The Australian Shepherd, commonly known as the Aussie, is a medium size breed of dog that was developed on ranches in the western United States. Despite its name, the breed was not developed in Australia, but rather in the United States where they were seen in the West as early as the 1800s.

Source: Wikipedia

AKC Video Link

View more videos on AKC's YouTube Channel

SCC Video Link

View more videos on SCC's YouTube Channel

See: The German Kennel Club (VDH) for information and video (if available).
(Hint: your browser should be able to Translate to English, at least for text (e.g., right click in Google Chrome or Internet Explorer).)

Video Link

This and other breed videos are available in full length here.

Breed HISTORY PAGES: http://www.lasrocosa.com/history.html

• Berger australien
• Perro pastor australiano
• Australischer Schäferhund

Country of origin: United States

Get a GRIHP! on Australian Shepherds

This article on Australian Shepherds is part of a series to highlight the Big Picture of health, welfare, and breeding and to help develop Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs) for many breeds.  See IPFD's Get a GRIHP! on Breed Health Initiative

See: Working Aussie Source --  Articles Library: Aussie Specific

There are numerous breed standards.

The basis of breed/conformation shows is the judging of pedigree dogs against the 'Breed Standard', which is a picture in words that describes the range of features that are deemed appropriate for the breed.

Four of the major international standards are:

The American Kennel Club

The Kennel Club, UK

FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale)

ASCA ( The Australian Shepherd Club of America )

Please note: The US AKC club’s standard is recognized by both the KC and FCI.  It differs somewhat from the ASCA standard. 

1. Swedish Insurance Data

• Breed-specific information on rates of disease and death from Agria Pet Insurance (Agria Djurförsäkring) is available for many breeds.

2. Finland: FKC Database:Australian Shepherd: https://jalostus.kennelliitto.fi/frmEtusivu.aspx?R=342

3. Databázi Belgických a Australských ovčáků: Czech database includes Belgian and Australian Shepherds: http://kchbo.com/genealogie/index.php?topMenu=14&cat=14

Health/Breeding Strategy Documents and Links:

The Kennel Club, UK: Breed Watch

2. Sweden: Breed-specific Breeding Strategies: (in Swedish) and/ or English summary

3. JTO - 2014-2018: https://www.australianpaimenkoirat.fi/images/pdf/JTO-APK-2014-2018.pdf

Health Surveys

The Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute (ASHGI)

• A Survey of Australian Shepherd Breeding Practices and Genetic Diversity
  • (2018) K. Bennett-Wimbush¹, J. Suagee-Bedore², C.A. Sharp^{3
    1}The Ohio State University, ² Sam Houston State University, ³ Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute
• 1999 Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) Breed Health Survey

• 2007 ASHGI Cancer Survey
• Summary data (PDF)

• 2010 ASCA Kidney Disease Survey

• 2010 ASHGI Breed Health Survey
• Summary data (PDF)

• 2010 ASHGI Breed Health Survey

ASHGI conducted a longevity-specific survey to elicit data which could help guide educational efforts and research support.  The survey was limited to dogs which lived at least six months and died on or after January 1, 2000.  The survey period was opened on June 1, 2017 and closed on October 7, 2017. The advice offered based on analysis of the collected data will be potentially helpful to guide decision making of breed managers and breeders. 

Authors: C.A. Sharp & Liz Busquets

• 2017 ASHGI Longevity Survey with figures
• 2017 - The Australian Shepherd Longevity Survey -- Summary Data

HGTD Australian Shepherd

A word from A.S.H.G.I.'s Lifeline Newsletter (August 2018) on DNA testing and screening for eye conditions in the Australian Shepherd ...

Subscribe: http://www.ashgi.org/join-email-contact-list

Quote

Health Matters
Many of the DNA tests available for Aussies examine genes associated with eye diseases and defects (cataracts, Collie eye anomaly, canine multifocal retinopathy 1, cone degeneration, and the progressive rod-cone degeneration form of progressive retinal atrophy.) Given all these tests, some people wonder why it is necessary to do regular eye exams. The tests tell us what the genes are, right? Yes, they do. But that that is only part of the picture.

While the DNA tests are a valuable tool for breeders. They can help to reduce disease risk, prevent producing puppies who will have these conditions, and - over the long term - reduce frequency of these mutations in the breed. However, DNA tests do not tell us everything we need to know about a dog's risk for having or producing all hereditary eye diseases. The tests don't cover every eye disease found in Aussies, including iris coloboma and hypoplasia, distichiasis, persistent pupilary membrane, scleritis, and PHPV/PTVL, none of which presently have tests. Nor is there a test for the 30% of inherited cataracts not caused by the HSF4 cataract mutation.

