Australian shepherd puppies for sale in southern california

About Australian Shepherds

The Australian shepherd is a medium-sized, athletic working dog. Although it is called "Australian," the breed is thought to have originated in the United States, mostly in the Western States. Breed aficionados believe this collie/shepherd-type dog may have been imported with sheep from Australia or workers from Australia. The breed is extremely agile, intelligent, loyal and hard-working. Though known as a herding dog, the Aussie has a talent for all types of athletic activities. They are ubiquitous on the rodeo circuit and commonly associated with the cowboy lifestyle. However, the breed also makes an excellent companion dog for medium to high-energy owners.

Table of Contents Show

About Australian Shepherds
Australian Shepherd Breed Overview
History of the Australian Shepherd
How much is an Australian Shepherd in California?
Do Australian Shepherd dogs bark a lot?
Are Australian Shepherds a good family dog?
Are Australian Shepherds smart?

Australian Shepherd Breed Overview

GROUP: Herding

HEIGHT: 18 to 23 inches

WEIGHT: 40 to 65 pounds

COAT: Medium to long coat

COLORS: blue merle, red merle, black tri, red tri; all colors may have white markings and/or tan (copper) points

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 15 years

HEALTH ISSUES: Epilepsy and Cancer, generally a healthy breed (the incidence of hip dysplasia is low)

DISPOSITION: Affectionate, Reserved with Strangers

ENERGY: Medium to High

KIDS: Friendly if raised with kids

PETS: Friendly, depends on socialization as a puppy and if pet is neutered/spayed

PLAYFULNESS: Most like toys and water

TRAINABILITY: High

INTELLIGENCE: High

TENDENCY TO BARK: High (please don’t encourage your dog to bark). I train my puppies the “quiet” command

AMOUNT OF SHEDDING: Medium to High (this depends on how often you brush and groom your dog)

History of the Australian Shepherd

The Australian shepherd breed was developed in the United States. Basque people from the Pyrenees of northeastern Spain/southwestern France came to the American West in the mid-19th century to herd sheep and brought dogs with them. The name "Australian shepherd" may have reflected those who came to the U.S. after first working in Australia or the origin of the herds of sheep, but this is not clear. These dogs are not registered in Australia as a native breed.

American ranchers raised and bred the dogs as livestock herders and farm workers. They do well at high altitudes such as in the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and high plains where ranchers pastured their livestock. As Western movies, television series, and rodeos were popular after World War II, the breed became well known.

Australian Shepherd enthusiasts and breeders have worked hard to keep the breed true to its heritage. Australian Shepherds were first recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1991.

Miniature Australian shepherds were bred and the breed was accepted in 2012 as Miniature American Shepherds by the American Kennel Club. There is no such thing as a toy Miniature American Shepherd, it is not recognized by the AKC.

About Us

Welcome to BlessedHope Australian Shepherds

"Raising family members, not just dogs!" We own and enjoy purebred Australian Shepherds. We enjoy showing for conformation, running the dogs in agility, taking the dogs on horseback rides and on family outings. We raise several litters a year and enjoy giving the puppies the utmost care and love. We utilize the Puppy Culture system to develope well socialized, well adjusted puppies that are a blessing to all who get to have them as part of their family. We hope you enjoy looking through our site. We live in beautiful Southern California with a half acre for the dogs to run and play.

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Happy, Healthy Family Member is our goal

Welcome to BlessedHope Australian Shepherds

We live in beautiful Southern California with a half acre for the dogs to run and play. We also have horses and the dogs are always welcome to be with us out in the barn. Our puppies get to be exposed to the horses, cats and children and are very well socialized when they go to their new homes.We raise our puppies with the Puppy Culture Program. However, all puppies need continued positive socialization after they go to their new homes, we encourage all new puppy families to strive to have your puppy meet healthy friendly dogs and 100 people each month. It is vital for an Australian Shepherd to be exposed to all types of people and children with careful supervision so they don't become fearful of strangers while they are still young puppies.

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Temperment of Aussies

Welcome to BlessedHope Australian Shepherds

Temperment of Aussies

The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, medium-sized dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. They are also delightful and loyal companions and great family dogs. They love to be part of the daily hustle and bustle, and enjoy riding in the vehicle just to be with their beloved master. As farm dogs, they diligently carry out their responsibilities, be it bringing in the stock or finding the stray one that got tangled in the brush. Aussie puppies are easily trained, easily housebroken, because they are intelligent and eager to please. Australian Shepherds have been used as seeing-eye dogs, as utility dogs to the physically handicapped, hearing aid dogs, police and narcotics dogs, and search and rescue dogs. In the northern areas they have also been used as sled dogs. Many go with their masters as volunteers to children's homes and nursing homes to do therapy work. Truly, the Australian Shepherd is a highly versatile dog.“Aussies” (as they are lovingly nicknamed) are very active dogs that need a great deal of exercise on a daily basis to prevent them from becoming bored or frustrated and consequently developing destructive habits. Because of their high energy level, combined with high intelligence, Aussies need to be given a "job" to perform, be it shepherding the children, protecting the house, herding livestock or competing in dog events. One of the most frequent reasons Aussies get turned over to rescue groups is that their owners didn't anticipate how energetic these dogs are and weren't willing or able to constructively channel that energy through training. Aussies want to be with their owners all the time, which is why they insist on following their owners from room to room in the house, and love nothing better than going along in the car or truck on errands. They can be highly territorial and protective of their masters' possessions, potentially causing serious difficulties unless this behavior is controlled with proper training.

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How much is an Australian Shepherd in California?

The average price of the Australian Shepherd ranges from $650 to $850 USD. However, an Aussie puppy can cost anywhere between $300 to $1,800+ USD depending on the breeder's reputation, coat colors, pedigree, and location.

Do Australian Shepherd dogs bark a lot?

Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot, making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the 'speak' command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.

Are Australian Shepherds a good family dog?

Australia Shepherd Dog Breed Information and Personality Traits. An active yet easy-going dog, the Australian shepherd loves to romp with children and tends to get along well with other pets. Australian shepherds are great family pets, herding animals, police dogs and competitors in obedience trials.

Are Australian Shepherds smart?

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized, smart, athletic, and working dog. They were also used as herding dogs. Australian shepherds are known for their talent for all kinds of activities. They are very energetic and great companions for active owners.