The very first time we set eyes on an Australian Shepherd, we are struck by the symmetry and balance of the dog. Neither a little dog nor a large one, the Aussie stands somewhere between 18 and 23 inches at the withers (highest point of shoulder). He is slightly longer than he is tall and possesses good bone structure. His coat, which is unique in color to each individual dog, is of moderate length and coarseness. The coat beneath his throat and around his neck is called the ruff. The long hair beneath his front legs and under his chest is called feathering (more often seen in males than females).

The Australian Shepherd is a very beautiful dog. It is well balanced and symmetrical, and stands a little under 2 feet tall at the shoulder.

The Australian Shepherd is a moderate dog in all respects. His appearance bespeaks agility, strength and stamina. His heavy coat and bobtail give the impression that he’s well equipped for life in the outdoors. His build tells of his physical abilities, and his demeanor and facial expression indicate his intelligence and determination to get the job done.

There is no doubt in the minds of all who meet him that he is capable of performing his work while devotedly serving his owner as friend and partner. He is an enthusiastic worker, a devoted companion and an excellent guardian of home and family. Males carry a distinctive look of masculinity about them, while females are usually a bit smaller and more feminine in overall appearance. In other words, it’s easy to distinguish the difference between the sexes by sight.

OWNER CONSIDERATIONS

With regard to behavior, Aussies are not normally dog-aggressive nor are they fence-climbers or diggers. Unlike some of the hunting breeds, they do not have a genetic predisposition to run away from home and master. Indeed, as they strive to please their owners, they prefer to stay close to home.

They do not like being separated from their families, so crate training is a wise choice. Then, when they must be left alone, they can stay in their crates where they feel secure.

The facial expression of the Australian Shepherd tells the story of an intelligent dog who is more than eager to please and share affection with his owner.

In addition, they aren’t chewers, so they can be offered a variety of toys such as soft, fluffy ones, flying discs and hard chew bones, which will help keep their teeth clean.

All dogs, however, need to be supervised when playing with toys to make sure they don’t swallow or choke on pieces of toys that get broken off. When a toy begins to get tattered and gnawed out of shape, discard it and give the dog a new one.

If you allow your dog to run free in a fenced yard, the fence should be at least four feet high. Even though Aussies aren’t fence-jumpers, the four-foot height would discourage any thoughts of scaling it to go wandering through the neighborhood.

THE IDEAL OWNER

There are two types of ideal Australian Shepherd owners. Let’s look at both of them. Then you can decide if, in fact, you fit into either category.

Although a wonderful pet for many, the Aussie is a working dog at heart and, thus, must have his attention diverted with plenty of safe toys and activity.

The farmer or rancher is the most desirable Aussie owner. In an environment where the dog must work every day, he is capable of making herding and guarding decisions while working long hours, even in rough weather. Aussies like nothing better than to help their owners with whatever chores need doing.

The second type of ideal Aussie owner is the active suburbanite. Though the owner’s professional life may demand that he work indoors, he is the kind of person who uses his free time and days off to get outdoors and do things with his dog. He is a person who needs to keep physically fit and active, an athletic individual who makes a point of spending some time each day outside. Furthermore, he is not discouraged by reasonable extremes in temperature or moderate amounts of rain.

Conversely, the person who enjoys spending his free time in quiet activities such as reading and watching television wou