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| General Information About Australian Shepherds |
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| The Australian Shepherd is a well-balanced, moderate dog with strong herding instincts. He is intelligent and physically agile. He is slightly longer than tall and has a moderate length coat coming in a variety of colors. The accepted colors are black, red, blue merle and red merle, all with or without white/copper trim. Aussie colorings are as unique and different as each dog. Their eyes reflect their uniqueness too and can come in a variety of colors including brown, amber, blue, flecked and marbled. They are also known for having docked or natural bobbed tails. The Australian Shepherd is attentive, animated and truly versatile, excelling in many venues. Some venues including herding, obedience, agility, flyball and therapy work. They are very loyal and considered to be the ultimate "Velcro" dog! One characteristic is that they are reserved with strangers but not shy. This is why the Aussie is not a dog for everyone. They need to be socialized as puppies and make much better companions with obedience training. They are an active breed and area happiest when working or playing hard! |
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| Although the Aussie is a healthy breed, there are some health concerns to keep in mind. Aussies can get Canine Hip Dysplasia and should be x-rayed and found clear before breeding. C.H.D. is found in all breeds and is a poorly formed hip socket that leads to painful arthritis. It is developmental and can be very debilitating. Hip dysplasia is an inherited polygenic trait, meaning it involves many pairs of genes. Both Penn HIP and O.F.A. are acceptable for hip dysplasia evaluations. Hereditary eye defects can affect Aussies also. Some include Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cataracts, Collie Eye Anomaly, Distichiasis and Iris Coloboma. Every Aussie should have their eyes checked by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Breeding dogs need to be checked clear of any defects before breeding. All puppies should have their eyes checked clear at 7 weeks before going to their new homes. Patellar Luxation is a genetic disease. It can cause pain and lameness as the knee slips out of place. A physical exam by a veterinarian is a preliminary way to diagnose this condition. All puppies should have this done at 8 weeks. Breeding merle to merle should only be done by experienced breeders. The incomplete dominate gene that produces the merle pattern is semi-lethal. When a merle is bred to a merle, the resulting pups can inherit two alleles for merling. Problems associated with this are blindness and deafness. Some Aussies are sensitive to Ivermectin. It is an ingredient available as a wormer and heartworm preventative. It affects the central nervous system and can cause seizures and even death. Please keep this in mind when selecting appropriate preventative care for your Aussie. |
| Health |
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