If there ever was a breed of dog that needs a job, the Australian Shepherd mix is it. The Aussie, as it is more commonly called, is a very high energy breed that is happiest when it is working. This breed is not actually from Australia, but was developed in the western United States as a herding dog. Its ancestors most likely were from the Pyrenees mountain region and were brought to Australia and the American colonies. If you are not planning to put your Aussie to work as a herder or a police dog, then it is recommended that you have a very active lifestyle. The Aussie needs to be taken on long walks or better yet, long runs every day.

A good word to describe the Australian Shepherd mix is eager. They are very eager to please and very eager to learn, making them easy to train. They are wonderful pets for very active children because they love to run and play outdoors. Even though they are aggresive when working with livestock, they are very gentle with people. They are excellent guardians. Although reserved with strangers, they are not shy. Good socialization will assure that they will be less reserved. They are also a low maintenance pet. They just need to be brushed once or twice a week. The Aussie’s coat come in blue merle, red merle, solid black, solid red, red with white markings or tan markings with copper tips. They have a medium length coat that sheds moderately. The Aussie tail is docked. A male Aussie weighs between 50 and 65 lbs.

Because Aussies are high energy dogs, they excel in dog sports and agility competitions, fly ball and frisbee. Australian Shepherd mixes are very intelligent dogs and are often used for police work. They are also very good search and rescue dogs. Aussies are also used in the movie industry because they are so easily trained. Plus, they are a somewhat distinct looking breed. They are sometimes called “ghost eye” because they can have blue eyes, or one brown eye and one blue eye. Aussies sometimes have problems with cataracts and should have their eyes checked regularly by a veterinarian. Because of their unusual markings, when they are mixed with other breeds such as labs, the outcome varieties can be endless.