being born blind & deaf because each merle parent has two genes (one tri gene & one merle gene) & gives one gene to each offspring yielding a 1:2 chance of receiving a merle gene from each merle parent. The correct breeding combination should be one merle parent & one tri parent.

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The majority of Aussie's ARE born with a tail, which is docked at a day or two of age. The statement that they are born without tails is incorrect. There are some lines that produce natural bob tails but a natural bob tail (NBT) dog should NEVER be bred to another NBT dog as this may interfere with the formation of the hips in their offspring. In those lines, not all puppies in the litter will be born with a NBT. There may be a few NBT's but most typically have a long tail or an NBT that is nearly full length & must be docked anyway. If your intentions are to select a dog for breeding, it is important to share this information with the breeder so he/she can tell you if the puppy/dog you have chosen is an NBT or if the tail was docked at birth. If the dog was an NBT, you will want to find a mate that was born with a full length tail. All responsible breeders will keep accurate records to share with you regarding NBT's in the puppies they produce.

ACTIVITY, PERSONALITY, & GROOMING OF THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Australian Shepherds have the same exercise needs of any other medium or large breed of dog such as Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Siberian Husky, Boxer, German Shepherd, & the list goes on. Most enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, camping, hunting, fishing, travel, & many types of sports. However, there are some that are large & lazy & prefer to lay at your feet. It is important to share your activity level with the breeder you choose to purchase from so he/she can place a puppy that will suit your family best. There are some very hot working lines in this breed that display an activity level greater than the average person can handle but most are even tempered and, again, require the same amount of exercise & play time as the breeds previously mentioned. Aussies are highly intelligent and need to be kept busy with learning tricks or having “jobs”. There are many new toys out for this type of activity where they have to push certain buttons to get a treat or the new fetch toys where the dog can play fetch by itself with an automatic throwing machine. These are the perfect toys to stimulate your Aussie’s brain and keep them entertained. These dogs ARE NOT a backyard dog and do not do well if left alone.

I'm afraid some have mistaken Australian Shepherds "herding" children for running & playing with them as any puppy will with their new family. Australian Shepherds can also become very protective of their people and property, simply displaying a technique called "watching after their family", saying “I want to be with you”.

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As for grooming, there are different types of haircoats. There are lines that breed for a big, full show haircoat with a dense undercoat, producing a double coat. Those lines have more shedding because the undercoat is shed off in late spring/early summer. Other lines offer a more sleek, shorter hair coat with little to no undercoat showing, only pink skin when the hair is parted. This type of coat offers roughly the same amount of shedding than any other breed of dog and are typically 1-2″ in length or less. Regardless of the type of haircoat, climate & time of year play a big part in shedding. If you bring your dog inside to be part of the family in a climate controlled environment, the dog is less likely to grow the hair to shed unless the bloodline carries heavy for that type of haircoat. Shedding typically occurs late spring or early summer and can generally be handled by one good grooming either by the owner or a trip to the groomer. You may also opt to have the hair clipped once or twice per year if you find the haircoat bothersome. My buyers also have positive feedback with a tool called the defurminator and a non-shedding shampoo. People in those homes will prefer an Aussie with little or no undercoat & to keep the hair clipped (not shaved!) once or twice yearly.

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Yes, Australian Shepherds can handle any climate but it is important to make them as comfortable as possible if they are outside in the elements. In colder weather, an igloo dog house will serve as shelter with straw inside for warmth, and near the house or other structure for a wind block. In summer, you must provide shade for your Aussie, plenty of fresh cool drinking water, and a 20 gallon stock tank or wading pool for them to get in & cool off. Australian Shepherds are known to play in their water and can run out of water quickly in warm or hot weather.

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Australian Shepherds are a highly intelligent, loyal breed of dog. They just want to be with you & please you. They enjoy learning new tasks & many excel at sports like playing ball, frisbee, & water retrieval with the kids. If these natural abilities & talents are developed they can become professional athletes but most people prefer the dogs to play on an amateur level at home with the family. Australian Shepherds truly enjoy the companionship of another animal, as well as their people, and do well when placed in pairs or with families that already have another dog or cat. They do, however, excel nicely as the only animal in the family to. For exercise they enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, hunting, fishing, camping, & travel, because they just want to be with you. Don’t overlook the Australian Shepherd breed for your next hunting dog as well. I find dead birds, rabbits, snakes, & other critters in their yards all the time. They will also bay a coon & fetch a duck from the river as well, or better, than any typical hunting breed. Australian Shepherds can become very protective of their people & property giving your family the added security you may be looking for while at home, out for a walk, or with the children at play.

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Email me at andisheperd@yahoo.com & share what you are looking for in a new family member so I can find you the perfect companion.