See the Stockdog Inside Your Aussie
Know Your Breed: The Australian Shepherd • Free Course
The Australian Shepherd was built in the American West as an all-purpose ranch dog with an honest work ethic. This free course shows you how the breed actually works stock: where it came from, its loose-eyed style on sheep and cattle, and how it's trained and trialed. No cost, and you don't need stock access to start learning.
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Meet the All-Around Ranch Dog
Despite the name, the Australian Shepherd was developed in the United States, from herding dogs that came west with imported sheep. Ranchers prized it for its sheep and cattle work long before rodeo performer Jay Sisler made the breed famous. Today's Aussie is a popular companion and sport dog, but many still carry the strong working instinct that built the breed.
Made in the American West
A general-purpose ranch and farm dog bred for tough, enduring, versatile work, moving large herds of sheep and cattle across hard country.
Eager and Trainable
Intelligent, active, and loyal, the Aussie wants to be with its people and excels at everything from stock work to obedience, agility, and disc.
Built to Last the Day
A medium-sized, agile dog with a weatherproof double coat, sized to work close and cover ground for hours.
How the Australian Shepherd Works Stock
The Aussie is a loose-eyed, upright, close-working stockdog: confident and authoritative, and especially valued for handling large or slow-moving herds and controlling stock in tight spaces like chutes and alleys.
Wear
Smooth, balanced, and ground-covering. The Aussie moves easily side to side behind the stock, keeping the herd together and pushing forward, and can do it for hours.
Grip
Used only on reluctant or challenging stock. A good Aussie comes in low and hard at the heel to move cattle, or goes to the head to turn an animal back to the herd.
Bark
Conservative and authoritative. One dog's bark can move a whole herd, most useful when stock has stalled in a crowded alley or needs pushing out of thick brush.
Eye
Loose-eyed by nature. The Aussie leads with authority and presence, using eye directly and deliberately only when challenged.
What's Inside This Free Course
Breed History and Characteristics
Where the Aussie came from, how it became the ranch dog it is, and what to expect from one as a working and companion dog.
An Expert's Perspective
An interview with Jeanne Joy Hartnagle Taylor on the Australian Shepherd. Jeanne Joy is the third of four generations to enjoy a lifetime with Aussies. She has worked this breed in a variety of unique and challenging real world environments.
Dawna on Training and Trialing
Dawna's take on how Aussies train and behave on stock, with clips of the breed working different livestock.
See the Ranch Dog Behind the Breed
It's free, and it's the best way to understand what your Aussie brings to stock. Start learning today.
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