The Australian Shepherd
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 by Mike CronkBasics:
Country of Origin: United States
Group: Herding
Lifespan: 14-16 years
Height: 20-22 inches
Weight: 40-60 lbs
Color: Red, black, blue and red merle
AKC Rank 2006: 34
The Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is not really an Australian breed but came to America by way of Australia. It is believed they originated in the Barque region of Europe in the 1800s. As shepherds, they were used primarily in the rugged areas of Australia and the western United States. Selective breeding has developed a dog known to have “a great deal of stamina [who] is loving, bold, alert, confident, independent, smart, and responsive.”
The Aussies we’ve met certainly have that look of intelligence in their eyes. They tend to be wary of strangers and thus take a few minutes to get to know us before we can go to work. They are double-coated and require a lot of brushing–at least once a week. We occasionally clip them down to 1/4-1/2 of an inch all over, usually in hot weather and/or for ease of maintenance. They really are gorgeous if kept brushed out and thinned. We prefer to see them come in for a good brushing and bath every 4-6 weeks so that we can thin out the hair before it gets thick enough to require an uncomfortable amount of brushing. They often become fussy for prolonged brushing and can occasionally be snappy.
Karma Knaus sports a summer cut. The feathers on the chest, legs and rear are scissored short and blended to the sides.