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Although its name suggests a dog of Australian heritage, the Australian Shepherd was developed in the European Basque country, the USA and Mexico, as well as in Australia. Today the breed is typically known as being of American origin.

The scene is a cattle ranch in the heart of the American Southwest. A herd of cattle is being moved from one grazing area to another. Two ranch hands on horseback keep watch over every move the huge animals make. Two small figures, Australian Shepherds, are busy on the periphery of the herd, keeping the cows together and moving toward new pasture-land.

Suddenly, one of the cows decides she doesn’t want to be herded and strikes out at the dogs with her back feet flying. Just as quickly, the dogs flatten themselves on the ground directly behind her as her hooves fly above the dogs but miss them completely. Within seconds, the dogs rise up and rush in to bite at the cow’s heels, convincing her that moving with the herd is the most prudent thing to do. One does not try to outmaneuver an Aussie!

Like all working Australian Shepherd dogs, these two will work the cattle for hours on end, traveling mile after mile in the course of a workday. By night, they will bed down near their master and, in their silence, keep watch over home and family. Then, before daybreak, they will once again hit the trail to keep the stock safe and together.

Australian Shepherds are strong, athletic, agile and quick. They move effortlessly across the land in their work of herding livestock. Their size and intelligence make them ideal at working cattle, but they can often be found herding sheep and goats as well. Classified as working or herding dogs, their genetic makeup demands they be kept busy and allowed to employ their keen sense of duty in order to be content with life.

Aussies are bred to be working dogs—they are strong, athletic, agile and fast. They were developed originally as sheep herders, but once their true potential was recognized they came to be used with all types of livestock. No job was too big for Aussies!

Perhaps the most interesting thing of all about Aussies, as they are affectionately called, is that they are not Australian dogs at all. They originated in America and have subsequently found favor among herdsmen around the world. Well, you might say, if they’re not originally from Australia, why are they called Australian Shepherds?

That is an interesting question with an even more interesting answer. Let us look at their history: where and how they developed as a breed will help us understand the kind of dog they have become. Only then can we make an informed decision about whether or not to share our lives with an Aussie.

AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL

The Aussie’s story begins back in the late 18th century and early 19th century in the Pyrenees of northern Spain and southwestern France, the area known as the Basque country. There, the hills were alive with sheep and herds-men who were known as Basques. To help manage their flocks over the mountainous terrain, they used small dogs to herd the sheep and guard the flocks as they grazed.

In the early 1800s, herdsmen were in great demand in Australia due to the rise of the wool market. As work in the Basque region of Europe was slowing down, some of the Basque herdsmen took their dogs and went to Australia, where they could find work.

Eventually, the Australian sheep were shipped to America, where the wool market was also growing. It was inevitable that some of these Basque herdsmen and their dogs would follow the sheep to America.

In the New World, men and dogs found the terrain and weather conditions in the southwestern United States similar to what they had known in Europe. Thus, they adapted easily, some of them even migrating as far south as Mexico. In years to come, those dogs would be known as New Mexican Shepherds. They were simply a larger version of the smaller Basque dogs. The increased size of the dogs meant that they could be used to herd cattle as well as sheep.

GENUS CANIS

Dogs and wolves are members of the genus Canis. Wolves are known scientifically as Canis lupus while dogs are known as Canis domesticus. Dogs and wolves are known to interbreed. The term canine derives from the Latin-derived word Canis. The term “dog” has no scientific basis but has been used for thousands of years. The origin of the word “dog” has never been authoritatively ascertained.

Then, in the mid-to-late 1800s, the famous Gold Rush occurred in the West. The wool market soared even higher and, as more and more sheep were raised to meet the demand, more dogs were needed for herding. The small Basque-like dogs were bred with the larger Mexican dogs and some other herding breeds with strong genetic traits for the work of herding and guarding. As they had originally come from Australia, people began calling them Australian Shepherds. Eventually, they became known as Aussies.

The attention-grabbing merle coloration, for which the breed is noted, is a pattern of dark blotches over a light-colored background. In the blue merle, shown here, black against white or light gray gives the illusion of a blue tone.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The distinctive merle coloration was probably one of the first features to draw people’s attention to the breed. Merle is a color pattern of dark blotches over a lighter-colored background. For example, a blue merle consists of black blotches against a white or very light gray background that creates an illusion of the color blue.

Once the breed became noticed, people discovered its calm nature and intelligence. Cattlemen soon became interested in the breed and, before long, cattle ranches in America’s West were maintained by Australian Shepherds. These dogs proved to be the perfect size to work a herd of cattle in pairs. A single dog might find a herd of kicking, butting and goring cattle a bit too much to handle, but two dogs had no trouble managing the herd.

Soon, Aussies were used to herd all kinds of livestock: turkeys, geese, ducks, cattle, sheep, goats, reindeer, buffalo and even bison, the toughest of all stock animals. Now the breed had truly achieved its potential as a great American herder, and the name Australian Shepherd became official.

This appreciation for the breed continued into the early 1900s when the West was populated with ranches and large farms. It seemed the wool market kept growing. As the demand for more and better wool kept rising, so, too, did the demand for more livestock dogs. The Australian Shepherd was the nation’s answer to the demand.

The dogs fulfilled the stock-men’s need for a large, strong and assertive breed to work cattle and, at the same time, were a calm breed to work sheep. Though there were other herding breeds available, some of those other breeds were too quick and too excitable, making control more difficult. However, the Aussie, with his imperturbable nature and deliberate work pattern, perfectly fit the bill! Thus, the Aussie established itself firmly throughout Colorado, California, Arizona, Oregon and wherever large properties were used for raising livestock in the western United States.

