This website is dedicated to "Angel" our

first puppy born at Spirited Dreams. .

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Australian Shepherd History


You may have assumed that Australian Shepherds originated in Australia. However, although they came to the American west by way of Australia, the breeds’ true origins lie in Europe.

The Australian Shepherd is a herding dog breed that originated in the United States in the late 19th century, despite its name suggesting otherwise. It was primarily developed from British-derived herding dogs brought to the American West by immigrants, particularly those from Australia who sought to improve their herding capabilities. The breed is believed to have descended from European herding dogs, including those from the Basque region, which were brought to Australia before making their way to the U.S.. The Australian Shepherd became popular on ranches for its intelligence and herding ability, solidifying its place as a beloved companion and working dog. 

In 1962, 16-year-old Sandy Travis bought a female Australian Shepherd puppy from a friend at a rodeo in Torrance, California and named it “Puppy.” When it matured, Travis planned to breed it to her male Australian Shepherd, but the Aussie never reached the standard female Aussie height of 20 to 23 inches. Instead, Travis bred the 11-inch Puppy to a small Aussie male.

Like their shorter parents, the offspring measured only 9 to 13 inches tall. After consulting with a veterinarian about breeding small Australian Shepherds, Travis bred more short-legged Aussies. The little Aussies proved popular with people in the equine community, who called them “Miniature Aussies.”

“Ranch owners used Australian Shepherds to help move stock, so the dogs were always around horses and liked to run alongside them with their owners on horseback,” Keller-Ross says. “The equine community liked the smaller Aussies right away.”

AustralianShepherd Personality


As a herding breed, Aussies love to keep busy, and are built to run all day long. Yes, they are a working breed, but I have never had one in all the years that I’ve owned one, that had to be busy all day. Our dogs are mostly house dogs. They play outside as well as just sit and soak up the sun on our deck. When they come in they settle right down in their favorite spot and go to sleep or come and sit on our lap, even if they haven’t played much outside. When traveling they start out looking around but soon settle down and go to sleep until we stop somewhere to let them out for a potty break. This is why I love this breed!
They’re smart, agile, and have a ton of stamina when you want them to work or play. If you’re a dog sport enthusiast, an Australian Shepherd is a ton of fun on the agility course or playing frisbee! My dogs love both.

Australian Shepherds are also one of the smartest dog breeds around. Our male dog, Koda, taught himself how to open our front door to let himself in, and in two lessons I taught him how to close the door after he comes in. We can be anywhere in the house and tell him to go close the door and he will. Sometimes we don’t even have to tell him.  But on top of all that, Australian Shepherds are truly loyal to their people(though they can be reserved with strangers).

Australian Shepherd  Ownership

 

So who is the best fit to own an Australian Shepherd?
Aussies love their people, and no,you don’t have to be a rancher with tons of acreage to own one. The ideal Australian Shepherd owner is one who is devoted to their dog and wants a loyal companion. Sure, It helps if you’re active and energetic, because they love to play with their human. Our dogs love to run agility and catch a frisbee, but they are just as happy joining you on a walk. And it’s very important that you train your puppy the basic commands from the day you get your puppy. Working with them gets them to use their brain which is another way to tire a puppy out.

 Australian Shepherds are deeply devoted dogs, but they can be protective of their people, and may be wary of strangers, so you need to understand their needs and their personality and be committed to helping them thrive. Australian shepherds need strong willed owners and lots of consistency. These dogs need  rules, and routine or if left alone they will find their own entertainment. .

Australian Shepherd Training

 Australian Shepherds are smart, driven, and love to learn. Training is essential to maintaining their mental health and it is the best way to build a relationship with your dog as well as building confidence in your dog.

If you are not sure how to teach your puppy, then join a group puppy class. Not only is the training setting a good foundation for you and your pup,  but it is a great start for socializing the puppy to other dogs, people and places.   

Once your Australian Shepherd has the basics down you can train them to do almost anything, even to close the door when they come in like I trained my dog! Again, consistency is key. Puppies are like little kids and don’t have a long attention span so make the training a game, make it fun, (no scolding) and keep it short like 10 minutes. You can always have several short training sessions each day. Remember you are also building a relationship with your puppy.

Basic Care

 

Australian Shepherds have a double-layer, waterproof coat. This keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Depending on the length and texture of the coat some will need to be brushed and combed a lot while others don’t. My male dog’s fur is coarser than my blue merle female and hardly needs to be groomed whereas my blue merle female has finer fur so it tends to get grass or tiny sticks caught in it so I have to brush her usually after she’s been outside playing with my red merle. My red female’s fur is in between and doesn’t take as much grooming as either of the other two. Aussies do shed their coats twice a year so will need to be combed more often during these times. A rake type comb works best as this gets down to the dead fur in the undercoat.  Aussies do not need to bathed very often. I only bathe my dogs when I’m going to a show (once every couple of months) in the spring and summer or  if they have rolled in something. What they think smells nice is not what I think smells nice so they get a bath. I groom my own dogs and I’d be happy to show anyone who is interested in grooming their own dog, from nail filing to clipping and trimming their fur.

