by Karen Clymer

Created on: June 17, 2008

There is little that is Australian about the Australian Shepherd. A few centuries ago, Basque shepherds from the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain emigrated to the sheep ranches in Australia, bringing their sheep dogs with them. When they later came to work on sheep ranches in the United States in the 1800's, they brought along descendants of their original dogs This Made-in-America breed developed on the stock ranches of the Western United States.

Some of its original names were Spanish Shepherd, Pastor Dog, Bob-Tail, New Mexican Shepherd, and California Shepherd. The breed came into the public's eye after World War II, as they were seen accompanying western riding arenas, horse shows, rodeos, and starred in movies and TV. Various Australian Shepherd breed registries started in the 1950's. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club Herding Group in 1993. The term Australian Shepherd can be a bit cumbersome so many people just refer to them as Aussies.

Today, this dog is one of the most versatile dogs in the country, working not only as herding dogs but also as service dogs, tracking, search and rescue and detection dogs, and as canine athletes in sports such as Agility and Obedience. They are strong enough to pull a sled or cart and gentle enough to do therapy work in nursing homes and hospitals.

The Australian Shepherd is a medium size dog, with shoulder height of males ranging from 20 to 23 inches, and females from 18 to 21 inches. Weight varies with height and may range from 35 to 60 pounds.

Standard colors are either red (solid or merle), blue merle, or black . All these colors can include tan points and white markings, which results in a variety of coat patterns. Because certain colors are associated with deafness, it is important to have a solid color other than white around each ear. For this reason, also, a blue merle should never be mated to another blue merle, as there is a likelihood that some or all of the puppies may inherit congenital deafness.

When you watch an Australian Shepherd trotting, it should appear to float over the ground. It is because of this effortless movement that it can handle trotting alongside a horse and rider all day, or compete successfully in a full day of multiple Agility runs.

The eyes of the Australian Shepherd are remarkable in their variety. They can be brown, amber, blue, or any combination (one blue and one brown, for example), and can include flecks and marbling. Aussies can inherit at least two significant eye

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