These dogs are most happy when there is a job to do, and will, therefore, benefit most from a family who have similar interests in sports or activities, where their doggo's can get involved. They are also fierce protectors of their families and will do everything they can to defend you, making them fairly wary of new people and strangers. They are moderately independent dogs, who are ‘used to being in charge’ of their own flocks, so if you want an obeying dog, this may not be the breed for you! If left with nothing to do, these pups can often become destructive, bored and loud or even invent their own jobs, that may not be to the wants of the owners… However, you can actually teach this breed to help with chores around the house, such as picking up litter or clothing, perhaps a tidier alternative to children!

These spritely dogs are actually descended from the USA, not Australia, and were first introduced around the time of the Gold Rush in the 1840s. In fact, they are really named after the Australian sheep that they herded, that were originally imported from Australia, around a similar time. The Australian Shepherd Dogs, or ‘Aussies’ as they are referred to, were originally bred to herd livestock and even to this day, some Aussies continue to work as herders. It is thought that their ancestors could include Collies and other Shepherd dogs. When these pups aren’t busy herding sheep, they can often be seen competing in competition categories, such as agility and flyball.