The Australian Shepherd or “Aussie” is a working farm and ranch dog and thus counts as a “herding” dog. These medium sized, long-haired dogs are high energy, agile animals with a strong drive to herd, work, and be active. They come in black, red and blue and red merle, often with white markings.

Why an Aussie and Why Not?

Despite being called the Australian Shepherd dog, the breed is American in origin, having been bred and created by western ranchers. The Aussie is a very, very high energy breed. Like most herding breeds, they are intelligent and have strong protective instincts. If you don’t give a herding dog something to do, it will find something – and that something will often be herding you. If you want to do agility or obedience, these are awesome dogs. They make great service and therapy dogs, but ultimately they need a job.

Before getting an Australian Shepherd puppy make sure you can handle one of these high-energy, versatile dogs. Make sure you have a job for it. They need one. If not, they can be destructive, over-protective, and develop bad habits. These dogs aren’t happy just sitting at home being a pet.

Do They Have Particular Care Or Medical Needs?

No. Aussies are, in general, healthy dogs. Some lines do have hip dysplasia, but they are not one of the breeds known for it. Most Australian Shepherd dogs have their tails docked – historically this was done to avoid taxes assessed on “non-working” dogs and to protect them from tail damage. If you don’t believe docking tails is appropriate, then you can easily find a breeder that sells “natural” Australian Shepherd puppies.

Choosing an Australian Shepherd means choosing a healthy, active dog that will run you ragged – but also be a great companion for whatever you might need a dog to do.

Source:  http://australianshepherds.org/, http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/index.cfm