His head is well drawn, his ears are large and triangular and his eyes in almonds and of brown, blue, amber color, with marbling, are particularly attractive.

Poil : of medium length, straight or slightly wavy, short and smooth on the head and ears. It can be blue-merle, black, red, red-merle and have white spots.

Size : from 51 to 58 cm for the male and from 46 to 53 cm for the female.

Weight : 20 to 30 kg for the male and 19 to 26 kg for the female.

Classification FCI : N° 342.

Contrary to what the name suggests, the Australian Shepherd is not a breed that was developed in Australia, but in the United States. Its origin is debated, but according to the most commonly accepted theory, the breed originated from the crossing of Spanish (Basque) breeds, then later from a cross with the collie. So why the name Australian Shepherd? Because when these dogs were imported to California in the XNUMXth century, they arrived by boat from Australia where Basque shepherds had emigrated to practice breeding.

The Australian Shepherd is an animal intelligent, hardworking and very tough. So many qualities that make it an unparalleled animal for farm work. No surprise then that he is found on many American ranches, where he keeps and drives herds of sheep especially, but also of cows, for days on end. The popularity of the “Aussie”, as Americans affectionately call him, owes much to his appearances at rodeos and in western movies.

In the family environment, he is loving and protective for his relatives, and of an equal temperament and little quarrelsome, which makes him a good companion, also for children. He is always described as endearing and sometimes even intrusive. The Australian Shepherd does not tolerate loneliness and has a great need to be surrounded.

The Australian Shepherd is considered a healthy breed, in the eyes of many others. However, it is subject to specific hereditary problems. As is the case with many large breeds, Australian Shepherds often suffer from dysplasia, in the hip or elbow area, which can significantly impair their motor skills. This is a problem to consider especially if the dog is intended to work with farm animals. The most common and noticeable health problems for the Australian Shepherd are their inherited eye disorders:

Progressive retinal atrophy: he is indeed at high risk of developing progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an inherited genetic disease caused by a recessive gene and leading to total blindness in the animal. The affected dog inherits the offending gene from both parents, and all puppies from an affected dog will develop or carry the disease.

Other eye abnormalities: other anomalies occur regularly in Australian Shepherds, such as Collie Eye Anomalies (AOC), cataracts, retinal detachment or even Iris Coloboma (the latter, on the other hand, is not very disabling). ). (1)

It is important to emphasize that inactivity is not for this dog who has an important daily need for stimulation and exercise, physical and mental. Living in an apartment or in cramped housing is therefore absolutely to be avoided. The dog would develop discomfort, depression, anxiety and aggressiveness there. The ideal for him being the farm life, surrounded by a family and animals, in a vast space where he can run over long distances. However, it is preferable that his living space is fenced.