Australian Shepherd

©1997-2004 by Bonnie Dalzell

Registration Organizations and Dog Group:

• NSDR (National Stock Dog Registry)
• Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) - Original Club founded in 1957

  ASCA Business Office, PO Box 3790, Bryan, TX 77805-3790

  (979) 778-1082

  fax at (979) 778-1898

  E-Mail at lola@asca.org

  ASCA Web Site - www.asca.org

  ASCA Rescue and Information Website

• Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)

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• AKC: Herding Group
  • AKC National Breed Club: United States Australian Shepherd Association
  • Corres. Secretary, Andrea Blizard, 34 Deckertown Turnpike., Sussex, NJ 07461
  • Information & Breeder Contact, Sharon Fontantini, 3121 SW 18th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315 (515) 282-0677

    sfontantini@vnet.ibm.com

  • Rescue:  United States Australian Shepherd Association

    Kyle Trumbull-Clark, (800) 892-2722, California

Breed Description:

Region of Origin:  Rangelands of the American west

National Club established in the US: 1957 (ASCA), 1993 (USASA)

Numbers Registered with AKC in 1996  -   1678 1996 breed popularity rank  -   70th

Original purpose and special abilities:

The Australian Shepherd is a livestock herding dog of strong herding character and is used as often on cattle as on sheep. Driving cattle requires a bold and strong willed dog that will heel nip reluctant livestock.

Introduction:

Despite the breed name, this is a North American breed of livestock herding dog; it is not known in Australia. They are characterized by moderate size and by having a docked or naturally bobbed tail. The breed apparently arose as a landrace (a breed selected for a purpose across a wide area in the absence of a specific registry) in the sheep rearing regions of the American west.

Breed History:

This breed has been known under a number of names including: Blues, Bob-Tails, California Shepherds, Heelers, New Mexican Shepherds, Pastor Dogs, and Spanish Shepherds.

One tradition is that the dogs are derived from dogs brought by the Basque (a unique people living in the Pyrenees Mountains at the French/Spanish border) shepherds who came to work in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming either directly from Spain or from Australia from the late 1800's on. The modern Pyrenean Sheepdog (Berger des Pyrenees) is described by Glover, 1977: "there are at least five recognisable varieties... most of them look like small Collies or Bearded Collies, and a short coated version also exists..."

The merle color is prominent in the breed. According to Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor references to "little blue stockdogs" apear in western writings at the turn of the century. In her book All About Aussies she has an selection of photos from the 1890's on showing western stockdogs of the Australian Shepherd type as well as a discussion of these dogs and their owners. This is an excellent reference for those seeking more detailed information on the breed.

Hartnagle-Taylor provides the following timeline:

• 1800's-1900 Tailess and bob-tailed blue stockdogs appeared in the American west with the appearance of Basque shepherds. Since many Basques came to America from Australia the dogs were termed Australian Shepherds.
• 1957
  • Australian Shepherd Club of America founded.
  • International English Shepherd Registry (IESR) - also called National Stockdog Registry - designated as registry for Australian Shepherds
• 1971 ASCA began to manage its own registry. ASCA offered show, obedience and tracking titles.
• 1974 ASCA introduced Stockdog trials
• 1975 ASCA breed standard committee formed
• 1976 Australian shepherd recognized in Mexico
• 1977 ASCA breed standard became effective
• 1985 some ASCA members petitioned parent club to seek AKC recognition. Majority of ASCA rejected this idea. Following this the United States Australian Shepherd Association (USASA) formed with sole purpose of seeking AKC recognition.
• 1991 breed granted AKC registration status.
• 1993 admitted to AKC herding group. Stud book was to remain open to ASCA Australian Shepherds for 2 years, then it would be closed to dogs from other registries.

Size:

• Weight 45 to 65 pounds
• Height ASCA and AKC 20 to 23 (inches) (dogs): 18 to 21 (bitches)
  

Eye color:

Brown except in blue merles; in that color they may have blue patches and one or both may be blue in color.

Lips:  Tight, this is not a drool prone breed.

Ear type:

Semi erect. Triangular of medium size. The ear is carried erect and breaks forward between 1/4 and 1/2 of the distance from the base to the tip.

