A dog is a friend of man. And people, as you know, more than seven billion. And each one is unique, and everyone needs a friend. Therefore, it is not surprising that scientists have bred a variety of dog breeds - from miniature Chihuahuas to giant Tibetan mastiffs. Now everyone can choose a friend, guided by personal preferences.
A dog is one of the animals that live in close proximity with a person for whom he is responsible. Therefore, before starting a pet for yourself, it is advisable to study the needs of a particular breed regarding feeding, conditions, behavior, upbringing, features of caring for the animal and so on. Our story today is about American Shepherd Dogs. You will learn what species of breed exist, how they differ and how to properly care for them.
American white shepherd dog
The countries of origin of the animal are Canada, USA and Switzerland. This breed is included in the group of shepherd dogs. Individuals have a strong muscular body of medium size. The growth of males at the withers reaches 70–75 centimeters. Females are slightly smaller, their height usually does not exceed 60 cm. The male body weight on average is about 40 kilograms, and the girls are 35. Of course, the weight of a dog largely depends on lifestyle: quality and quantity of food, daily routine, activity.
But it is worth remembering that you can not overfeed the animal - this can serve as a prerequisite for the development of diseases. The ears of the "Americans" are upright, the tails are usually long and fluffy, in shape resemble an arc. The whole body is covered with thick white hair with a well-defined undercoat.
Males are characterized by a greater number of “ornaments” of wool - the so-called mane, pants, comb.
In females, the fur is more modest, around the head and on the forepaws a little shorter than the rest of the cover. Currently, dogs with long and medium-long hairs have been bred. American Shepherd dogs are devoted to their owner, devoid of aggression. These are strong and hardy animals. They remember and recognize "their" people, can follow them everywhere "like a tail." Attentive dogs, it seems that they understand the slightest changes in mood and react to it.
They love to “sing” and talk with their owners. Therefore, it is important to correlate this information with your character. If a person prefers silence, then it is hardly worth having such a dog. "Americans" are eager for affection and encouragement, curious and inquisitive, trained. Little attention is paid to strangers. Not prone to aggressive actions, do not show fear, but poorly tolerate rough treatment.
Cope well with work that is related to protection, security. These are excellent watchmen and shepherds. In principle, American dogs are better off in a country house, where they can allocate more free space for housing and walking. However, it can be kept in apartments and on the street.
For to take good care of the white American Shepherd you need to monitor the condition of the coat. Otherwise, these are not particularly whimsical animals. Since they have a white coat, they often need to be bathed (once a week), combed out. It is recommended to use a hard brush with frequent teeth.
Please note that the hair of these dogs can cause allergies.
White shepherds are prone to diseases such as joint dysplasia (especially hip and elbow), degenerative changes in the spine (osteochondrosis), eye diseases, and various allergic reactions. Previously, the problem of this breed was various systemic immune diseases, for example, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), however, now they are quite rare in the population of these animals.
In food, these are unpretentious creatures, so everything depends on the owner. But it is desirable that the feed be balanced and contain all the necessary nutrients. The life expectancy of American Shepherds is up to 15 years.
American tundra shepherd dog
The American tundra shepherd or wolf dog is another breed that has been bred in the United States. It differs in that it is still not officially recognized by national clubs. Such shepherds are quite rare, especially outside the historical homeland.
Tundra shepherd dogs are direct descendants of wolves. Initially, breeding of these dogs was carried out by military structures according to the state idea. However, the first specimens turned out to be more like wolves than dogs, they were distinguished by increased aggressiveness, they were difficult to train. It was decided that they were unsuitable for military service and for living with people. The project was closed. However, then it was continued on a private basis.
Now these dogs are more socialized, calm, easier to learn. But their character is not simple.
Wolf dogs are recommended to be socialized as early as possible. This means that even with puppies they need to be introduced to the family, spend a lot of time, communicate, train. Twhen by eight months the shepherd will be easier to adapt to people. It is important to remember that at this moment it is necessary to educate the puppy, to accustom to the execution of commands, to show who the owner is. In this case, you need to clearly see the border between self-confidence, rigor and rudeness. A wolf dog does not like rude treatment of itself and can grow even more aggressive.
With the right upbringing, tundra shepherd dogs get hardy, strong and active individuals. They can be used for hunting, guarding, as guides, rescuers, search dogs.
According to the conditions of detention, this is an unpretentious animal.However, he needs physical activity. Therefore, you need to walk the dog well, giving it the opportunity to run in. It is also advisable to take into account that the size of the dog is not miniature (it can reach up to 80 cm at the withers), so it needs an appropriate space. In caring for a pet, it is important to pay attention to the following points:
- good nutrition;
- combing, during molting, you need to carry out the procedure more often;
- clipping of claws;
- ear cleaning and eye wash;
- timely vaccination.
American tundra shepherd dogs are susceptible to the following diseases:
- joint dysplasia (hip, elbow);
- pericarditis;
- allergic reactions;
- diabetes mellitus and other pancreatic problems;
- heart defects;
- eye diseases (cataract, retinal or corneal dystrophy);
- various tumors;
- epilepsy.
Most of the diseases are inherited from the German Shepherd, however, due to the strength of the wolf body, with proper care they rarely get sick. Life expectancy is up to 12 years.
Canadian shepherd dog
The American-Canadian Shepherd is another representative of the white breed of shepherd. It was obtained by crossing German shepherds with a light color of wool. These dogs are distinguished by devotion, loyalty, friendliness, calm, attentiveness, vigilance. They love children, can act as a "nanny". Do not show signs of aggression towards people or other dogs. This breed is also large. Her height can reach 70 cm, and body weight - 40 kg.
American-Canadians can live both in an apartment and in private homes. However, in any case, you need to give the animal adequate physical activity - running, walking. In the rest, caring for them is quite simple and does not differ from keeping dogs of other breeds: balanced nutrition, bathing, combing. This breed can perfectly perform such tasks: guarding the premises and people, supervision, tracking, “nanny” (this is also a shepherd’s dog). Maybe just a companion friend. The American-Canadian Shepherd is suitable for an active sports person.
With proper and careful care, she can live up to 14 years.
Australian Shepherd (Aussie)
In the 19th century, Basque Shepherds were brought from Australia to the United States of America, becoming the progenitors of the Aussie along with the Bernese Mountain Dogs, collies and Pyrenean dogs. That is why this breed is called Australian in spite of its true origin. Among the shepherd dogs “Australians” are babies. The growth of dogs at the withers does not exceed 58 cm, bitches - 53 cm. Body weight - 30–32 kg. The color of the Aussi is often heterogeneous - tricolor, marble black, marble red. Eyes are blue, golden brown; heterochromia is also common.
Australian Shepherds take first place in the world among all dog breeds in terms of intelligence. They are excellent shepherds, they love children, they are ready to obey the master always and in everything. Teams grab literally "on the fly." In care these cute creatures are unpretentious. However, like the rest of the shepherd dogs, they need physical activity, long walks and competent training. Aussi has a lifespan of 10–13 years.
In the next video, you will find a description of the Australian Shepherd (Aussie).
