Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd, or Aussie, is a medium-sized herding dog that was developed in the United States for use on ranches. The breed is believed to have originated from the Basque region of Europe and was first imported to Australia. It then made its way to the US in the 19th century where it was used as a working dog on ranches and farms.

Aussies gained recognition by several kennel clubs in the 1950s but did not become fully recognized until 1991 when it received full recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC). This active and intelligent breed has been used for many activities over its history including farm work, agility sports, search & rescue operations, herding livestock, tracking lost people or animals and even serving as therapy dogs.