Some of these diseases without tests can be detected in a puppy exam but others don't arise until later in life. All Aussie puppies should have a first eye check between 5 and 7 weeks of age, even pet puppies. If you don't check you may have missed something important and pet people may not realize they should notify you I something is wrong. Breeding dogs should be examined yearly or at least within a year prior to any breeding. Because having one or two copies of the HSF4 mutation is only a risk factor, detecting the dogs that actually get this type of cataract requires exams.

Do the DNA tests but eye exams are still a very important part of keeping our breed healthy.

Can you see at A.S.H.G.I provides an excellent overview of eye conditions in the Australian Shepherd.

AVCO - Blue Book 2018: Australian Shepherd: http://www.ashgi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-AVCO-Blue-Book-Aussie-pages.pdf

ACVO Blue Book 2019: Australian Shepherd

• https://www.ofa.org/diseases/eye-certification/blue-book-breeds?breed=AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

HEALTH & BREEDING RESOURCES

RESOURCE:  The Australian Shepherd Health and Genetics Institute (ASHGI)  is an independent breed health organization.

•  See ASHGI's Breeding Strategies articles.

   ASHGI HEALTH TESTING PROTOCOLS

• ASHGI Testing Protocol for Inherited Diseases in Australian Shepherds

A.S.H.G.I.'s “Coat Color Genes” is a reference chart in easy-to-download pdf format.  It lists the various genes known to impact Aussie coat color, the different versions of the genes, and which combinations result in which colors or patterns.  This charte is also available in translation to several other languages.   

Aussie coat color reference is Lisa MacDonald’s “Field Guide to Coloration of Australian Shepherds” website, hosted by ASHGI.

A word from A.S.H.G.I.'s Lifeline Newsletter (August 2018) on DNA testing and screening for eye conditions in the Australian Shepherd ...

Subscribe: http://www.ashgi.org/join-email-contact-list

Quote

Health Matters
Many of the DNA tests available for Aussies examine genes associated with eye diseases and defects (cataracts, Collie eye anomaly, canine multifocal retinopathy 1, cone degeneration, and the progressive rod-cone degeneration form of progressive retinal atrophy.) Given all these tests, some people wonder why it is necessary to do regular eye exams. The tests tell us what the genes are, right? Yes, they do. But that that is only part of the picture.

While the DNA tests are a valuable tool for breeders. They can help to reduce disease risk, prevent producing puppies who will have these conditions, and - over the long term - reduce frequency of these mutations in the breed. However, DNA tests do not tell us everything we need to know about a dog's risk for having or producing all hereditary eye diseases. The tests don't cover every eye disease found in Aussies, including iris coloboma and hypoplasia, distichiasis, persistent pupilary membrane, scleritis, and PHPV/PTVL, none of which presently have tests. Nor is there a test for the 30% of inherited cataracts not caused by the HSF4 cataract mutation.

Some of these diseases without tests can be detected in a puppy exam but others don't arise until later in life. All Aussie puppies should have a first eye check between 5 and 7 weeks of age, even pet puppies. If you don't check you may have missed something important and pet people may not realize they should notify you I something is wrong. Breeding dogs should be examined yearly or at least within a year prior to any breeding. Because having one or two copies of the HSF4 mutation is only a risk factor, detecting the dogs that actually get this type of cataract requires exams.

Do the DNA tests but eye exams are still a very important part of keeping our breed healthy.

Can you see at A.S.H.G.I provides an excellent overview of eye conditions in the Australian Shepherd.

AVCO - Blue Book 2018: Australian Shepherd: http://www.ashgi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-AVCO-Blue-Book-Aussie-pages.pdf

ACVO Blue Book 2019: Australian Shepherd

• https://www.ofa.org/diseases/eye-certification/blue-book-breeds?breed=AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Working Aussie Source

This website contains extensive information on working Aussies. " Dedicated to the preservation of the working Australian Shepherd, America's quintessential farm and ranch dog."

     Articles Library: Aussie Specific

ASHGI: Current Research Studies

Finland: Epilepsy:  https://www.koirangeenit.fi/english/projects/ongoing-research-projects/neurological-diseases/epilepsy2/

Finland: https://www.koirangeenit.fi/rodut/rodut-a-b/australianpaimenkoira/

Australian Shepherd (10 -13 - 2020) Iiriscoloboma, Iirishypoplasia, Katarakta eli harmaakaihi (ei HSF4), Epilepsia

We are listing sites for breed clubs with health or other information that might be helpful. Follow links below.

USA: Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA)
United States Australian Shepherd Association (USASA), member of the American Kennel Club

Sweden: Svenska australian shepherdklubben

Finland: Australianpaimenkoirat ry

UK: Australian Shepherd Club of the UK
National Australian Shepherd Association

Germany: Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V.
Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland (CASD)