Australian Shepherd Dog - breed description and character

The Australian Shepherd or Aussie is an excellent breed of dog. She is known for her incredible stamina as well as her distinctive mind. Bred breed in the XX century. She immediately won many fans among dog lovers. Aussie is a great helper and companion.

Description

The Australian Shepherd is a breed of dog that has an extraordinary intelligence and excellent physical characteristics. She also has an amazing appearance that distinguishes her from other dogs. Although Australia is mentioned in the name of the breed, the United States of America is the birthplace of these wonderful dogs. She was taken out to help farmers who herded and distilled cattle. Aussie is perfect for this purpose: it has an average size, about 70 cm in height and weighs 30 kg.

Having a calm and cheerful character, the Australian Shepherd dogs have become excellent companions. They are also indispensable assistants in the police in the search for criminals and the search for prohibited substances and objects. They work with lifeguards.

Aussie is the best guide for blind people. Today, there are many breeding kennels of the Australian shepherds, not only abroad, but also in Russia.

The Australian Shepherd has a number of common characteristics:

1. Breed requires daily workouts up to an hour a day. She needs to be given high physical exertion. The shepherd's trial or obedience lesson would be a good job for them.
2. Sheepdog is an excellent defender of the house and its family. She gives a voice when danger approaches, warning her master.
3. It is not necessary to keep an Aussie in the countryside, giving it a huge space. She gets on well in the city if the owner conducts enough exercises with her in the fresh air. But, of course, a small courtyard for this dog is an ideal place to spend your energy.
4. She can become a major member of the whole family if she learns how to use her persistence.The owner of this breed can only be a man with a strong character and self-confident. If before people did not keep dogs, then it’s definitely not worth starting with the Australian Shepherd.

Australians just love to spend time with family, do not like to be far from the owner. You can not leave them for a long time, these dogs can not stand loneliness. To the extent that they can even get sick.

Appearance

Aussie is a dog with a beautiful physique. Her muscularity corresponds to the weight and size. The backbone is well developed. Separate parts of the body have their own distinctive features:

1. Head: proportional to the body. There are dogs with a ledge in the nape area. Muzzle elongated. The transition from the forehead to the face itself is clearly visible.
2. Eyes: almond-shaped, not big and not small. They reflect the mind of the dog and its love for life and all the joys. In color, they can be brown with all shades, as well as blue. Very often there are dogs with eyes of different color - heterochromia.
3. The nose is small with a brown or black tint. If it is brown, it may have small dots of pink color, the so-called skin pigmentation. The color of the nose depends on the color of the shepherd.
4. The ears are also small, set high, I have a fracture in the cartilage. They fill up ahead. They do not stand straight, but they do not hang completely.
5. The jaw is strong with a straight or scissor bite.
6. Neck muscular medium length.
7. Chest deep set, oval-shaped ribs.
8. Strong body with excellent muscles.
9. The back of the shepherd dog is perfectly flat and strong, has an extension to the waist.
10. The croup has a slightly sloping structure.
11. The stomach is drawn into the groin area.
12. The paws of the Australian Shepherd with strong bones, strong and smooth.
13. The shepherd's tail does not have a specific length: it can be both short, as if trimmed, and long.
14. The coat is thick, mostly straight, but may have a slight waviness. There is a thick undercoat. Short hair is observed in the head and limbs, but in the neck it is longer with feathering.

The most common shepherd colors are black. Bluish (Blue), gray with black spots (merle), brown (red), with red spots on beige wool. On the chest and paws of the Australian Shepherd there is a white and pied color. It is very rare to see a dog with a golden, sable or brindle color.

How did the breed appear?

Australian Shepherds appeared in the late 19th century in the United States of America. Their appearance is tied to shepherds and farmers, who had Pyrenean shepherd dogs as their assistants. But this multinational story is not as simple as it may seem at first glance.

Some researchers of the origin of rocks consider the ancestors of the Aussie not the Pyrenean shepherd, but the Old German. One of their species, namely tigers or taygers, which were herding dogs with a very thick coat of black and gray color. Germany was the birthplace of this dog breed. In the middle of the 19th century, the Old German Shepherd Dog came to Australia, and more specifically to New South Wales, in order to protect and assist in herding huge sheep flocks. And later, the descendants of these dogs were crossed with other breeds, as a result of which they bred the Australian Shepherd, which entered the United States.

Also the ancestors of the Australians called the dogs of the Pyrenean breed, who lived in Andorra. This is a small country between Spain and France. The Pyrenean Shepherd also came to the USA at the end of the 19th century along with the shepherds.They were supposed to help the Basques in the development of the American sheep industry, which was rapidly developing in the States at that time.

Another breed of dog that had its influence on the appearance of Aussie. There was an Australian coolie. This is a very beautiful and beautifully developed shepherd breed that could easily cope with a whole flock of sheep and herds of goats and cattle. The Australian coolie is very similar to the modern Australian Shepherd in color and appearance.

US farmers were pleasantly surprised and interested in the qualities of these dog breeds. They were hardworking, hardy and obedient. Already from the beginning of the 20th century began to conduct breeding work on the breeding of a new breed. For this, Australian coolies, old German and Pyrenean shepherds were crossed with other breeds of herding dogs. The result was to bring the Australian Shepherd.

In 1957, the Australian Shepherd Club opened in America, and after 10 years, more than 20 nurseries operated in the country. In 1977, the breed standard was officially approved.

