Australian Shepherd

The name might say Australian, but The Australian Shepherd originated from the ranches in western United States. They were bred to be good herding dogs. They got the Australian name to them because of the Basque sheepherders who came to U S A from Australia. These guys rose to popularity right away with the boom and the respect for the west after the World War II. They became part of the general public as rodeos and so on.

The Australian Shepherds come highly acknowledged for their obedience. They have the eagerness to please their masters and this is the most essential thing you would want in a dog if you would like train them well. Like most working breeds of dogs, the Australian Shepherd is all about high energy and focus throughout the day. They love having a job to do and hate having to be idle and have absolutely nothing to do. They are the best in dog sports such as Frisbee and fly ball and dog agility course based sports. They also perform appreciably as search and rescue and therapy dogs. They are great with kids and families. Their obedience makes them as excellent house pets to have around the house too.

They are categorized into two distinct lines: first would be the working type and second would be the show type. The show dogs make their appearances in dog shows around the world, that is once in a while and are selected mainly for their appearances and have a heavier bone structure and longer fur. The working dogs on the other hand are the ones you see working in the fields and estates every day. They are known for their working ability and have shorter coats and are lighter and thinner bone structure.

In countries that permit docking, the famous thing for these breeds is the short bobbed tail. Some of the Australian Shepherds are even born with this kind of tail. Some breeders prefer to manually dock the tail themselves when the puppies are born, but this still keeps the wagging movement going on them at the hind end.

The Australian Shepherd is an excellent guard dog and an excellent pet. But they do have a tendency to behave aggressively and ferociously with strangers. It protective instinct can confuse and very often tend to scare little children and other small animals. They remain loyal and devoted to their owners for ever and are very rewarding if we show them love and respect too. It’s not an obsessively barking dog, but with its protective instincts, it does tend to bark at most neighborhood activity around your house. They sometimes turn destructive if there isn’t anything to amuse them. They just happen to create new ways to amuse themselves that in real human world it means hyperactivity and destruction of property. The Australian Shepherds need constant human companionship and they build intense bonds and are devoted to people who happen to be in their good books.