Health Concerns

Australian Shepherds are a hardy breed, and generally stay pretty healthy. However, some health problems common to Aussies are:

  1. They can be prone to hip dysplasia, a genetic malformation of the hip socket that leads to inflammation and arthritis.

  • Aussies can also develop eye problems, including cataracts,

  • They may be prone to diabetes & epilepsy. We had an Aussie/Border Collie that developed diabetes in her older years and we had to give her insulin shots just under the skin. It didn’t take her long to realize she felt better ater a shot and would come to us on her own to get her shot.

Preventative veterinary care, a good quality diet, and regular exercise will help keep your Aussie healthy. I test my dogs with a cheek swab that gets sent in to a lab to check for any genetic defects that they might be more prone to and if it is serious they are not used in my breeding program.  A healthy Australian Shepherd will typically live for 12-14 years. Many pet parents opt for pet health insurance, just in case.

 

Getting an Australian Shepherd

Finding an Aussie puppy or adult dog can be as easy as an internet search, but be careful of puppy mills and internet scams.

Cost of an Australian Shepherd

aPet parents ready to welcome an Australian Shepherd into their family should be aware of all the costs involved. From good quality food, grooming supplies, toys, and vet care buying an Aussie(or any pet) is an investment and on average about 60% of owners end up spending 50.00-120.00 a month on their Australian shepherds.
According to the AKC, most breed rescues report that a majority of their rescue dogs come from an individual owner who claims a change in lifestyle or the breed not being right for the owner.

 A responsible breeder will either help you place your Aussie or will take it back rather th

n having it end up in a shelter. I for one am one of those breeders. I will always be available to help you in any way I can including taking the dog back or helping you find a new owner.

 

Things to Do When Searching for a Puppy

  • Do your research. Learn about the breed you’re interested in. Talk to breeders and check their credentials and reputation before committing.

  • Meet the puppy parents and any offspring they’ve already had, if possible. Observing their personalities can help you determine if a puppy from that breeder would be right for you.

  • Be sure to ask the breeder about genetic health testing for common issues.  Responsible breeders will offer a health guarantee for at least a year that the pup is free of a genetic defect.
    All these things will help you to decide if a Toy Australian Shepherd is right for you.   

 

Bringing Your New Puppy Home:

  • Going Potty:
    A fellow breeder had this to say which is great information: “When you first arrive home make sure to carry your new puppy from the car to the yard and then set them on the grass, let them stay there until they go potty.
  • When they do go potty be sure to praise them and tell them how good they are (over exaggerate with joy).”
  • Make sure in the beginning to always carry your puppy to the door when it’s potty time, as they are still learning bladder control and are less likely to have accidents in the house if you carry them which prevents them from getting distracted
  • Puppies need to go potty about every 1-2 hours,
    • so after a nap,
    • after a meal,
    • before and after a training session,
    • before a ride in the car and after getting out,
    • after letting them out of their crate, and
    • before bed as well as during the night.

 Every puppy is different. Some don’t have to go as frequently as others.

  • Until they are at least 3 months of age they haven’t developed the muscles to hold it, that’s why it is best to carry them to the door.
  •             At night they will usually cry or make noise from their crate letting you know they need to go out.             Carry them, as they are likely to piddle on the way to the door. If you’re puppy needs to go potty             during the  night, tell them to go potty. Do not play with them. Once they go praise them and then             put them right back in their crate. Nighttime is sleeping time not play time.  
  • Some puppies will go potty as soon as you take them out, others will take their time and want to check things out. You may need to give them at least 20 minutes to go each time you take them out.
  • After your puppy’s meal time its crucial you take them outside to potty. Allow them plenty of time go poop. 

 

Feeding Time
Puppies’ appetites can vary depending on each individual puppy, I feed my dogs 2x a day, morning and night. What time you decide to feed each of those meals is based on your schedule and what works best for you.

  • I would recommend not feeding or letting your puppy drink after 8 pm. This gives their bodies time to digest their food before bed time then they shouldn’t have to go during the night as often, making it less likely to have accidents. 

  • Once again, each puppy is different, based off of body types, size, and genetics, as each of their eating habits and needs will differ! Paying attention and learning what your puppies’ individual needs are is crucial! If you are still unsure or worried that your puppy is not getting enough or getting too much, consulting your vet is always recommended!  

Bedtime
When it’s time for your puppies first night sleeping in a new environment starting them in what will be the normal routine will help them to settle in quickly and make it a positive experience for them. Our dogs get a little treat before bed and then they are let outside. When they come in they go to their beds and are usually asleep before me!

  • Make sure your puppy has had fun but structured playtime about an hour before bed.A good play time will tire them out and they will be ready to sleep.

  • Right before bed take them out to potty and poop. 

When they are 4 weeks old I start introducing a crate into their pen.I don’t close the door until they are nearly 8 weeks old. By that time they are used to the crate and usually sleep in it on their own making the transition to their new humans much smoother. Many of my customers have no trouble with them at night crying. Also keep their crate next to you where you can hang your arm down and touch their crate. Sometimes having your hand near them is enough to keep them quiet. Plus I provide each pup with a sleeping blanket or toy