Australian shepherd dog breed guide:

Australian shepherds are one of the most mesmerizing and captivating dog breeds loved and cherished by pet owners thanks to their excellent traits and features. Australian shepherds, just like other popular dog breeds, are highly talented and meet the expectations of good pet parents.

Traits and qualities:

They have many qualities, especially sporting and hunting qualities, because of which they are a good choice for hunting and sports.Australian shepherds are agile and active, full of energy, all-working, lean with beautiful body builds, and medium-sized with distinctive physiques and looks.Physical appearance:Australian shepherds are good-looking and unique in appearance; they are well known for their beauty and loyalty. They have a thick coat, which has different looks. one of which is merle, which means a pattern with differing blue or red.

 Size of Australian shepherd:

Generally, well-nourished adult male dogs are 20-23 inches tall, while females are 18-21 inches tall. . Measuring can be done in a standing position when the animal is calm and relaxed. Diseases and nutritional status can affect the height and growth of Australian shepherds.

Body weight and factors affecting it:

Healthy and normal, fully grown male dogs can weigh 50-65 pounds, while female dogs can weigh 40-55 pounds; males are slightly heavier than females. Many factors influence weight; feeding has a lot to do with weight, as underfeeding causes abnormal growth and less than normal weight; on the other hand, overfeeding leads to obesity and nutritional diseases.

Brief history of Australian shepherd:

Originally, Australian shepherds descended from Europe's herders. They started their journey from the Pyrenees mountains in the borderlands between Spain and France. The native people, called Basques, were the first to keep these dogs as herding dogs.In the 1800s, Basques traveled to the Australian continent in search of better livelihood. During their stay in Australia, they crossed their dogs with British imports to improve genetics. After some time, they left the Australian continent and moved towards California. Californians praised herding dogs and conceived them as an Australian breed, thus giving the misnomer Australian shepherd.

Feeding and nutritional considerations for Australian shepherds:

Australian shepherds should be fed with good quality feeds containing all the required nutrients like fatty acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Feeds specifically formulated for puppies, adult, or old dogs should be used for better performance and health. Feed can also be prepared at home under supervision and approval of veterinarian or dietitian. Care must be taken in feeding because they are predisposed to excessive eating, and as a result, obesity may attack, causing other health complications.

Water: Plenty of water should be supplied because they are active and working, so they need a lot of water as compared to resting dogs. Water prevents dehydration, hyperthermia, and other health problems.

Mineral and vitamin: minerals like calcium and phosphorus should be contained in feed; otherwise, mineral supplements must be added to feeds to avoid mineral deficiency and associated complications. Vitamins are also required for gut and eye health, for good absorption, bone development, and many more.Consult a veterinarian if there is something abnormal related to nutrition for examination and check-up.

Training and socialization:

During young age puppies must be allowed to socialize and arrange socialization sessions for them so that they learn how to socialize and get familiarized with surrounding people and animals. Early socialization can develop and strengthen bonds between family and dogs , this may transpire into loyalty and obedience.

Need of training:

Australian shepherds are intelligent and sharp at learning what they are taught . They should be given obedience training because they are good fit for  sporting , hunting and rescue operations .Hunting dogs should be obedient and well-versed at translating commands and orders; dogs performing rescue operations must be trained prior to being allowed to take part in such activities.

How to groom an Australian shepherd:

 Australian shepherds should be groomed so that they look awesome by brushing once a week if they are not shedding heavily; however, during excessive shedding, thick undercoat should be brushed by using a rake to remove loose and dead hair; otherwise, they look ugly and fall inside the rooms and in furniture.

Bathing: They should be bathed once a week because they are playful and get dirtier. Any visible dirt and debris can be removed by using a comb.

Nail: Nails should be trimmed by using tools. For nail trimming, take to professional groomers because they have instruments to operate the procedure.

Eye and ear: Eyes should be cleaned by using a soft piece of cloth; any discharge and dirt in the canthus should be removed as it causes irritation and difficulty in vision. Ears should be rinsed by using cloth and antiseptics to avoid infections.

Veterinary assistance: Take to professionals for grooming and health check-ups to keep your shepherds healthy and active.

Exercise for Australian shepherd:

 They are agile and require a lot of exercises and fun activities; they must be allowed to play with kids and other animals; otherwise, they exhibit unusual behaviors and aggression. They love interaction with people and new places; take them to new locations and for dog tracking. Walking, jumping, and working are exercises for them. They love to engage in fun activities, for example, swimming, dog tracking, playing games, etc.

Health and diseases:

Australian shepherds are generally healthy and resistant to diseases, but some diseases may affect them at any stage and age.

Cancer:

Cancer, especially hemangiosarcoma, is a disastrous disease that affects many Australian shepherds. It causes bleeding accompanied by weakness, laziness, disinterest, and sometimes death.

Hereditary diseases:

Hereditary diseases like retinal atrophy, cataracts, and valvular stenosis are common diseases in this breed.

Deafness:

Deafness is a genetic problem in Australian shepherds; the genes that code for coat color cause deafness in them.

Consultation with veterinarian:

 Immediate veterinary intervention is required for diagnosis and proper treatment to prevent further deterioration.

Conclusion:

Pet owners should know about Australian shepherds, their requirements, health risks, and how to deal with emergency situations. In this guide, all these things have been covered.