There is some contention as to the true origin of the Australian Shepherd. Most contend that though they are called “Aussies”, they did not originate directly from Australia. The general consensus is that there were sheep-herding dogs such as Collies and Basques that were imported to western American from places as varied as both the British Isles and Australia. These dogs crossbred over time to eventually create what we now know as the Australian Shepherd. These dogs started appearing in the mid to late 1800s.
Nowadays Australian Shepherds come in several different types of coloring. The most common ones are Black Tricolor, Red Merle, Blue Merle and Liver Tricolor. The Red Merle shepherds are usually red and silver, and the Blue Merle shepherds have more black and gray than actual “blue”. Regardless of the coloring, almost all Australian Shepherds have white chests and stand at about two feet high.
Another kind of Australian Shepherd that is becoming increasingly popular is the Toy Australian Shepherd. Toy Aussies look about the same and come in the same coloring variations; however, they are usually only between 10-14 inches high and weight between 12-17 pounds generally. They tend to live slightly longer than regular Australian Shepherds—it is common for smaller dogs to live longer than larger ones. Toy Australian Shepherds started being bred in the late 1960’s by simply breeding smaller Australian Shepherds on a consistent basis.
Both the Australian Shepherd and the Toy Australian Shepherd are high-energy animals that need constant exercise and care. They do not like being left alone for too long, and love to play. They also love to learn tricks and are generally well behaved around children. All in all, an Australian Shepherd or Toy Australian Shepherd would make a wonderful addition to any family.