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The very first time we set eyes on an Australian Shepherd, we are struck by the symmetry and balance of the dog. Neither a little dog nor a large one, the Aussie stands somewhere between 18 and 23 inches at the withers (highest point of shoulder). He is slightly longer than he is tall and possesses good bone structure. His coat, which is unique in color to each individual dog, is of moderate length and coarseness. The coat beneath his throat and around his neck is called the ruff. The long hair beneath his front legs and under his chest is called feathering (more often seen in males than females).

The Australian Shepherd is a very beautiful dog. It is well balanced and symmetrical, and stands a little under 2 feet tall at the shoulder.

The Australian Shepherd is a moderate dog in all respects. His appearance bespeaks agility, strength and stamina. His heavy coat and bobtail give the impression that he’s well equipped for life in the outdoors. His build tells of his physical abilities, and his demeanor and facial expression indicate his intelligence and determination to get the job done.

There is no doubt in the minds of all who meet him that he is capable of performing his work while devotedly serving his owner as friend and partner. He is an enthusiastic worker, a devoted companion and an excellent guardian of home and family. Males carry a distinctive look of masculinity about them, while females are usually a bit smaller and more feminine in overall appearance. In other words, it’s easy to distinguish the difference between the sexes by sight.

OWNER CONSIDERATIONS

With regard to behavior, Aussies are not normally dog-aggressive nor are they fence-climbers or diggers. Unlike some of the hunting breeds, they do not have a genetic predisposition to run away from home and master. Indeed, as they strive to please their owners, they prefer to stay close to home.

They do not like being separated from their families, so crate training is a wise choice. Then, when they must be left alone, they can stay in their crates where they feel secure.

The facial expression of the Australian Shepherd tells the story of an intelligent dog who is more than eager to please and share affection with his owner.

In addition, they aren’t chewers, so they can be offered a variety of toys such as soft, fluffy ones, flying discs and hard chew bones, which will help keep their teeth clean.

All dogs, however, need to be supervised when playing with toys to make sure they don’t swallow or choke on pieces of toys that get broken off. When a toy begins to get tattered and gnawed out of shape, discard it and give the dog a new one.

If you allow your dog to run free in a fenced yard, the fence should be at least four feet high. Even though Aussies aren’t fence-jumpers, the four-foot height would discourage any thoughts of scaling it to go wandering through the neighborhood.

THE IDEAL OWNER

There are two types of ideal Australian Shepherd owners. Let’s look at both of them. Then you can decide if, in fact, you fit into either category.

Although a wonderful pet for many, the Aussie is a working dog at heart and, thus, must have his attention diverted with plenty of safe toys and activity.

The farmer or rancher is the most desirable Aussie owner. In an environment where the dog must work every day, he is capable of making herding and guarding decisions while working long hours, even in rough weather. Aussies like nothing better than to help their owners with whatever chores need doing.

The second type of ideal Aussie owner is the active suburbanite. Though the owner’s professional life may demand that he work indoors, he is the kind of person who uses his free time and days off to get outdoors and do things with his dog. He is a person who needs to keep physically fit and active, an athletic individual who makes a point of spending some time each day outside. Furthermore, he is not discouraged by reasonable extremes in temperature or moderate amounts of rain.

Conversely, the person who enjoys spending his free time in quiet activities such as reading and watching television would not make an ideal Aussie owner. Australian Shepherds are not “couch potatoes” and do not do well, either physically or emotionally, in passive lifestyles.

An Aussie can cope with living indoors in a small apartment or house, providing the owner joins him during part of each day in some form of vigorous outdoor activity. Given this lifestyle, the Aussie quickly learns that his master’s arrival home means great sport will soon be enjoyed. Given a stretch of bad weather or an owner who is recovering from an illness, the Aussie can be exercised indoors by teaching him a trick or in some way stimulating his mental abilities.

Another consideration for the ideal Aussie owner is the enjoyment of brushing his dog regularly, as in several times a week or whenever the dog’s coat collects foreign matter such as grass clippings, seeds or leaves.

Never far from his working background, the intelligent and tractable Aussie can be taught to aid his owner in a variety of tasks. He’s a willing and able helper!

AUSSIE PERSONALITY

INTUITIVENESS

As an Aussie owner, I have found them to be extremely sensitive to my emotions. For example, if I am happy and/or excited, the dogs are too. However, when I’m sad or tired or just not feeling well, they are subdued and silent while staying close to me in quiet concern. Nervousness, such as that experienced in preparing for a dog show or going on a trip, usually results in the dogs’ experiencing anxiety as well. In other words, Aussies, it seems, are intuitive animals who are aware of and sensitive to their owners’ moods and to situations going on around them, and they react accordingly.

