Nova – This little Aussie is growing up so quickly. Freda is doing such a Super job with this little girl. Love watching these two building such an amazing, trusting bond between each other.
Australian Shepherd
Despite their name, the Australian Shepherd dog breed originate in the western United States, not Australia, around the time of the gold rush in the 1840s. They were originally bred to herd livestock and till this day remain a working dog at heart. They are beautiful, medium size, slightly longer than taller dogs with a water repellent coats. They are average shedders all year round.
Being highly intelligent and keen observers, they learn from observing. Be very careful digging in front of them in the garden. It is very likely that you will find new holes dug the next morning by your trusted beautiful pup.
The Aussie is extremely loyal and devoted to their family and could be a bit aloof and reserve towards strangers. Early socialisation is very important, especially for this breed. They need to be close to their family and being very sensitive dogs also have huge feelings. This dog will not be suited for a busy family that is never home. They need tons of attention, love and time from their family.
These dogs are no coach potatoes. They need to be out and about. They will be your best hiking buddy but without thorough and proper recall training, this breed should be kept on a lead. Due to their herding background, Australian Shepherds can have a prey drive, which means they love games like fetch and frisbee. It also means they like to chase and nip at moving objects—like children, cats, cars, and other wheeled objects like scooters, bikes, and golf carts. Early socialisation is key to live harmoniously with the rest of the family. They are also master escape artist when left unattended for too long. Without mental and physical stimulation some bad habits can form, like barking, digging, chewing and scratching. Teaching your Aussie to pick up their toys, the remote, your clothes or anything that will keep them busy will help keeping them stimulated and also will help you around the house.
Being a very versatile breed, they are good guard dogs, herding dogs, police dogs and used for search and rescue to name a few. They are a healthy breed and life expectation can be between 13-15 years. With their lifestyle and temperament being so high-energy, guardians need to be considerate of their joint and hip health to ensure healthy mobility at all life stages. They are also pro to epilepsy, deafness and allergies.