What was the original name of the Australian Shepherd?
The Australian Shepherd’s history is vague, as is the reason for its misleading name. The breed was initially called by many names, including Spanish Shepherd, Pastor Dog, Bob-Tail, New Mexican Shepherd, California Shepherd, and Austrian Shepherd.
What kind of coat does an Australian Shepherd have?
The breed is known for its unique colorations and variable coat patterns, it being said no two dogs sharing a coat. The breed standard allows for blue merle, red merle, solid black or solid red, with or without white markings and with or without tan points.
How big does an Australian Shepherd get at the withers?
The Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) standard calls for the Australian shepherd to stand between 18 and 23 inches (46 and 58 cm) at the withers, females being 18 to 21 inches (46 to 53 cm) and males measuring 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58 cm); however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.
Who is the parent club for the Australian Shepherd?
The United States Australian Shepherd Association has been the AKC Parent Club representing the Australian Shepherd since 1990.
Are there any health problems with Australian Shepherds?
Australian Shepherds are generally a pretty healthy breed, but they can have several health problems. Vision problems are common, and epilepsy is also a concern. In merle-to-merle breeding, the puppies that have inherited two copies of the merle gene have an increased risk of being born blind or deaf.
Why are there smaller versions of Australian Shepherds?
Because of the increasing popularity of small dogs, breeders painstakingly work to create smaller versions of the Standard Australian Shepherd. The result of their hard work led to the breeding of Mini Aussies and eventually, Toy Aussies, which are relatively smaller.
What kind of dog is a toy Australian Shepherd?
What Is a Toy Australian Shepherd? Toy Australian Shepherds are adorable, energetic, and intelligent dog breeds that possess most of the Standard Australian Shepherd qualities in a smaller package. They originate from Mini and Standard Australian Shepherds and are mostly bred in the United States.
