Which Aussie meat pies frozen Should You Do With Your Dog? European breed perfected in California by way of Australia.

471 0 0 0 16 9. Is Pet Insurance Really Worth the Cost? Which Type of Dog Fence Is Right For Your Pet? Australian shepherds are intelligent, loyal, energetic dogs that love spending quality time exploring with their owners. Learn more about living with Aussies.

47 0 0 0 13 6. Contrary to the name, Australian shepherds—affectionately called Aussies—were bred as herding and working dogs on the American Frontier. Since their introduction in the 1800s, the active, playful, and unfailingly loyal Aussie has become one of the country’s most popular dog breeds. With a high prey drive and strong herding instinct, Aussies need an experienced owner who knows how to properly channel their energy through consistent training and exercise. Blue merle Australian shepherds have a mottled coat with black spots against a gray base.

With a body that’s slightly longer than it is tall, the Australian shepherd is a medium-sized, solidly built herding dog whose colors and patterns can vary greatly. It’s thought that approximately one in five Aussies’ tails are naturally bobbed—meaning they’re shorter at birth—while others were historically docked in puppyhood. Typically, black and red Australian shepherds have brown, amber, or blue eyes. Left: This Australian shepherd puppy has a red tricolor coat that is one of several coat colorways for the breed. Center: According to the official breed standard, black and blue merle Aussies should have black noses, and red Aussies are to have liver-colored noses.

But many puppies are born with speckled noses that change color as the mature. Right: This Aussie’s striking eyes are an example of the amazing range of color combinations the breed can have—even on the same dog. Here, one eye is blue and the other is marbled blue and brown. There’s no doubt about it, Aussies were bred to work. Because these pups historically spent hours alongside their owners in the fields herding sheep and cattle, they require ample daily exercise, mental stimulation, and obedience training to be their happiest.

A good herding dog doesn’t run in the field for 20 minutes then go, ‘Oh I’m exhausted. They run for a long time at high speeds,” says Brian Kilcommons, founder of The Great Pets Resort, a boutique training facility in Connecticut. This isn’t a dog you can put on the shelf, run them when you feel like it, and then be inconsistent with them. The Australian Shepherd Club of America points out that if not properly channeled, the energy of these super-smart pups can mean they get into trouble and become destructive if left alone for too long. While they’re not considered aggressive, it’s important to note that the Aussie’s extremely loyal nature means they may be somewhat territorial. They typically will shy away from strangers, preferring to stick to their owner’s side—earning the affectionate moniker of a “Velcro dog. As they were bred to be protective, they’ll sound the alarm at the sight of strangers.

Though these traditional ranching dogs have adapted to living situations for today’s modern owner, they do require access to a decent amount of outdoor space to be properly exercised. You don’t have to own an acreage to keep an Aussie happy—though that might be an ideal set-up for this active breed! When you have an Australian shepherd, it’s going to be very active, very smart, and tough,” says Kilcommons. It has a high need for exercise and mental stimulation.