History
There are a few differing theories as to how the Australian Shepherd came to be.
One theory proposes that in the 1700s the breed that predated the Australian Shepherd was engineered in Spain and France. When sheep were sent to Australia, these dogs were sent as well to continue to herd them there. Eventually, they began traveling again and these now “Australian dogs” came to the US and North America. After mating with North American sheepdogs, the modern Australian Shepherd came to be.
Another theory proposes that Australia had nothing to do with it and that the modern Australian Shepherd came straight to North America from Britain in the form of the English Shepherd. After mating with North American sheepdogs, the English Shepherd evolved into today's Australian Shepherd.
Whatever way the Australian Shepherd came to North America it is the only herding type dog that was manufactured in the US according to the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Farmers who migrated to the west of the US in the 19th century used the early Australian Shepherd to herd sheep in the mountains. As the Shepherd developed, farmers realized they were also great for guarding and companionship. Australian Shepherds were not purposely manufactured but came to be from the breeding of many different good herding dogs.
In the late 1940's, a man named Jay Sisler was a main component in spreading the breed across North America and defining it as the Australian Shepherd. Sisler was a dog trainer who specialized with “Blue Dogs,” a type of Australian Shepherd with a blue merle coat. Sisler bred and used these dogs in rodeo shows and he would give pups to friends all over North America spreading the breed with popularity and with his act.
Since Sisler, the breed has been refined and the modern Shepherd is very similar to those that existed in the 1950s. In 1957 a registry was established to track the purity of the breed by the ASCA and the National Stock Dog Registry. Separately, in 1966 the International Australian Shepherd Association (IASA) also began registering Australian Shepherds. The ASCA and the IASA merged in 1980 under the name ASCA, which still exists today.
In 1977 the ASCA approved a standard for the Australian Shepherd for the American Kennel Club so the dog could appear in and be judged in shows. This standard is still used for Australian Shepherds today.
One theory proposes that in the 1700s the breed that predated the Australian Shepherd was engineered in Spain and France. When sheep were sent to Australia, these dogs were sent as well to continue to herd them there. Eventually, they began traveling again and these now “Australian dogs” came to the US and North America. After mating with North American sheepdogs, the modern Australian Shepherd came to be.
Another theory proposes that Australia had nothing to do with it and that the modern Australian Shepherd came straight to North America from Britain in the form of the English Shepherd. After mating with North American sheepdogs, the English Shepherd evolved into today's Australian Shepherd.
Whatever way the Australian Shepherd came to North America it is the only herding type dog that was manufactured in the US according to the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Farmers who migrated to the west of the US in the 19th century used the early Australian Shepherd to herd sheep in the mountains. As the Shepherd developed, farmers realized they were also great for guarding and companionship. Australian Shepherds were not purposely manufactured but came to be from the breeding of many different good herding dogs.
In the late 1940's, a man named Jay Sisler was a main component in spreading the breed across North America and defining it as the Australian Shepherd. Sisler was a dog trainer who specialized with “Blue Dogs,” a type of Australian Shepherd with a blue merle coat. Sisler bred and used these dogs in rodeo shows and he would give pups to friends all over North America spreading the breed with popularity and with his act.
Since Sisler, the breed has been refined and the modern Shepherd is very similar to those that existed in the 1950s. In 1957 a registry was established to track the purity of the breed by the ASCA and the National Stock Dog Registry. Separately, in 1966 the International Australian Shepherd Association (IASA) also began registering Australian Shepherds. The ASCA and the IASA merged in 1980 under the name ASCA, which still exists today.
In 1977 the ASCA approved a standard for the Australian Shepherd for the American Kennel Club so the dog could appear in and be judged in shows. This standard is still used for Australian Shepherds today.