About the Australian Shepherd
Character
The Australian Shepherd is an amazing breed, super intelligent and always by your side. The Aussie is funny, mischievous and always a teenager at heart. They can also be real pigs, always playing noisily, but that's just how they are. Once an Aussie has stolen your heart, you will never want another breed again! They can also greet you with a lot of noise and they have a nice presence! An Aussie is also very loyal and they will follow you everywhere as soon as you get up or go to the toilet, so you have to be prepared not to mind that.
Despite this "people person" trait, your Aussie will be happiest in the home as a member of the family. Aussies who are kept alone in kennels or have a fenced yard will need a lot of time with you or interaction with people every day to keep them mentally and emotionally healthy. Isolation or being left out from people will affect their personality and create barking, frustrating dogs!
Don't forget that an Aussie is and remains a drover or working dog through and through, so they want to chase anything that moves quickly and see it as a game. Their super intelligence makes them suitable for a variety of role plays, such as rescue dogs, drug search dogs, assistance dogs for the blind and therapy dogs for the needy. They are also super watchdogs and can be very protective of the family!
In short, the Aussie is a really great dog, also with children and other pets. You can teach them anything, because they are very eager to learn and will do anything to make you happy!
The Aussie is also a naturally clean dog, so the training to do their business outdoors will be learned quickly! They also need good coat care, comb them regularly to prevent tangles and the advantage is that an Aussie has a self-cleaning coat! Let them dry from the blubber and you will see that when they are dry, the sand is on the ground!
Furthermore, they are also super talented to do various sports such as Frisbee, Agility, Flyball, Obedience with Clicker Training and Doggy Dance, and sheep herding is of course what they were bred for! But of course they are also suitable as a family dog and can take wonderful long walks in the woods or by the sea!
Here at our home, the dogs are truly part of our family and live freely.
After reading this, do you think 'the Aussie is a dog for us' and that you can give the dog what he needs, such as love, attention and that he can indulge in his excesses and get some exercise, or do you still have questions? , please do not hesitate to contact us. Of course it is still the best thing to come by and meet them in person!
Health
MDR-1 (Multidrug Resistance 1) Genetic Mutation
In healthy dogs, the MDR1 gene protects brain tissue and the central nervous system against high concentrations of toxic substances, such as certain drugs, in the bloodstream.
The MDR1 gene codes for the protein P-glycoprotein, which is part of the blood-brain barrier. This protein ensures that harmful substances, including certain drugs such as Ivermectin, are returned from the brain cells to the blood.
Some dogs, especially Collies and Collie-like breeds, exhibit hypersensitivity reactions to certain medications. It is important to consult the list of risk drugs before administering medication in these dogs. The MDR1 gene is involved in at least fifty different medicines.
Originally, drug hypersensitivity was only associated with Collies, but recent research has shown that it occurs in other breeds as well. The defective allele mdr1- probably originated in the earliest English sheepdog breeds and spread through breeding programs.
Although it may be tempting to exclude animals with the "wrong" genetics, this can lead to problems such as inbreeding. Therefore, caution should be exercised when breeding and managing genetic conditions.
The list of “Problem Drugs” includes Acepromazine, Butorphanol and Ivermectin, while “Potential Problem Drugs” include Domperidone and Ondansetron.
CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly)
CEA is a congenital abnormality of the eye that mainly occurs in Collies and Shetland sheepdogs, but also in other breeds such as the Australian Shepherd. The condition can manifest as choroidal hypoplasia (CH) and other abnormalities such as coloboma.
The inheritance of CEA is autosomal recessive, meaning affected dogs have both copies of the gene. However, how the condition manifests can vary, even in dogs with the same genotype.
PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
PRA is a group of hereditary disorders that lead to blindness due to retinal degeneration. The condition can vary in severity and course depending on the breed.
Genetic tests such as the OptiGen prcd test can be used to determine whether a dog is a carrier of the prcd gene, which is involved in PRA. Dogs free of the gene can be bred safely, even with carriers.
HD (Hip Dysplasia) and ED (Elbow Dysplasia)
HD and ED are conditions of the hips and elbows of dogs that can lead to lameness and pain. There are varying degrees of severity, from negative to positive.
It is important to pay attention to X-ray results when breeding and follow breed club recommendations to reduce the spread of these conditions.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive neurological disorder leading to paralysis in dogs, similar to MS/ALS in humans. The disease mainly affects older dogs and has a debilitating course.
The cause of DM is largely genetic, but there are also environmental factors that can play a role. Research into this disease and possible treatments is still ongoing.
To colour
Australian Shepherds come in a variety of colors, including Black tricolor, Red tricolor, Blue Merle and Red Merle. However, crosses of Merle with each other are prohibited to prevent genetic problems.
start
Different tail lengths can occur in Australian Shepherds (Aussies), and these are often divided into three categories:
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Long Tail: This is the most common tail shape in Australian Shepherds. It is a longer tail that reaches to the hock or slightly lower.
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Short-tailed (NBT): This refers to a natural, short tail. Some Aussies are born with short or stubby tails, which do not require surgical intervention. This trait is influenced by the Natural Bob Tail (NBT) gene.
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Stubby Tail (Docked Tail): In some countries it is common to have the tails of Aussies surgically removed, a practice called tail docking. However, it is important to note that tail docking is considered unethical and even banned in many countries because it is a painful procedure with no medical necessity.
It is crucial to know that the Natural Bob Tail (NBT) gene, which is responsible for short tails, is an autosomal dominant trait.
Coat care
The Aussie's coat is of medium texture, straight to wavy, weather resistant and of medium length.
The Australian Shepherd should have an undercoat. It varies in thickness depending on the climate. On the head, ears, front of the forelegs and below the hocks the hair should be short and smooth. The back of the forelegs and the trousers are moderately hairy according to the standard. The collar and neck hair are (there's that word again) mediocre. Characteristically, the males show a more pronounced collar than the females. Untypical coats are considered a serious fault in the Aussie.
Puppies have a woolly, dense coat. Around the sixth month of life, those puppy pajamas slowly make way for the adult coat. Light brushing and possibly combing to remove dirt and prevent tangles is sufficient for the puppy coat. The cutting and plucking comes later. But start grooming early, if necessary only pretend. After all, learning young is done old!
Most Australian Shepherds have a significant molting period twice a year. That is the time to remove the loose undercoat. If you treat the coat regularly, it will continue to regenerate. An Aussie sheds his hair all year round anyway.