Australian Shepherd
Group: Pastoral
Size: Large
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: More than once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
The "Aussie" is a well balanced, medium sized dog with a tail that is often naturally bobbed. They have a straight to wavy medium-length coat that comes in a variety of colours. The coat is resistant to the weather and varies with the climate.
Although the name suggests its origins are in Australia, it actually originates from the Pyrenees and was refined in the US to herd on ranches.
They are highly intelligent and easy to train and are capable of high performances in obedience, agility and in a working environment.
They are normally good with adults and children, they are usually good with other dogs but won't take nonsense from the animals they herd. They need a lot of exercise for both body and mind.
Their coat is easy to maintain with occasional brushing and they don't moult very much.
The merle coloured dogs might have sight/hearing problems and interbreeding natural bob tails sometimes leads to spinal problems. Other major concerns are cataracts and CEA.