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Australian Shepherd Dog

General
Other Names		Aussies
Dog Group Kennel Club		Pastoral
Breed Classification		Australian Shepherd Dogs belong to the pastoral group and are used for sheep-herding, as companions and seen in the show-ring.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50 per week
Feeding Requirements		This breed does like its food and can become overweight if it does not get enough exercise.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		The initial cost of a puppy is from £500 upwards.
Average Puppy Price		£500-800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years 12 to 13 years would be an average lifespan for this dog.
Average Litter Size		7 The average litter size ranges from 6 to 9 puppies.
General Physical Description		These medium sized dogs are slightly longer than they are tall. They are solid and muscular. Their gait demonstrates the agility and stamina that a sheepdog would need.
Height Min Max Bitch 46cm (18") 53cm (21") Dog 51cm (20") 58cm (23") Weight Min Max Bitch 16kg (35lbs) 32kg (71lbs) Dog 16kg (35lbs) 32kg (71lbs)
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Dogs ideally measure between 51-58cms at the withers, and bitches between 46-53cms. They should weigh in the region of 16-32kgs, the dogs at the top end of the scale and the bitches at the bottom.
Ailments		The Australian Shepherd has inherited some eye diseases, among them Coloboma, an abnormal development of the eye and microopthalmia, an abnormally small eye. Cataracts and retinal detachments.
Common Ailments		Micropthalmia
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History
Intelligence		Australian Shepherds are eager to learn and please their owner. As a result, this is an easy to train breed, although they can be rather dominant. It is also a breed that must be trained, as it needs something to occupy its mind. Aussies were bred to work and without a purpose in life they become bored and can develop destructive behaviours.
Show Characteristics		An Australian Shepherd’s head should have a flat skull or moderate dome. Equal in length to the back of the skull, the muzzle should be neither massive or snipey but round, and only slightly tapered. A scissor or level bite is permitted. Colours for the eyes can be very interesting with blue, brown, and amber or combination, flecked or mottled, all accepted. Almond in shape, the eyes should be wide set and show an alert and intelligent expression. Noses also play the colour game with black nostrils asked for in the darker dogs, while red dogs can have brown noses. Merles can have pink spots on their noses, so long as the spots cover less than 25% of the nose. Triangular in shape and moderate in size, folding forward at the top. The neck is strong and slightly arched sporting a ruff above the finely boned shoulders, which create close-set withers. The chest is deeper than it is wide and the ribs are well sprung but not barrel shaped. There is a moderate tuck-up to the abdomen. Equal in size to the shoulder blade, the upper arm should be made of dense bone and appear perfectly straight in the front view.
Country Of Origin		United States of America
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		80 - 100 minutes per day. Long walks are essential but are still not enough. Roadwork and free running are both needed for the good of the dog. This dog will work well in obedience, agility, fly ball or herding, all areas where he will do himself and his trainer proud.
Distress Caused if Left Alone
Personal Protection		High
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		High
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals		Low
Suitable For Children		Medium
General Character And Temperament		It is recommended that you socialize Aussies early, as they can be a bit shy with strangers. It is also good for them to get used to children, other dogs and pets at an early age if one wants relations to go smoothly. The herding instinct is very strong in this breed and they must be taught that not all children take kindly to being herded. It is probably best to keep Aussies in a well-fenced yard and on leads when out for a walk as they may otherwise feel compelled to herd traffic, which can be fatal. This is a one person or family dog so they do make good protectors. They are very vocal and have a peculiar bark-howl combination that can be utilised in their guarding capacity. This is not the best breed for novice dog owners.
Grooming
Coat Length		Medium/Long
Grooming Requirement		< Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		Aussies do shed and it is advisable to comb with a coarse, double toothed comb during moulting season.
Colour		Coat colours include, black, blue merle, red and red merle. Merle is a mottled colour that darkens as the dog ages.
Shedding		Little
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies

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