Aussie (dog) :: essays research papers fc

The Australian Shepherd started out as a working dog. Today for the most part it still is, but they have entered a different type of work besides herding. The versatility of the Aussie is remarkable. Today's Aussie is an active and intelligent companion who requires stimulation and activity. There are very few breeds of dogs capable of performing as many different jobs as the Australian Shepherd. The breed's easy trainability, intelligence, common sense and problem solving abilities, combined with a medium sized build, easy to care for coat, strong will to work and incredible loyalty make for a great working and playing companion. Australian Shepherd, also known as Spanish Shepherd, New Mexican Shepherd, or California Shepherd, breed of herding dog developed in the United States (Encarta). Its ancestors probably were Australian dogs bred for herding livestock (Braund 106). Sheepherders who emigrated from the Basque region of Spain to the United States had these dogs shipped to California when the United States imported sheep from Australia in the 19th century (Palika 23). The history of the west during the late 1800s filled with tall tales, and the Australian Shepherd's history during this time period is no exception. Leaving the romance of the Wild West aside, most of the people who moved westward in the 1800s had modest dreams of starting a new life, buying land where they could raise a family (Palika 19). Even though the history of this time is derived from diaries and a few personal photographs showing a dog resembling the Australian Shepherd (Palika 19). A loyal, protective, trainable herding dog was needed in the Wild West, and the Australian Shepherd fit right in. Jay Sisler, a talented dog trainer from Idaho, had Aussies before the breed was well known as the Australian Shepherd (Sisler 3). He acquired Keno, his first "blue dog," as he called them, in 1939 (Palika 34). Sisler spent twenty years traveling with his "blue dogs," giving shows at rodeos and amazing people with the tricks that his wonderfully trained dogs could do (Sisler 4). Sisler's dogs gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. They would stand in their heads, balance on bars, jump rope, climb ladders and much more (Palika 34). Their acts greatly increased interest in the breed. Sisler's Shorty (1948-1959) sired many of the breed's most important foundation stock (Sisler Append. B). He was a good-looking blue merle. He was the star of Sisler's act for many years and a Walt Disney movie, Cowdog, was based on his life and talents (Palika 35).