Debern Australian Shepherds

More Aussie Information

History:

The history of the Australian Shepherd is largely unknown. Some feel their roots appear to have their beginnings with the Basque people in the Pyrenees Mountain area between Spain and France. That area eventually exported sheep world wide and with the sheep went the shepherds and their "little blue bobtailed dogs". These sheep dogs closely resemble the Aussie as we know them today. Since so many of the dogs had made a stop over in Australia, people falsely presumed they were native Australians and thus the name. Regardless of his past wanderings through different countries, helping his master tend the flocks, this dog as we know him today is what we have to pass on to our future generations. He is versatile and adaptable to country or city life.

Up until 1991 our only option for registration was the Australian Shepherd Club of America. We now have full recognition with the Canadian Kennel Club and our breed is not only registered with that organization but we have full privileges for all areas of competition. This means there are shows and trials near everyone. Any dog you buy in Canada now, should be permanently tattooed and come with C.K.C. registration papers at no additional charge.

The Aussie comes in black and red, with the variations being merle and the presence of white and/or copper trim. Both copper and white are only in certain patterns, eg. white is found as a collar, blaze, underbelly and/or on the feet. Copper is usually on the cheeks, as pennies above the eyes and on the legs. Our breed has as many variations in these pattern as there are dogs themselves, each individual is unique and different. You must be very careful breeding merle to merle as there is a possibility of 25% of the pups will be double merle. That is to say deaf, blind and perhaps internal organs missing or faulty. They are recognizable because they usually have no colour (plain white) around the ears and eyes and sometimes splashes of white on the body. Pups with these kind of markings must be put down at birth.

The safe way to avoid the problem is to breed merle to tri. Experienced breeders will breed merle to merle and there is absolutely no effect on the healthy pups in the litter. I've also been getting about 40% pups born natural bob tail (NBT), perhaps it will only be a small portion of the tail missing, none or less means the animal is carrying the gene for no tail. It is a poor practice to breed NBT to NBT because sometimes pups are born with a total lack of a tail and these are quite often deformed internally and die at a few days of age. The best way to dock tails is to take them to a vet at under 3 days and have the tails surgically removed and dew claws if you choose. The tail is to be removed between the first and second joint.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you get your new puppy home, we hope these tips will make the experience more positive and enjoyable.

Bringing Your New Puppy Home:

It is always an exciting time when you welcome a new puppy into your home. You need to remember, though, that it can be a stressful and confusing time for the new pup. You should provide a sleeping area, preferably near the activities of the family, but also quiet and out of the way. The purchase of a dog crate at this time would be a good investment. Let the puppy know this is his bed and a safe place to be. If there are children in the family, they will want to play with the new puppy. While pups play and are active, they also require a great deal of sleep. Do not let the pup become exhausted by attention. It is likely that the first night or two in a new home the puppy will be lonely and will cry or howl. Don't fall into the trap of going to the pup to comfort him for making noise. He will learn that crying is a good way to get attention. Instead you might want to take him out, play with him and tire him out just before bedtime.

Nutrition and Good Health:

A good quality name brand dog food is the best choice for your puppy. You may want to keep him on puppy chow for the first few months, then switch gradually to an adult food. Always switch dog foods very slowly and gradually and no more often than absolutely necessary as this will cause digestive upsets in both pups and adults, as can also major changes in water. Also, your puppy does not need table scraps and of course never feed any kind of bones except very large soup bones. If you find he's chewing any amount of the bone off, take the bone away immediately. Bones can impact in the intestine or tear an innard, not to mention getting stuck in the throat. Also, please supervise your pup if you give him a rawhide chew toy. They tend to try to swallow large pieces of rawhide. Never give a pup or dog any onions or chocolate. We here at Debern believe in feeding a good quality vitamin and extra vitamin c every day. And of course fresh water should be available at all times. Be sure to keep your pup or dog up to date on vaccinations, some of the diseases out there today are killers. Lots of the viruses are air borne and your pup needs no actual contact with other dogs to get them. Talk to your vet about shots and worming. Perhaps you live in an area where heartworm is a problem. A word of caution, Invormectin or Heartguard is NOT recommended for use in any of the collie breeds including your Aussie. What you should use is Interceptor Heartworm prevention.

House Breaking:

Aussies generally housebreak quite easily. The key to good house habits is consistency by the owner. The puppy should, if he must be left alone, be in a fenced area where he can relieve himself. When the pup is in the main part of the house, he needs to be supervised. When the pup wakes up, finishes eating or runs around sniffing the floor and looking anxious, he is most likely thinking of relieving himself. Now is the time to take him out. Most dogs and pups want to be clean and to please you, they also want to go outside to do their potty but don't know how to tell you or find the door and make it open. That's why it is up to the people to do their part. Be sure to praise the pup when he is outside doing the right thing. If an accident does occur, and it will, just take him outside anyway. If you catch him in the act, scold him slightly and hurry him out. Remember that a small pup doesn't have a lot of control so let him out often. Remember, consistency is the key.

