The origins of the Australian Shepherd
No, the Australian Shepherd is not native to Australia. This breed was born in the Basque Country: in the 19th century, for lack of work, many shepherds emigrated to the Oceanian continent with their dogs in the hope of putting their skills to work for sheep farming. Around 1900, pastors went to the United States, a country in which this breed of dog was nicknamed “Australian Shepherd” because of its origin. Since then, its development has continued: even today, the Australian Shepherd accompanies cattle breeders on ranches.
The physique of the Australian Shepherd
- Size: between 51 and 58 cm (male) or between 48 and 54 cm (female).
- Weight: between 20 and 30 kg (male) or between 20 and 26 kg (female).
- Hair: straight or slightly wavy, medium length on body, short on head and ears.
- Hair color: black tricolor, blue merle, red tricolor or red merle.
- Head shape: the top of the skull is flat or slightly domed.
- Shape and color of the eyes: almond-shaped, they are blue, green or brown.
- Shape of the ears: drooping and triangular.
- Other particularities: its tail is straight and does not exceed 10 cm.
The character of the Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is an affectionate dog that loves company. Sociable, he lives with cats, dogs, children and strangers. This breed is renowned for its intelligence, loyalty, and curiosity. If he is playful and overflowing with energy, the Australian Shepherd requires an appropriate education. He barks and does not hesitate to insist if he cannot be heard. This is a dog that needs to be stimulated by its master. The Australian Shepherd is made for a life in a house with a garden. Sporty, he likes to let off steam and is resistant to bad weather.
Australian Shepherd health
First, the Australian Shepherd is prone to eye diseases: a screening test against PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and AOC (collie anomaly) must be carried out each year. He is also prone to cataracts. According to a study conducted by Dr. Cathryn Mellersh and theAnimal Health Trust (“Mutation in HSF4 is associated with hereditary cataract in the Australian Shepherd”)out of almost 400 Australian Shepherds, animals carrying the mutated HSF4-A gene would be 17 times more likely to develop cataracts compared to non-carrier animals.
Another point of vigilance: epileptic seizures, caused by an infection, an injury or the ingestion of a toxic product. They can also be genetic. The Australian Shepherd is also prone to congenital heart disease and hip dysplasia. Finally, this breed is greedy: treats should be used sparingly to avoid possible overweight and the dog must not eat apart from meals. The Australian Shepherd lives between 13 and 15 years.
australian shepherd price
The purchase price of an Australian Shepherd varies between 800 and 1,500 euros depending on the breeders. As for its annual maintenance cost, it amounts to around 1300 euros.
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