An Australian Grand Championship is a massive undertaking, first achieved by Sue Fedoryschyn with the Australian bred re...
User login
Add the contact block here or your own custom code
×Breed Information
Aussies in Profile
| Heritage: | Herding |
| Function: | Stock dog, Show, Obedience, Family Companion |
| Size: | Males 20-23 inches; 22-25 kg Females 18-21 inches; 17-20 kg |
| Lifespan: | 12-14 years |
| Colour: | Black, Blue Merle, Red, Red Merle, all with or without copper and/or white |
| Personality: | Intuitive, affectionate, loyal, enthusiastic |
| Intelligence: | High, easily trained |
| Activity Level: | Requires daily attention and play; moderate regular exercise |
| Coat: | Double coat - downy undercoat with coarser guard hairs |
| Grooming: | Moderate, weekly grooming, more when seasonally shedding |
| Good with children & other pets; some males may show aggression to other males | |
| Behaviour: | Good watchdog, will bark but should not bite. Can be aloof with strangers, readily accepts family and regular visitors |
| Suburban or rural with fenced yard. Potential owners must be prepared to have the Aussie as part of the family |
Aussies in the Past
The Australian Shepherd was actually developed in America but there is much debate over the origins of the foundation stock. It is believed the dogs traveled over with the flocks of Merino sheep and the Basque shepherds who tended them. Some contend they came to Australia from Spain when the first Merino sheep arrived and then traveled to America, others believe they were Australian sheep dogs derived from the Smithfield and some type of collie, possibly the German Coolie or it's ancestor. More recently the theory has been put forward that the dogs traveled directly from Europe with Merino flocks. The name came about because of the believed link with this country.
Further historical research needs to be done but there is evidence that this type of dog has been worked here in the past and documentary evidence show animals having been sent to America as late as the 1950's. Once in America the Aussies were used to herd sheep and later cattle, developing quite a reputation as a working dog. Legend has it that these dogs were held in reverence by the Indians because of their unusual and often blue eyes, therefore they came to be known as the "ghost-eyed ones". The Indians left these sacred "spirit" dogs and their owners unharmed. Now days they are popular as a family pet, an obedience and agility dog, a worker and now a show dog.
To read more about the history of the Aussie read The History of the Australian Shepherd.
Aussies in the Present
In America, Aussies were fully recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1993. The delay in recognition was caused by fear that the dogs would be bred for the conformation ring only, which would lead to a loss of their working ability.
In Australia, the breed is in it's infancy, Mrs Shirley Ford (re)introduced the breed in 1990 when she emigrated from England with family and four Aussies. Further imports have since arrived which has increased the breeding stock dramatically with Aussies now being represented in all states of Australia. The breed was fully recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) on the 1st January 1994. The Aussie is becoming more popular with time and are now commonly seen competing in Conformation, Obedience, Agility, Endurance, Tracking, Herding and Therapy work.