Disqualifications:

Breed disqualifications can lead to a dog be offered as a pet animal. One should never pay more for a dog with breed disqualifications because it is rare or unusual !

• (ASCA and AKC)White body splashes (that is white on the body between withers and tail or on the sides between elbows and back of hindquarters. ASCA colors other than recognized colors, dudley (pink spotted) nose.
• A general disqualification in most registries is the absence of two apparently normal, fully descended testicles in the scrotum in males.

Cosmetic Surgeries (to establish 'breed look')

Docking of the tail if present at birth to no more than four inches in length. If an individual is born with a fifth toe on the hind legs, this is removed.

Color:

Blue merle, red merle (brown dilution gene b) black and tan (copper) black, whoite markings collar no more extensive than to the point of the withers at the skin. White as blaze, on chest, legs, underparts. No white body splashes between withers and tail or on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters. Dudley (piebald nose a DQ in ASCA. unpigmented noses can lead to sunburn and solar dermatitis in working dogs) all colors equally acceptable

Blue dilute (homozygous d d) is considered an undesirable color - due in part to confusion of d d dogs with the lethal grey of collies (episodic neutropenia). However in many breeds d d dogs often have sparser coats, a tendency towards hypothyroidism and other immune mediated problems.

The red color in Australian Shepherds is not to be confused with the a-y red of the sable collie. This Australian Shepherd red is the color generally termed brown dilution or chocolate in other dog breeds and is due to the action of the recessive b gene which changes all black pigment (eumelanin) in a dog's coat to brown but has little action on the normal red (pheomelanin) pigment.

Blue merle refers to the presence of the dominant gene for merling (M) which has the effect of creating patches of black, grey and white wherever the dog would be black. Thus on a black and tan dog grey, black and white patches are present in the black regions of the head and body but the tan legs, muzzle, cheeks and eye spots appear to be a normal tan. In a red sable dog the presence of the merle gene is difficult to detect in the coat. However merle also may affect the eyes. They can have blue patches or even be entirely blue so a sable merle is often recognized by the color of the eyes. A dog with two doses of merle (a homozygous or double merle dog) has reduced vitality (the double merle condition is termed semi-lethal). Most merles have a single dose of the gene (that is they are heterozygous) so that breeding of merle to any color other than merle gives only 50% merle pups. Double merles (homozygousMM) have much more extensive white and may have severe eye deformities, and may be blind. The semi-lethal nature of double merle is the source of predjudice against white collies.

However there is also a gene for extreme white spotting S-e in dogs that is not associated with merle. This is the commonest source of extensively white marked dogs in general and does not seem to be associated with any serious defects. This gene is also present in the Australian Shepherd breed but the ASCA discourages breeding dogs with the color because it makes it more difficult to identify the defective double merle puppies at birth..

The ASCA recommends against breeding merles to merles and encourages the culling of double merle puppies at birth because of the strong probability that the pup will be blind, deaf or both.

Their guidelines are these:

white around an eye or an ear, sunburst pupils, missing or tiny eyes, a white body splash, white on a leg coming up onto the body, faded appearance, more than 1/3 total body white.

Coat Type:

The emphasis on the coat is easy coat care for a working dog. Medium texture and weather resistant, with an undercoat. Desired length is two to three inches long on the body lengthening into a moderate mane on the neck with moderate feathering at the back of the legs. Should not be wooly, wirey or excessively curly or with excessive length to feathering as all of these variations increase the amount of burrs and debrise that will be caught in the coat by a working dog. Even with the proper coat the dogs still require some brushing. However the thorney underbrush of the American rangelands is thick enough that a smooth coated dog would not be adequately protected.

Temperament:

An intelligent and highly trainable dog. Australian Shepherds tend to bond to their families and may take a while to make friends with strangers. They are sensitive and do not work well with heavy handed training. Since these dogs are used on cattle as well as sheep they can easily be encouraged to nip, activities with humans that encouraging grabbing and nipping should be discouraged. They are alert and willing to let you know if something is afoot. They will bark with boredom. They need an active, project filled life in which they are involved with their family. Males can become dog aggressive as they mature unless they are carefully trained and socialized.

Special Requirements:  : Other than the need for regular brushing these are hardy dogs with few special requirements.

