Just like every other breed, the history of the Australian Shepherd is also ambiguous. However, most of the stories agree that the development dates back during the late 1800s. Contrary to popular belief, though, the Australian Shepherd did not actually originate from Australia.
Australian Shepherds: Made in America
It may come as a surprise to you that the Australian Shepherds are actually from America. When the predecessor of this breed arrived in North America, these dogs were greatly valued for their sheep herding skills. They were also bred to work as farm dogs – depending on the terrain and weather conditions.
Thus, the Australian Shepherds as we know them today possess the qualities of hardworking farm dogs with strong herding instincts, exceptional intelligence, alertness and high energy as they were bred and raised by the American stockmen. For this very reason, one can say that the ‘Australian Shepherd’ is somewhat of a misnomer. A more accurate name would be ‘American Shepherd’ since the breed is actually not that dominant in Australia, either.
Australian Shepherds as they Are Today
For many years, Australian Shepherds were highly prized by stockmen for their trainability and other qualities. While some continue to raise Australian Shepherds to work in the farms and compete in herding trials, the breed actually rose in popularity with the boom of western riding in the United States. They quickly became very popular among the general public through rodeos, horse shows, and Disney movies made for television. In fact, their stunts and skills earned them a lot of supporting acting roles in a number of Disney films such as Run Appaloosa Run and Stub: The Greatest Cowdog in the West. In more recent years, an Australian shepherd also starred in the film Famous Five (2012) and its other sequels.
By: Kevin Wood