Crate Training:

To some people crates seem like a cruel place for a dog or puppy to be. However, if used properly, they become a safe den and a place for the dog to go to get away. It's also handy when you want a dog out from underfoot and it's an excellent way for the dog to travel. He's contained in case of an accident and not crawling on your lap causing one. Never let your dog ride in the back of a pick-up truck without being in a crate because it is extremely dangerous. To crate train your pup select a crate that will be of a suitable size when he is an adult to lie down comfortably and be able to stand up. It is preferable to use a fibreglass crate but a wire crate covered with a blanket is fine. The pup should be fed inside the crate and also encouraged to sleep in it as well with a cuddly but washable blanket as his bed. Leave the door open and see if he will go inside of his own accord or put the pup inside for short periods of time for naps until he is used to being in there. Never use the crate as a punishment. Locate the crate in a quiet place but not too far from the family.

Discipline:

The Australian Shepherd is a very easy dog to train. Being a working stock dog, he has been bred to take direction and to listen to his owner. He has also been bred to think for himself and make decisions on his own. It is up to you, as the owner, to teach the dog what is and is not proper behaviour. He must learn to look to you as his leader while he is a puppy or you could be in trouble with him as an adult. This does not mean that you need to treat the puppy roughly. Aussies accept the authority of their masters if trained properly and often a harsh word will be enough. Obedience classes are recommended and many places offer puppy "kindergarten" classes for young pups. Don't let anyone use harsh corrections or tell you to, and this means at any time, not just baby puppies. Physical punishment is almost never called for and your puppy could be harmed mentally and physically forever. Your puppy should allow you to remove his food, but never let children take food away from a dog at any age. Just pick it up, praise him and put it down again right away. This lets him know that this is your food and that you are letting him have it, thus keeping your place as alpha in the family. If you do find your pup does need a correction, just take both sides of the skin on either side of his neck and look sternly into his eyes and say "NO". Another method is to grab the pup by the scruff of the neck similar to what his mother would have done to discipline him and the pup can relate to this. Because he understands it, it's far better than spanking or using a newspaper to hit him. Aussies are intelligent dogs and will probably test you from time to time. Just remember, be firm and don't give in. Obedience training helps in this area, it assures you of keeping your top dog position.

Socialization:

The Aussie is by nature a one family or one person dog. They do not accept all people as their natural friends as do some breeds. They are selective. This is not a fault, this just makes them a better protector of your home and family. Because of this part of their nature, it is a very good idea to expose them to many different situations and people at a very early age. While they may not go tail wagging up to every stranger on the street, they should be taught to be mannerly and accept the presence of non-threatening people and situations.

Obedience:

It is highly recommended that you teach your pup some of the basics in obedience. It is much more enjoyable to have a well mannered dog that will walk quietly at your side rather than a lurching fool pulling you along. A well trained dog should behave off leash as well as on leash. Aussies are very quick learners and enjoy the attention they get while being trained properly. I find that it brings dogs and owners much closer and gives them a special bond that lasts a lifetime. Even without formal obedience classes, there are lots of positive things a pup can learn at home and if it is necessary to train at home, there are plenty of good books and videos on the subject. For your own peace of mind and your dogs safety, he should have at least these basics: sit, down, stay and a good solid come and be able to walk at your side without pulling.

Aussies and Kids:

Australian Shepherds are basically good with kids if they have been raised with them and have been treated well by them. Some dogs love kids without even knowing any as pups. One of the basics of having your children and your puppy have a good relationship is teaching both what is allowed and what is not. Of course babies and toddlers should never be left alone with any dog regardless of the breed. The child should learn not to handle the dog roughly or to tease him and that any corrections made to the pup should be done by an adult only. Puppies and dogs tend to look upon children as "siblings" in the social order of the family and the dog should never be allowed to get the upper position over the child. Something that sometimes occurs with Aussie pups and kids at play is that the pup will try to herd the kids and will nip at their heels. The child should be taught to stop running and to tell the pup "no bite" or something similar. It is natural for the pup to herd. This kind of behaviour should not be confused with the pup actually trying to harm the child, but the game should not be encouraged.

Keeping Your Aussie "Up":

If you live in a town, there are probably ordinances about keeping your dog on a leash or in an enclosed area. This is as much for the safety of the dog as for any other reason. If you live in the country, there are no such laws. The dangers to a dog are just as deadly. If your dog has a good enclosed area to exercise, it is not necessary to his happiness and well being that he be allowed to roam free. Bear in mind that the Aussie is a dog with a strong herding instinct. In town this can lead to car chasing. In the country it can lead to a dog who kills poultry or runs a neighbours stock and consequently ends up being shot. The fact that your dog has a natural herding instinct does not mean that if you just put him out with livestock that he will automatically know what to do! If you do not train him, he may learn to chase or maul. It's up to you to let him know what to do with his natural talents. Give him enough basic obedience to teach him to listen, and when he's ready, take him to stock and supervise his activity. Let him know what is acceptable.