Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Australian Shepherds New Mexico Are Devoted Pets And Work Dogs

By Janine Hughes


In the early 19th century, Australian shepherds were first bred in the western states of America. Their job was to herd farm and ranch animals like sheep, ducks, geese and rabbits. They were also popular attractions in rodeos. In recent years, this breed has been used as guide and therapy dogs, in search and rescue operations, and as detection and disaster canines

Medium-built animals generally weigh 65 pounds or less and stand no more than 26 inches at the shoulder. Australian shepherds New Mexico sport tails that are long and furry or bobbed. The life span of an Aussie is 12 years. This breed was added to the herding group in 1991 by the American Kennel Club.

These canines are easy to train due to their high level of intelligence and yearning to please their master. They exhibit strong devotion and obedience to their owner and prefer be with him or her at all times. Although goodhearted and loveable, they do bark when strangers are detected.

Aussies have a high level of energy and need a lot of attention and exercise for both mental and physical well being. They should be allowed to exercise and play for at least two to three hours each day. Otherwise they tend to become hyper and destructive. They are extremely good at dog sports like agility and Frisbee.

Aussies come in various shades of black and red. They can be either black or red with white or tan. Those with marbled black, gray and white coats are known as Blue Merles. Others with marbled buff, red and white are Red Merles. Tri-colored animals are red or black with white and brown. Others with just brown or white along with their black or red coat are known as bi-colored. The red-colored breeds sport brown lips, noses and eye rims. The other two color categories are black on these body parts.

Their eyes also feature varying shades of brown and blue. The color of both eyes can match, or one eye can be a completely different color from the other eye. Split eyes are those that have both brown and blue pigments. Black breeds generally sport brown eyes whereas red ones often sport amber-colored eyes.

Aussies can have eye problems like red eye, conjunctivitis and teary eyes. They may also suffer from cataracts or blindness in later years. Other health concerns are deafness, epilepsy, skin rashes or allergies, heart problems and breathing difficulties. Hormone levels produced by the thyroid can be lower than normal causing hypothyroidism, and abnormally formed hip joints may lead to painful arthritis and mobility issues.

These dogs can also be tested for inherited health ailments like Pelger-Huet anomaly. This gene alters white blood cells but does not require treatment. Animals with this gene should not breed with other Aussies who have this gene. Doing so results in stillborn puppies or shortened life expectancy. Another inherited health concern is iris coloboma that affects the iris.

This breed makes loving pets and hard-working canines. Gorgeous Aussies in Albuquerque, NM exhibit fiercely loyal and loving personalities with the natural instinct to protect. They interact well with individuals, couples, children and larger groups of humans.




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1 comment:

  1. Hi, nice blog and very informative post im so happy to have found your website. Have a nice day!

    Cathy XoXo
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