Typical Competitive Activities for this Breed:

Australian Shepherds are highly regarded in obedience and their trainability makes them prime candidates for the interactive obedience based sports. Physically sound dogs are superb choices for flyball, frisbee and agility competitions. They are also good watch dogs and have a talent for tracking. They are one of the breeds of choice for herding and livestock working competitions.

Genetic problems commonly encountered in this breed:

Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited condition seen in a number of Collie breeds besides the Scots Collie, including the Australian Shepherd. According to Dr. Gregory Acland at Cornell this condition varies from mild to severe. In mild cases an examination of the inner portion of the eye with an opthalmoscope reveals a pale patch near the optic disk in which the pigmented and vascular layers supporting the retina are missing (the retina is the layer of light receptors that lines the inside of the back of the eye), however the eyeball itself remains intact and the retina is not detached from the inner surface of the eye. Dogs with mild Collie Eye Anomaly will live normal lives and are not apparently handicapped by the condition.

When the condition is severe multiple anomalies can be present in the eye, and degenerative changes can occur which may lead to blindness. For this reason breeding stock should be examined for eye disease and the advice of a competent medical geneticist should be followed.

Selective breeding in examined Collie lineages has greatly reduced the severity of the disease in recent years. The idea that CEA is inevitably linked to the small size of the desirable eye in the show bred dogs is challenged by two observations. (1) Collie eye anomaly has not been observed in Borzoi, many of which have similar eye conformation to show collies (small, deep-set oblique eyes) and (2) Collie Eye Anomaly is appearing, although at low levels of incidence, in Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and some other collie breeds which are not characterized by small, deep set, oblique eyes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is the term used to describe the progressive dying of the cells of the retina. There are a number of different genetic defects, usually breed specific, that cause PRA. The PRA present in Collies is called rod-cone dysplasia type 2. It can be detected by electroretinogram by 6 weeks of age and opthalmoscopic examination by 4 months of age. Even 6 week old puppies may show signs of night blindness and there is generally severe visual impairment by a year of age. Breeding stock should be examined for this condition. Unlike Collie Eye Anomaly, PRA is progressive and if present will always lead to loss of vision.

Micropthalmia is a common consequence of inheriting two doses of the merle gene. The condition is apparent in a puppy when you see it. Do not buy a puppy with tiny or missing eyes unless you want a visually impaired dog. Similarly double merle puppies may be deaf. If you are considering a puppy from two merle parents and the one in question has an excessive amount of white arrange to have its hearing tested before concluding the purchase.

Hip Dysplasia (HD) also occurs in this breed. Breeding stock should be examined for the condition. Whatever the genetic basis of the condition, there is certainly a correlation between severity of HD and aggressive programs of over feeding to create rapidly growing puppies. It is best to manage large breed puppies so that their growth is relatively slow no matter what the examined hip certification is on the parents.

Non-genetic health problems commonly encountered in this breed:

The increase in availability of eye clinics, especially among working Australian Shepherd fanciers has lead to the discovery that a lot of working herding dogs suffer traumatic eye damage. This is caused by being kicked in the head by the herded stock. After a working session the owner should examine the dog for signs of trauma and if in doubt consult a veterinarian. Some traumatic damage to the eye can loosen the retina and lead to permanent visual impairment.

Breed Pluses:

Although highly trainable these are among the livestock herding breeds that require work to do to stave off behavioral problems that can develope in a bored dog. Happiest if they are fully included in the family's life. They can be protective and pushy towards non family members coming into the household. This sometimes creates problems with visiting children in active families. These dogs really enjoy herding and will attempt to herd visitors.

Breed Minuses:

They are watch dogs and will bark alerts as they deem necessary. Left alone all day outside their tendency to bark can annoy the neighbors. They require regular grooming to avoid matting of the coat. They are a sensitive dog not suited to heavy handed training. They have a tendency to be one person or one family dogs. Many owners have difficulty handling the behaviors that arise out of the desire to herd, such as heel nipping of visitors, children and other individuals in the family that the dog does not respect. These dogs do need a fenced yard if they are not a working stock dog.

Who should own this breed?

People who want an active highly trainable dog for an intense dog companionship experience. People who need a livestock herding dog.

Who should not own this breed?People who do not want to include the dog in the family life. People looking for a sedentary apartment dog. People who would relegate the dog to a back yard, away from the family existance.