DOGS, DOGS, GOOD FOR YOUR HEART!

People usually purchase dogs for companionship, but studies show that dogs can help to improve their owners’ health and level of activity, as well as lower a human’s risk of coronary heart disease. Without even realizing it, when a person puts time into exercising, grooming and feeding a dog, he also puts more time into his own personal health care. Dog owners establish more routine schedules for their dogs to follow, which can have positive effects on their own health. Dogs also teach us patience, offer unconditional love and provide the joy of having a furry friend to pet!

SOCIABILITY

Possibly the most interesting attribute of Aussies is the manner in which they relate to strangers. They are, by nature, reserved toward those whom they don’t know. They are not openly aggressive toward strangers, as is common with many of the working breeds. Rather, they choose to ignore those they don’t know, providing that they (the strangers) do not threaten their masters or families.

Even Aussies need to relax! Quiet time with his owner is just as important to the pet Aussie as regular activity.

Devoted to their owners, Aussies constantly keep track of their charges while ignoring others in their environment. Take an Aussie out among people and he will, in all probability, focus his attention on his owner while acting as if there is no one else present.

However, if the owner chooses to speak to or interact with another person, he merely has to introduce his dog to the stranger and the Aussie will accept the person’s attention. Aussies are polite, reserved and non-aggressive dogs who openly demonstrate their loyalty to their owners while exhibiting restrained good manners to others.

AFFECTION

Along with loyalty, the Aussie demonstrates great affection for his owners. He loves a scratch behind the ears or a hearty pat on the side. If allowed, he’ll nuzzle next to his owner and will often use those expressive eyes to beg for attention in return.

INTELLIGENCE

Perhaps the most valuable attribute of the Aussie is his intelligence. If we define intelligence as being genetically engineered to perform tasks for and/or with humans, then the Aussie is among the most intelligent of breeds. He can work side-by-side with his master at such chores as carrying things, fetching objects and even pulling small carts containing farm supplies. He can also herd cattle at great distances from his master, who may be a quarter of a mile away. Often an Aussie will be sent to search for an errant sheep who has wandered away from the flock. He will have to search for the animal and, once located, he will have to find the quickest and safest route back to the flock.

DO YOU WANT TO LIVE LONGER?

If you like to volunteer, it is wonderful if you can take your dog to a nursing home once a week for several hours. The elder community loves to have a dog with which to visit, and often your dog will bring a bit of companionship to someone who is lonely or somewhat detached from the world. You will be not only bringing happiness to someone else but also keeping your dog busy—and we haven’t even mentioned the fact that it has been discovered that volunteering helps to increase your own longevity!

Speaking of decision-making, my own black and white Aussie named Fancy was a living example of a dog’s working away from her owner’s side and making decisions without assistance. She was a tracking dog. Her story exemplifies the versatility of the Australian Shepherd.

She was originally owned by her breeder. Kept as a brood bitch, she produced two litters of puppies, both of which produced several breed champions. However, following her second litter, Fancy developed a medical problem and she had to be spayed, thus ending her puppy-bearing career.

I met Fancy when she was three years old and her owner was looking for a home for her where she would be loved and possibly worked in obedience to keep her busy. At the time, I was looking for a new tracking dog and decided that Fancy and I could give it a try as a team. Fancy needed something to do and a family to love while I needed a new tracking partner. I knew that I would love her.

At our first meeting, Fancy was polite but paid me very little attention. Gail, her owner, suggested I put her on a collar and leash and take her for a walk away from their property. At first, Fancy kept looking back toward home as we headed down the road, but I ignored the behavior and kept talking to her. As we got further away from her home, Fancy began to look up at me as if to say, “Where are you taking me?”

GUARDIAN INSTINCTS

There are some confirmed reports about some Aussies that have taken action to pull children in danger out of harm’s way. In each case, the dogs acted alone and without the direction of humans. Their genetic traits of guarding and protecting have been so strong that they made their own decisions to save their young charges. They are independent thinkers in their work and beyond!

TAKING CARE

Science is showing that as people take care of their pets, the pets are taking care of their owners. A recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that having a pet can prolong his owner’s life. Pet owners generally have lower blood pressure, and pets help their owners to relax and keep more physically fit. It was also found that pets help to keep the elderly connected to their communities.

