Australian Shepherd
Developed in the American west despite the name, working sheep on ranches. Merle coats and odd eyes are common, and it needs a job or it invents one.
Overview
The Australian Shepherd is not Australian. It was developed in the American west, most likely from Basque shepherds' dogs that arrived via Australia, which is where the name came from, and it was made into a ranch dog and a rodeo performer.
The merle coat is the breed's signature and it carries a genetic warning: breeding two merles together produces double merle puppies with a high risk of deafness and blindness, and it is the one thing to check a breeder is not doing.
Temperament
Bright, willing and closely bonded. Aussies are more biddable than most herding breeds and they genuinely want to work with a person rather than beside one.
They are reserved with strangers and highly alert, and the herding instinct shows as circling and nipping at moving things. They are also sensitive, so training works best when it is clear and fair rather than forceful.
Care and grooming
A medium double coat that needs brushing two or three times a week and daily during the two heavy moults. They shed a great deal.
The MDR1 drug sensitivity variant is common in this breed and it matters enormously: an affected dog can be seriously harmed by ordinary doses of several common drugs, including some wormers and sedatives. It has a cheap DNA test and every Aussie should have one.
Living and exercise
Two hours a day plus mental work. They are outstanding at agility, herding, obedience, disc and scent work.
An Aussie without a job is the classic case behind destructive behaviour and anxiety in a clever dog. They are also intensely social and they do badly left alone all day.
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