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The Incredibly Bossy, Impressive Aussie – The Australian Shepherd

The irony is that they have nothing to do with Australia, apart from the connection with the Basque shepherds who immigrated to the United States in the 1880s from Spain and Australia. They are credited with creating and popularizing the breed in the expanding sheep industry of the American West. The genealogy of the Australian is steward of many breeds. But there is no doubt, the Australian Shepherd is an All-American dog; that he can proudly proclaim, “MADE IN USA!

Medium build, and come in four colors. There are the Blacks, the Blue Merles (black and gray marble), the Reds and the Red Merles (red and gray marble). An Australian’s outer coat can be straight or wavy. The undercoat is soft and dense. Weekly grooming is a must to prevent matting.

One of their most fascinating features is their eyes. They range from glass eye or “ghost eye” (blue), to hazel, amber, and every shade of brown imaginable. Red Merles usually have lighter colored eyes, Blacks and Blue Merles for the most part, usually have one of the shades of brown. It is not that unusual for an Australian to have one blue eye and one brown eye.

Interestingly, several Australians are born with naturally wagging tails. Others, born with tails, were commonly amputated as puppies. However, today many Australian dog owners choose not to dock their puppies’ tails. It’s always fun to see a tailless Aussie show off his enthusiastic salute with that constantly wagging butt!

Before deciding on an Aussie, there are a few things to consider. The breed does have certain health problems, which are quite common. They include: hip and back problems, hereditary eye defects, vision problems, thyroid and pancreas. Some may also be predisposed to epilepsy, cancer, and breathing difficulties. On average, you can expect to spend 13-15 years with a wonderful partner.

An Aussie may not be the most suitable dog for an inexperienced dog owner. Being a working dog, they can be willful. Their owner must know how to treat them fairly, firmly and consistently; apply positive reinforcement. Otherwise, they will see the bossy side of your Awesome Aussie. There is no doubt that Australians know they are smart.

Socialize your puppy as soon as possible. Puppy Kindergarten and obedience classes will be time and money well spent. Also plan on devoting at least 2 hours per day to vigorous physical exercise as well as mental stimulation for the next 10-12 years! Even as they age, an Australian still expects reasonable challenges. A bored Aussie will be in trouble in no time! They love challenges; be it obedience, agility or rally. Aussies are smug and born clowns! Plan for plenty of ball tosses and Frisbee because your Aussie will love every minute of it. The fantastic part of spending time with your Aussie is; It’s time well spent bonding. His devotion to his owner is legendary.

Be vigilant if you have small children and with the elderly. Thinking they are helping, your Aussie may instinctively herd them. The same goes for cats and other small animals. An Aussie can’t rest until she has it all under control. Don’t be surprised when you take your Aussie to a dog park if you don’t think he’s there to surround and contain all the other dogs! They can’t help it… it’s in their genes. It’s entertaining to watch!

With their keen senses and keen sensitivities, not to mention puritanical work ethic, Aussies have been used successfully as search and rescue dogs, as well as therapy, service, and guard dogs. Australians live to work! An Aussie without a job is not a happy dog.

Bottom line: Although Aussies make wonderful family pets, they tend to gravitate toward a select individual. They are known to create an unbreakable bond with a particular person. However, if you want a dog that is dedicated to his family, has high energy, incredible intelligence, a great sense of humor, loves to socialize and have fun, has an incredible will to please, and yet is protective instinct, maybe a bossy Awesome Aussie could be the perfect dog for you.

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