Australian shepherd colors and patterns can vary greatly, but the United States Australian Shepherd Association recognizes these four major categories: black, red, red merle, and blue merle (merle being the genetic pattern that occurs in a dog’s coat, often appearing as speckled patches of color).
What is an Australian Shepherd supposed to look like?
Aussies have a lush, medium-length coat that is straight or slightly wavy. They have feathering on the back of the legs and a generous mane around the neck. Coat colors vary and might be blue or red merle or red or black tricolor, all with white and/or tan markings.
Is Australian Shepherd a good family dog?
Yes, they can be great family dogs, but they need lots of exercise, ‘work’ and proper, consistent training. Australian Shepherds are one of the most intelligent breeds of dog in the world. Not only smart, they’re incredibly gorgeous. They’re loyal, very trainable, and they love human companionship.
Are Australian Shepherds hard to train?
With an Aussie’s boundless energy, channeling it into something constructive can do wonders for your dog. These dogs bond strongly with their families. Their loyalty with their intelligence and high energy makes them very easy to train.
Why Australian Shepherds are the worst dogs?
Why you shouldn’t get an Australian Shepherd?
Australian Shepherds were bred to be working dogs – not simply pets to hang around the house or backyard. Too many people acquire this breed because of its athletic prowess and intelligence, but don’t provide enough opportunities for the dog to vent his energy and do interesting things.
What is the rarest Aussie color?
Red merles are far less common than blue merles because the red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning both parents have to have it for their offspring to inherit the coat. Red is the rarest color in Aussies generally, although the red merle coat is one of the more common red-colored coats in the breed.
What 2 dogs make a Australian Shepherd?
The breed as it is known today developed in California in the 19th century, as a sheep herding dog for Californian shepherds. The Australian Shepherd is believed to have developed from a variety of herding dogs imported to California with sheep imports, including collies from Australia and New Zealand.
How long do Aussie dogs live?
Aussies are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can weigh between 35 and 70 pounds and have an average life span of 12-13 years.
Do Australian Shepherds like to cuddle?
While Australian Shepherds can be very affectionate, loving, and cuddly dogs with their family members, they may not act the same way at all with someone they don’t know. This dog will enjoy snuggling with the people he trusts.
Are Aussies jealous dogs?
The cute and thick-haired Australian shepherd is also prone to jealousy. Aussies are protective in nature. Therefore, when they see another person giving you a hug, their protection instincts kick in immediately. Lucky for you, with the right training, this behavior will turn into a blessing of sorts.
Which is better border collie or Australian Shepherd?
The border collie is a bit more lean and compact than the Australian shepherd, who sports a hardy muscular physique. While they’re close to the same height—roughly 18–23 inches—a border collie and Australian shepherd differ in weight by as much as 15 pounds, with the Aussie often heavier.
Do Australian Shepherd bark a lot?
Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot, making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the ‘speak’ command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.
Do Australian Shepherds ever calm down?
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age. At this point, they’re considered mature dogs who can better regulate their energy. That said, not all Aussies will tone it down at this age. It may take them reaching seniority for their energy to drop off.
How do I stop Aussie biting?
When your puppy has learned to be very gentle with his mouth then you can teach him to stop biting you completely. To teach him to no longer bite at all, whenever he tries to put his mouth on you, say “Ouch!” in a high pitched, loud voice, and ignore him for ten minutes, like you did in the past.
What is the best family dog?
- acquiring a puppy.
- golden retriever.
- labrador retriever.
- french bulldog.
- beagle.
- kids.
- newfoundland.
- bulldog.
What is the smartest breed of dog?
- Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.
- Poodle.
- German shepherd.
- Golden retriever.
- Doberman pinscher.
- Shetland sheepdog.
- Labrador retriever.
- Papillon.
Can Australian Shepherds be left alone?
Alone Time Being left alone for too long may cause the intelligent, energetic Australian Shepherd to create her own fun—often through destructive behaviors or barking. While an Aussie may be left home alone for four to six hours at a time, crate training may be necessary for the dog’s safety.
Do Aussies have separation anxiety?
Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they’re left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. This is when dogs feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety over being apart from their owners.
What to Know Before owning an Australian Shepherd?
Their coat needs to be brushed regularly. They are loyal to their family and great with kids, but a little protective and wary of strangers. It’s important to socialize Aussies while they are young! They are generally easy-going and adaptable, but they need a lot of exercise, as well as mental stimulation.
Why are Australian Shepherds so weird?
Australian Shepherds are truly amazing and unique dogs. Although they come in both mini and standard sizes, all Aussies were bred to be herding dogs. As a result, most of their quirks are centered around their genetic herding instincts and need for plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
Do Aussies with blue eyes go blind?
Blue eyes in Aussies: Having blue-eyes does not mean a dog is blind. Blue eyes or partially blue eyes can occur in any color dog. Eye defects caused by the merle gene are due to having two copies of the merle gene. Cataracts and distichiasis are the most common eye diseases in Aussies.
What is the most popular Aussie color?
The black tri Australian Shepherd is one of the most popular coat colors of the whole Australian Shepherd breed. Since black is the dominant color, their eyes are still light to dark brown.
What color eyes do Aussies have?
Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, or green eyes. Some Aussies even display more than one color within the same eye.
Why do they dock Aussies tails?
Australian shepherds get their tails cut off (docked) primarily because of breed or conformation standards. Sometimes, it’s done just for cosmetic reasons, as breeders often want their pups to have a certain look. In other cases, it’s to prevent a working dog (especially herders) from an injury.