THE SECRET IS OUT—BREED CLUBS ESTABLISHED

Great secrets, however, are rarely kept for long. Soon the virtues of the Aussie became known to people in other parts of the country. Once the secret of this wonderful dog became common knowledge among dog lovers in the midwestern and eastern United States, Australian Shepherds began appearing across the country. Suburban families welcomed these highly intelligent and trainable dogs into their homes.

By the mid-1950s it was apparent that a national breed club was needed to ensure the true genetic background of the Australian Shepherd breed. Thus, in 1957, the Australian Shepherd Club of America was founded in Tucson, Arizona. This club is still the parent club of the Australian Shepherd. The official registry for the breed was the International English Shepherd Registry, also known as the National Stock Dog Registry. The United States Australian Shepherd Association also monitors the breed. With rules for perpetuating the breed clearly spelled out by a governing breed club, breeders would have a set of written guidelines to follow. Size, type and color as well as physical structure were defined. The issues of character, temperament and working ability were also addressed. In other words, little was left to chance for continuing the unique qualities of the breed.

BRAIN AND BRAWN

Since dogs have been inbred for centuries, their physical and mental characteristics are constantly being changed to suit man’s desires for hunting, retrieving, scenting, guarding and warming their masters’ laps. During the past 150 years, dogs have been judged according to physical characteristics as well as functional abilities. Few breeds can boast a genuine balance between physique, working ability and temperament.

A NEW KIND OF AUSSIE

It was in the 1950s that an interesting phenomenon occurred. Similar to what had happened to some of the world’s hunting breeds a century before, Australian Shepherds needed to develop a type of personality to fit their new role as companion dogs, better suited to a suburban lifestyle.

In the case of the hunting dogs, their tireless energy was just too much for the suburban dweller. Thus, dogs with calmer temperaments were bred to each other to produce dogs that could cope with life in a less active suburban home. The two types of hunting dogs then became known as field dogs (for actual hunting) and bench dogs (for companions and exhibiting in the breed ring at dog shows).

The Aussie developed a new type of personality as it evolved from a herding breed into a wonderful companion animal. Aussies were selectively bred together to produce dogs better suited to suburban, rather than farm, life.

That same great stamina that helped carry Aussies effortlessly across the land in their job of herding, plus their single-minded devotion to one master, were traits not needed in the modern lifestyle. They would have to develop a new type of personality better suited to families in the suburbs. Their work drive would have to soften so that they could live and be happy in a less active setting.

In suburbia, owners usually go to work and leave their dogs home alone during the day, so Aussies would have to make an adjustment. Furthermore, in his new role as companion, the Aussie would need to broaden his devotion to include entire families. He would also need to be friendly toward family friends and guests as well as children.

Conformation Aussies are generally larger, flashier and more heavily coated than their working counterparts. They are quite a striking presence in the show ring.

To better understand this new role for Aussies, I consulted a well-known breeder by the name of Caterina O’Sullivan of Howell, New Jersey.

“We still have working Aussies out West,” Ms. O’Sullivan assured me, “but we have also developed what we call a conformation dog. This Aussie can be shown in the breed ring as well as serve a vital role of companion to individuals who are not ranchers yet who admire Australian Shepherd qualities.”

“What exactly is the difference between the two types of Aussies?” I asked.

“Working Aussies are called stock dogs. They are lighter-boned, quick and dedicated to their master and working the herds. Conformation Aussies are bigger-boned, heavier-coated flashier dogs. They have lots of eye appeal and make beautiful presentations in the show ring with their lush coats and lovely colors.”

The irresistible Aussie charm, good looks, even temperament, hardiness and love of humans have made it so popular that the breed became one of the top 50 in the American Kennel Club’s registry. One look at this adorable Aussie pup and it’s not hard to see how the breed won so many admirers!

“What about temperament?”

“That, too, has changed to accommodate their new role. The conformation dogs are friendly, devoted to their families and, when raised with children, are dedicated protectors of the little ones in their charge. Though Aussies can be aloof toward strangers, they readily accept those to whom their owners show friendship.”

True to his reputation of devotion, intelligence and adaptability, the Australian Shepherd, it seems, does not disappoint in his newest role as companion dog. Out on the range, the Aussie is a strong, agile herder that can work any kind of livestock. In suburbia, the Aussie offers companionship of the highest order with his loyalty, his intelligence and his athletic ability.

Whether stock dog or companion, the beauty of the Australian Shepherd makes him one of the top 50 registered breeds with the American Kennel Club. He is also registered with the United Kennel Club. In America, Australian Shepherds are shown in the Herding Group and in England they are classified as an Interim Breed in the Pastoral Group. Other countries currently experiencing an increased interest in the breed are Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Japan and Belgium.

It was an English physician, Dr. Johannes Caius, who in 1570 wrote a treatise on the marvels of working shepherds. In it, he spoke of the dog’s wagging its tail in response to its master’s voice and waving fist. He told how the shepherd dog moved and guarded the flocks and recovered the wandering weathered (neutered) rams back to the fold.

Once properly socialized, the Aussie quickly adapts to life in the home with children, cats and most other pet and farm animals.

Finally, the doctor reported how the shepherd benefited from the dog’s efforts while he himself expended minimal physical effort. Little did the doctor realize it, but he could have written those very same words about Australian Shepherds in the 21st century!

Today we realize that as far as herding dogs are concerned, nothing has changed over the centuries. The dogs have always been and will continue to be better than any machine invented for guarding and moving groups of animals.