Why the breed exists
An American breed with a misleading passport: developed on Western ranches from the dogs of Basque shepherds (some arriving via Australia — hence the name) into the cowboy's all-around stock dog. The Aussie works close and versatile — sheep, cattle, whatever the ranch runs — with the athleticism to be the rodeo circuit's favorite trick and pickup dog, which is where much of the public first saw it. The merle coats and marbled eyes are its signature; the need for a job is its soul. It remains a ranch hand looking for a ranch.
The official written standard belongs to the breed's parent club.Read the official Australian Shepherd standard →
Choosing a Australian Shepherd on purpose
Every breed has its own list of required health screenings, kept by its parent club and published through OFA. A preservation breeder working in this breed tests to that list and shows you the results — including the ones that didn't go their way.
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