History

Australian Shephered is a breed of livestock dog that was developed on ranches in western United States during the 19th century. Amazingly, the breed originated when Basque shepherds in Australia sent puppies to America. 

A Fascinating and Complex Breed

Classic but not terribly old, Australian Shepherds are a classic breed with an interesting history:

They did NOT come from Australia: Despite the name confusion caused by their title of being known as “Australian Shepherd,” this wonderful shepherd dog was never developed in what we now know is modern-day Australia. You can think of it as an “Aussie American” because the breed is thought to have been first bred in America and named for their connection with Basque shepherds who moved from Australia here during the late 1800s.

Early Development: The breed is thought to have resulted from breeding between Basque shepherds and a combination of several herding dogs (probably including Collies) that the former brought over with them when they emigrated to America. They sought to develop an all-around herding dog that possessed the highest level of working skill and versatility.

Breed recognition in the U.S.: Australian Shepherds enjoyed a burst of popularity during their early days, especially among ranchers who appreciated them for their skillful herding and work ethic. This only served to help their brutal, bloodthirsty image as they began appearing in rodeo and livestock exhibitions.

Recognition: The breed became officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1991. Earlier, other organizations recognized them as well, like the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1980.

Today: Australian Shepherds continue to be used as working dogs and remain popular both with those owning horses, and without. It is often regarded as a service dog for new owners or people who love sports competitions. But they still excel at herding and can work as service or therapy dogs.

The history of the Australian Shepherd can be seen in their ability and willingness to perform many different tasks, thus making them favorable as well. I hope you enjoyed this post.