I just kept up a soft-voiced conversation and reassured her that all was well. Finally, we came to a field where I found a large stick in the grass alongside the road. I picked it up and tossed it a few feet away.

As I did, I showed it to Fancy and said something like, “See this? Want this? Fetch it, girl!”

To my astonishment, Fancy ran forward and grabbed the stick immediately. “Wow,” I thought to myself, “this is a natural-born retrieving Aussie. I bet she’ll make a great tracker.”

By the time we reached Fancy’s home and breeder again, we were friends and Fancy kept asking with those big dark brown eyes to throw the stick “just once more.” I knew then that we’d make a match and I think Fancy knew it, too.

The story of Fancy ends many years later when she died of old age. She had become an excellent tracking dog and was able to find people who had been missing for several days and were miles away. How she did it, no one will ever know. She used her nose to follow the person’s scent trail and her bright mind to decide what was and what was not pertinent information in the environment where she was working.

One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned came from Fancy and some of my other tracking dogs, which was to never doubt what your dog knows. He cannot tell you what he knows or how he knows it. Just trust that because of his phenomenal scenting and hearing abilities, he will always know more than you do. I have honored that lesson for over thirty years and it has never failed me. Unfortunately, because dogs can’t speak our language, we must learn to trust them and believe what they tell us by their behavior. That’s a difficult lesson for most humans.

VERSATILITY

The Australian Shepherd is a most versatile breed. Though happiest when working with sheep or cattle on the ranch, the Aussies that don’t live on ranches find fulfillment by adapting to the lifestyles of their owners in other settings such as suburbia.

A house with a pool makes an exciting environment for swimming. Aussies will learn to love the water if they’re introduced to it at a very young age and will eagerly join their owners for a cool dip in summertime.

Aussies need exercise and activity, and they make great playmates. Retrieving games are fun for both owner and dog.

Aussies love to travel, too. They make great travelers for folks who take driving vacations. Trained to be calm and quiet, they make excellent motel guests and people often don’t even know there’s a dog nearby because the Aussie doesn’t bark or whine needlessly.

Campers, hikers, boaters and owners who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors find that bringing their Aussies with them makes the activities even more fun. Since Aussies are constantly keeping watch over their owners, they don’t wander away from the campsite in search of other dogs or animals. They are content to stay close to their masters, whether hiking through the forest or sitting around a campfire.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the sport of agility and how Aussies react to it. Let me assure you that it is a sport for which Aussies seem to have a natural affinity—they excel at it and they love it!

REQUIREMENTS OF OWNING AN AUSSIE

Dogs that do in life what they were originally bred to do are dogs that are happy, well-adjusted individuals. Short of performing tasks for which they were intended, the dogs can be happy and content if their owners make an effort to substitute activities that closely resemble the original purpose of the breed.

The Aussie’s abundant coat needs regular attention to stay healthy and looking its best. Aussies should be trained to accept brushing when they are still puppies.

BOBBED TAILS

Some Aussies are born with naturally bobbed tails. Others are born with tails that must then be docked. When docking, the tail must be cut so that no more than four inches is left. By the time the Aussie is fully grown, the short bob is barely distinguishable at a glance.

Herding dogs can be taught to “herd” a large rubber ball around the house, keep an eye on the children or family cat and make decisions regarding where and when their toys should be put away at the end of the day. Being physical means being active, whether indoors or out. If an owner can find ways to substitute natural behaviors for ones more suited to his chosen lifestyle, then his Aussie can be a vital part of the family unit.

Aussies also need some grooming to keep their coats shining, clean and free from parasites. They need regular dental care, toenail clipping and ear cleaning, too. Most of these requirements can be done at home without the expense of a professional groomer.

They need good-quality food and fresh water at all times. They should be bathed several times a year to keep them looking their best. However, most of all, they need love and attention from their owners. They are not solitary animals.

VIRTUES AND DRAWBACKS

It should be abundantly clear that Australian Shepherds make exceptionally fine companions for the person who wishes to get involved with his dog. The Aussie is a hands-on, “let’s-work-together” breed of dog and the more an Aussie becomes involved in his owner’s lifestyle, the happier the dog will be.

The drawbacks of the breed are few, but significant. They do need routine grooming in the form of brushing. Brushed on a regular schedule to remove dead hair and foreign matter, they will always look their best and feel good.

Even more important is the Aussie’s need for activity. An owner who lives a sedentary life is not suitable as an Aussie owner. It’s unfair to the dog to provide him with insufficient or meaningless activities. Furthermore, it can be miserable for the owner who suddenly discovers that his Aussie has developed some very undesirable behaviors caused by frustration and lack of exercise.

