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SERVICES Pet Insurance Pet Care Services   Puppy Care   Dog Walking   Dog Day Care   Home Boarding   Pet Sitting   Other Services Pet Care Areas Dog Training Dog Grooming Book Our Services SHOPPING Online Store Our Pet Shops NAVIGATION Site Search Site Index YOUR K9 CAPERS Members Forum Classified Ads Your Crazy Gang Training Tips Features Money Off Links Page Other Stuff Join As An Affiliate Dog Breeds Index UK Animal Rescue Find Any UK Vet Jobs Contact Us	Dog Breed Index The Austrailian Shepherd Appearance The breed's general appearance varies greatly depending on the particular line's emphasis. As with many working breeds that are also shown in the ring, there are differences of opinion among breeders over what makes an ideal Australian Shepherd. Reflecting the great variation that exists in the breed, an Aussie can stand between 18 and 23 inches (46 to 58 cm) at the withers and weigh between 35 and 60 pounds (16 to 34 kg). For show dogs, females should fall in the lower ranges and males in the higher ranges.[2][3] There is a conflict, though, concerning the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Since there is no strict height or weight measurements, some say mini Aussies are the same as the original breed, simply smaller, and should not be considered a separate breed. Others stick to an opinion that minis were bred separately and should be their own breed. Temperament The Australian Shepherd is unique with regard to its temperament. There are two distinct types of personality to look for depending on the lines, as well as many shades within these two types. Generally the breed is an energetic dog that requires exercise and enjoys working, whether it is learning and practicing tricks, competing in dog agility, or any other physically and mentally involving activity. Many need to run, full out, regularly. It is usually a sweet and affectionate dog who is faithful to its owners and may be good with children, although its overwhelming instinct to work may subvert its ability to function as a family dog. Dogs with strong working instinct may show more reserved, guarding behaviors along with a tendency to chase or nip at running children or strangers if not properly trained. Its protective instinct and behaviors can be frightening to children, strangers, and small animals. Those bred for a more family-oriented temperament are more friendly and affectionate with strangers and generally more reliable around children. Because the breed was developed to serve on the ranch, a job which includes being protective of its property, it sometimes can be annoying with its inclination to bark warnings about neighborhood activity, but it is not generally an obsessively barking dog. Health Results of a 1998 internet survey with a sample size of 614 Australian Shepherds indicated a median longevity of about 12.5 years, but also that longevity may be declining. A 2004 UK survey found a much shorter median longevity of 9 years, but their sample size was low (22 deceased dogs). The median life spans for breeds similar in size to Australian Shepherds are mostly between 11 and 13 yrs, so, assuming the results of the UK study are not representation of the population there, Aussies appear to have a typical life span for a breed their size. Leading causes of death in the UK survey were cancer (32%), "combinations" (18%), and old age (14%). History There is confusion about the origin of the name Australian Shepherd. It is believed by some that this breed originated in Spain and was used by the Basque farmers. At some point, this working dog breed may have been introduced to the United States by an Australian farmer. However, its modern development took place in California in the 19th century. The Australian Shepherd's history is vague, as is the origin of its misleading name. What is known is that it developed in western North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries[8]. Breeds as we know them today did not exist before Victorian times, but local variations of the ancestors of different breeds that we know today came into America along with their owners and livestock. Included are some that are now extinct or that have merged into other breeds. These probably included the English Shepherd, Kelpie, Dorset Blue Shag, Cumberland Sheepdog, Scottish Collie , Glenwherry Collie, Dingo, Australian Cattle Dog, Welsh Sheepdog (which still includes a blue merle variety) and Bouvier des Flandres, as well as dogs from Germany and Spain. For many centuries, shepherds had more interest in dogs who performed well when helping to manage flocks of sheep than they had in the specific appearance of the dogs. As a result, over time, shepherds interbred dogs that they believed would produce better workers for the given climate and landscape. In the eastern U.S., Terrain and weather conditions were similar to that of Europe, however, so the existing imported breeds and their offspring worked well there.	PET FOOD SHOP Arden Grange Arthurs Bakers Beta Burgess Burns Butchers Cesar Chappie Chudleys Chunkie Davies Denes Eukanuba Felix Forthglade Friskies Fold Hill Frolic Gilpa Go-Cat HiLife Hills Iams Wellbeloved Kennel Pak Kit-e-Kat Laughing Dog Naturediet Nutro Choice Omega Pal Pascoes Pedigree Pero Purina Royal Canin Sheba Skinners Vitalin Wafcol Whiskas Wilsons Winalot MORE PET STUFF Dog Treats & Toys Cat Treats & Toys Or just browse our Dog Food Index
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