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Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix

Australian Shepherd

By freya halPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix
Photo by Maud Slaats on Unsplash

Ever wonder what you’d get if you crossed a protective defender with a turbo herder? Well, you’d get the Australian Shepherd German Shepherd mix! Also named the Australian German Shepherd or German Australian Shepherd, this crossbreed is nothing if not dynamic. This is the watchdog that every active family will want as a companion.

Where does the Australian German Shepherd mix come from?

We know very little about the Australian German Shepherd’s origins. There doesn’t seem to be any recorded history for this crossbreed at all. Intentional breeding likely started in the recent past, probably in the United States. But even that’s just our best guess. This hybrid doggo’s parent breeds have been around much longer, however. You’ve probably heard of these two popular canines before, but let’s take a moment to meet each one.

Temperament and Behavior

Known for their intelligence, alertness, and loyalty, the Australian German Shepherds are extremely devoted to their family members, spending time playing. They get along well with the kids provided they are socialized when young. As in the case of most herding dogs, they are reserved and unresponsive with strangers. Being protective by nature, they do a great job watching and guarding their house and family. Because of their kind and loving behavior towards their family members, they are considered good family pets. However, they need confident and firm leadership and are thus not suitable for the timid or first-time owners.

Training

Let your pet know that you are its leader and it should follow your commands. Enforce strict and positive training methods, but do not be too harsh. You may reward it by praising its good behavior, offering foods, or playing with toys. This will encourage your pet to listen to your commands and accept training. Obedience classes with basic commands like ‘come’, ‘sit’, ‘stop’, ‘stay’, and ‘heel’ will help to correct its bad behavior.

Australian Shepherd

Despite their name, the Australian Shepherd dog breed originated in the western United States, not Australia, around the time of the Gold Rush in the 1840s. Originally bred to herd livestock, they remain a working dog at heart. The Aussie, as they’re nicknamed, are happiest when they have a job to do. They can be wonderful family companions if their intelligence and energy are channeled into dog sports or activities. DogTime recommends this dog bed to give a good night’s sleep to your medium-sized Australian Shepherd. You should also pick up this dog fetch toy to help burn off your pup’s high energy!

The German Shepherd Australian Shepherd mix combines two smart, hard-working breeds to create a unique and stunning hybrid. The German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd are both confident canines with keen athleticism. Key differences exist, however, that we will explore below. With all cross mixes, there is no way to tell the exact proportions and traits they’ll pick up from their parents. But we have a solid idea of what you can expect with the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd mix.

German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix

The German Shepherd Australian Shepherd mix is relatively new, but the history of the parent breeds goes back much further. The German Shepherd descends from the family of German herding dogs. In the late 1800s, a cavalry officer named Captain Max von Stephanitz set out to develop the ideal German herder and spent 35 years promoting and refining the breed to what it is today. Ultimately, German Shepherd owners have von Stephanitz to thank for creating this confident and courageous canine, which is the second most popular dog today according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). As for the Australian Shepherd, the breed originally descended from herding dogs in the Basques region of Europe, located between France and Spain. The Basques people immigrated to Australia in the 1800s and used their trusted dogs to help herd sheep.

Eventually, the Basques set sail for California, where ranchers admired their herding dogs and assumed they were an Australian breed, thus leading to the name. Ever since, the breed has been a huge part of the culture in the American West. Today the Australian Shepherd is the 16th most popular breed according to the AKC.

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