Meet the Australian Shepherd

Contrary to popular belief, my ancestors did not come from Australia. They actually came from the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain AKA Basque country. Known as Pyrenean Shepherds, they were the prized herding dogs of the Basque sheepherders that lived there. In the 1800’s, these sheepherders got word that in the faraway land of Australia, there were pawsome pasturelands for cattle grazing to be claimed. Seizing the opportunity, they sailed across the ocean with their precious canine cargo. In Australia, these Pyrenean Shepherds were crossbred with fine British herding stock, like Border Collies and Collies. After the Basque sheepherders grew their flocks, they got wind of even greener pastures across the Pacific in California! Once again, they set sail for a new world with their canine companions.

California ranchers took a liking to the Basques’ herding dogs, and called them “Australian Shepherds,” falsely assuming they had originated in the land from which they came. Over the years, the Americans perfected the breed – and voilà, you have today’s Australian Shepherd. While Aussies continued to work on farms and ranches throughout the American West, they became super popular during America’s Cowboy culture boom in the 1950’s where they found new jobs in rodeos, horse shows – even starring in Hollywood movies! And in 1993, the Australian Shepherd was finally welcomed into the prestigious AKC Herding Group.