Character traits

If an Aussie receives proper upbringing and proper training, then she becomes an active, fun and life-loving dog. She is wonderful about all members of her family, and not just about the immediate owner. Aussies get along well with children. Outsiders cause alertness in the Australian Shepherd. But not aggressive behavior or fear. Pets also do not cause negative feelings among Australians, especially if they grew up together. The responsibility of the owner is to teach the Aussie how to react to other four-legged friends correctly and calmly.

The Australian Shepherd is very loyal to its owner, she just loves to spend all his time with him. The owner boasts that his dog has a sharp mind, she is curious and remarkably amenable to training. They never show their anger, but only in case of danger to the family.

The owner must think over the Aussie's daily routine so that she gets enough physical activity and uses her energy in the right direction. Australian Shepherd is a very active animal.Therefore, if you do not walk with her and do not load her, then this can cause depression in your dog. Also, the dog may begin to misbehave in the apartment. For example, it spoils furniture and other interior items, looking for the exit of its restless energy. Therefore, the owners of the Australian Shepherd should be people who lead an active lifestyle. They must have a sufficient amount of time and energy. To pay due attention to their pets.

Care rules

The Australian Shepherd is great for keeping in private country houses with spacious courtyards and in small city apartments. If you keep the dog on the street, it is necessary to build an aviary, which will have insulation for the winter in the form of a booth. Aussie chain hold is not welcome. In the apartment the dog must have its own place with a stove bench, its own dishes and toys. It should not be exposed to drafts. Very dry air also adversely affects the health of the pet.

Walking with the Australian Shepherd should be at least twice a day for 2 hours.In the hot season, walking time can be slightly reduced, as well as choose the coolest time of the day for this. This may be early morning or late evening. The sun at this time is not so shining. Cold Aussies are transferred with ease.

The dog must be given plenty to run, following the instructions of the owner. For games, you can choose plastic discs, a ball or run along an obstacle course. If city dwellers manage to get out of the city, then there will be no more pleasure for a dog than to rush around the area, swim in a river. After such procedures, you should carefully examine the dog for the presence of cuts, and at home wash it under running water.

Care for the Australian Shepherd consists of a procedure for bathing and combing. There are periods of molting. It is spring and autumn, when a dog should be combed every day, using a brush and a comb or a special device - a furminator. If there is no shedding. It is enough to comb the dog 3 times a week. It is important to remember to do this. Aussie thick hair is a wonderful home for various parasites, and there is also the risk of skin diseases, the appearance of tangles.

It is necessary to bathe a dog not less than 5 times a year, using special detergents for animals.

Be sure to wipe the eyes of the dog several times a month.This is done with a cotton swab dipped in chamomile broth or tea brewing.

Ears should also be cleaned a couple of times a week using special sulfur removers.

You also need to take care of the health of your teeth and buy a toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, as well as snacks that help remove plaque from the teeth.

Some owners argue about whether to shave an Australian Shepherd or not. Sometimes this is done with good intentions to help the dog withstand the summer heat. Because thick wool is very disturbing for an aussie when unbearable heat is on the street and in the apartment. Another reason for shaving a dog is the usual laziness of the owner, who is tired of constantly removing the pet's fur from rugs and other interior items in the apartment.

But we should not forget that dogs do not have sweat glands (they are only on the paw pads). Therefore, the dog cannot cool itself with the natural evaporation of moisture from the body. They can only be cooled due to shortness of breath. The dog opens its mouth and often breathes, and through the mucous membranes of the mouth, the evaporation of unnecessary moisture occurs.

Dog's skin, uncoated, is very susceptible to exposure to sunlight. Host-shaven Australians are often burned. And the wool gets irreparable damage.

If the owner has noticed any sign of illness of a pet, then it is necessary to immediately contact a veterinarian. You also need to consult with your doctor about what medicines should be present in the home first aid kit, so that you can give first aid to the dog. You should also purchase the necessary vitamins, make vaccines, treat your pet with antiparasitic agents.

In no case can not engage in the treatment of dogs alone, to prevent the death of the animal.

Aussie Training

Aussie, like any other shepherd, must adapt to the new family. For this, she needs to be trained. In its process, the dog will get used to the owner and learn discipline and obedience.

The Australian Shepherd is a great training. When training takes place, screaming and beatings are unacceptable. Much better a dog will learn if it knows that after the correct execution of the command it will receive some treats, as well as praise.Then she will study with pleasure and interest.

After passing the general course of training the Australian Shepherd becomes the most obedient and balanced among other dogs.

Aussie Health

Aussie life is not considered short. On average, this dog lives about 15 years.

Most often, these dogs suffer from diseases of the limbs, the ridge. Also subject to eye damage. Present neurological diseases and autoimmune.

Once a month it is necessary to treat the shepherd dog with ectoparasites remedy. Because mites or fleas are quite dangerous for the shepherd dog parasites that carry a danger to their lives.

Fleas bring discomfort to the dog: itching, irritation of the skin. The dog may develop an allergy to the bites of these insects. When a flea is combed out of its coat, the dog can swallow it. This can lead to worms.

Ticks are carriers of very dangerous diseases, such as babesiosis. Particularly dangerous for a pet in terms of tick infestation is the period from April to October. After walking on the street it is necessary to inspect the dog for the presence of parasites.When a tick is detected, it must be removed, and the bite site treated with a means of infection.

If after a certain period after a bite, the dog does not behave as usual, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Buying an Australian Shepherd or not is the decision of every person. Only it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of its character and content. Not everyone is suitable such an active pet. Some people should get calmer dogs with whom you don’t need to constantly run, jump and play.

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