What type of dog can keep up with the seemingly boundless energy of a young person? The Aussie, of course!

BREED-SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS

Generally speaking, the Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed of dog. Aussies do not suffer from the wide variety of diseases and genetic problems and anomalies experienced by many other breeds. However, it is possible for them to become subject to certain health problems, some of which are hereditary.

CORRECTIVE SURGERY

Surgery is often used to correct genetic bone diseases in dogs. Usually the problems present themselves early in the dog’s life and must be treated before bone growth stops.

To determine the probability of a puppy’s getting any of these hereditary health problems, the prospective buyer should question the breeder about the health history of the parents. If the breeder refuses to discuss the matter, look for another litter of puppies and another breeder. Buying a puppy from a person who either denies health problems or refuses to discuss them is just asking for trouble in the months to come.

EYE PROBLEMS

Juvenile cataracts have been found in some Australian Shepherds and are hereditary. Appearing as a cloudiness over the lens of the eye, cataracts will eventually cause blindness in the dog.

PHOTO BY PROF. DR. ROBERT L. PEIFFER, JR.

The typical posterior subcapsular cataract appears between one and two years of age in dogs. It rarely progresses to where the dog has visual problems.

A veterinary ophthalmologist can determine whether or not a puppy is carrying the genes for juvenile cataracts. Reputable breeders usually take entire litters to the ophthalmologist for testing prior to selling any of the puppies.

The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is a monitoring registry that reports on eye problems in pure-bred dogs. CERF can provide certification of normal-eyed dogs. Responsible breeders have their breeding stock certified and will give the puppy buyers documentation from CERF, showing the eye health of the parents and the puppies.

Puppies as young as eight weeks of age can be examined for cataracts. Cataract-removal surgery is a consideration and most often very successful. A full consultation with the ophthalmologist is recommended.

PHOTO BY PROF. DR. ROBERT L. PEIFFER, JR.

Inherited cataracts generally appear between three and six years of age, and progress to the stage shown here where functional vision is significantly impaired.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, its hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic.

Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an x-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your dog may have a hip dysplasia problem if it walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of smoothly runs, uses its hind legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs together on one side of its body.

As the dog matures, it may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many dogs with hip dysplasia become crippled.

Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and only can be diagnosed definitively when the dog is two years old. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical. The removal of the pectineus muscle, the removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one are all surgical interventions that are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advice of your veterinarian.

X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.

X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.

CANCER

Cancer has been known to occur in some Aussies. It cannot be considered a common problem, but owners need to be aware of the possibility. Treatment is sometimes effective but, as in humans, it can also result in an early demise.

HIP DYSPLASIA (HD)

Hip dysplasia is genetically transmitted in Aussies and is a developmental problem of the hip joint. Dogs born with a “susceptibility factor” for HD should be monitored carefully to prevent their becoming overweight or over-exercised at a very young age while the bones are still developing. Basic conformation of the individual dog and caloric intake are also contributory factors in producing dysplastic dogs.

By age 24 months, dogs can be x-rayed to determine whether or not they have HD. If the answer is affirmative, a realistic program of maintenance can be instituted to minimize the dog’s suffering and manifestation of motor problems.

Under some circumstances, surgery is called for and is usually successful in relieving pain, though the dog may be left with a permanent limp.

Based on x-ray diagnosis, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) rates the quality of the hip joint as excellent, good, fair, borderline or dysplastic. From this analysis, responsible breeders choose dogs for their breeding programs who are certified free of hip dysplasia.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Hypothyroidism is a hormonal problem. Though it is difficult to diagnose and has several potential causes, it is usually easy to treat with medication. Some of the types of thyroiditis can begin early in life. However, they often don’t become clinically apparent until later in life after the dog reaches three years of age.

OTHER PROBLEMS

A small number of Aussies have developed other health problems such as collie eye, some cardiac conditions, epilepsy, elbow dysplasia and allergies. Since these problems have appeared in very few Australian Shepherds, they cannot be considered breed problems.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Eczema and dermatitis are skin problems that occur in many breeds and they can often be tricky problems to solve. Frequent bathing of the dog will remove skin oils and will cause the problem to worsen. Allergies to food or something in the environment can also cause the problem. Consider asking the vet about homeopathic remedies in addition to conventional treatment.

Hardiness is part of the Australian Shepherd’s nature and, as such, he generally makes a very healthy pet if properly cared for, fed, exercised and checked by the veterinarian.