The Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd is an excellent working dog that stands out for its vitality and intelligence. Always willing to please their guardians, this breed was created to spend long hours herding flocks in the countryside, but today we can find short-tailed Australian Shepherds competing in many dog sports and doing all kinds of jobs, including animal thanks to its versatility and remarkable ability to adapt.
If you are a lover of this type of dog and live (or would like to) with a p Australian short-tailed astor, You can't miss this article on our site in which we analyze, among many other things, its main physical and behavioral characteristics
Origin of the Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd
This dog's beginnings date back to the vast Australian plains of early 19th century when purebred English Sheepdogs began to be bred smithfield with australian dingoes. The aim of the breeders was to create a breed of dog suitable for working in the fields guiding and controlling the herds, which was independent, resistant and capable of making its own decisions, but, at the same time, obedient and loyal to the shepherd.
These first Australian sheepdogs were called hall's heeler and, although they were tireless workers, their character was very strong and in Sometimes they came to scare or injure the sheep. For this reason, it was decided to cross these dogs with a third breed: the short-haired collie. The introduction of collie genes made the hall's heeler a more versatile and gentle dog with cattle. Over time, the breed evolved and perfected itself, and in each generation the specimens with the shortest tail were selected, which became one of the most distinctive characteristics of this dog. In 2001, the breed was renamed the Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd or Stumpy Tail Australian Shepherd and In 2005 its standard was officially established
Characteristics of the Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd
The short-tailed Australian Shepherd is a very robust dog that stands out for its great resistance, as it is capable of withstanding long hours of work in the field, regardless of the conditions to which it is exposed. Its most notable physical characteristics are, firstly and as its name suggests, the total or partial absence of tail which, if it exists, does not exceed ten centimeters long. Thus, this Australian shepherd is born without a tail, it is not amputated since this is prohibited. On the other hand, its ears are medium-sized, erect and triangular, and its eyes are very expressive, giving the animal an alert and intelligent appearance. The short-tailed Australian Shepherd also has a wide skull and very strong limbs that allow it to move with great skill on any type of surface.
Regarding their physical proportions, adult males have an average height that ranges between 46 and 51 centimeters at the withers, while females are slightly smaller, reaching between 43 and 48 centimeters High. The average weight of both sexes is between 16 and 23 kilograms, so the short-tailed Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog.
Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd Colors
Not only is the tail a distinctive feature of the breed, but also its unmistakable coat, made up of short, hard and dense hair. The Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd may appear in color blue or speckled red.
Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd Character
The stumpy tail has an innate predisposition to work in the field and is an excellent cattle dog The dogs of this breed usually present a very brave temperament, they are curious, attentive and they remain constantly alert so as not to miss a detail of what is happening around them. They are also very intelligent and activedogs, so they need an experienced tutor who can train them through play and positive reinforcement, as well as taking them to do enough physical exercise.
With proper socialization from an early age, short-tailed Australian Shepherds are very accommodating and sociable animals, which do not usually get into conflict with other dogs and, despite being somewhat independent, they are very affectionate and loyal to their human family, including children. Of course, they tend to distrust strangers and can be very sensitive, so you have to treat them with tact and understand their language well when interacting with them.
Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd Care
Being a herding dog, the person who decides to share his life with a short-tailed Australian shepherd should be aware that the dog needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation, since he has been selected to spend long hours working in the fields. For this reason, performing smell work on a daily basis, taking walks, offering the dog interactive toys, training skills, proposing challenges and working on decision-making or initiating him in some canine sport are good ideas to keep the animal active and he althy. Although the ideal is to have a garden or ample land that the dog can access, if the tutor meets the stimulation requirements and correctly covers the needs of the dog, the Stumpy Tail can adapt to living without problems in a small apartment or house..
It is very important to offer the dog a very good quality food that allows him to obtain the nutrients and daily calories he needs, because It is a very strong and energetic animal. Whether in feed format, home cooked food or BARF diet, the diet must be adapted to the dog's stage of life, its level of daily activity and its state of he alth.
On the other hand, it is recommended to brush the Australian short-tailed shepherd at least once once a week and remove all dead undercoat. In this way, not only hair loss is prevented at home, but the hygiene and quality of the coat and the correct perspiration of the skin are improved. If the animal does not have any dermatological problem, the baths can be carried out monthly or bimonthly.
Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd Education
The Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd is highly attentive and intelligent, which means that He learns with amazing easeWhenever he is educate correctly, understanding and respecting their language and behavior and using respectful methodologies based on positive reinforcement. This dog really enjoys training with his guardian, especially if he does it through play and if he takes advantage of his natural herding instinct.
It is important to start his education when he is a puppy and is adapting to our home. During the sensitive period of socialization (and also after it), the animal must know and relate gradually and positively with all those stimuli to which it will have to face in his adulthood, like other animals, people with different characteristics, noises, means of transport, etc., in this way we will prevent him from acquiring fears and phobias in the future and we will make him gain security and self-confidence. Similarly, walking with a harness and leash should be well worked out, since the stumpy tail is a very strong dog with great vitality, which makes it prone to pull the leash Training the call and the bond with the tutor very well is another essential, especially when walking the dog without a leash through the countryside or the mountains. Don't miss our article on How to train a puppy for more tips.
The level of activity that this breed requires does not make it the most suitable for people with little experience in dog training, because if it is not educated properly, the short-tailed Australian Shepherd can develop some ease behavioral problems caused by fear, stress or frustration.
Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd He alth
The great resistance of this breed is also reflected in its he alth, since the Australian Shepherd is, as a general rule, a very he althy and long-lived dogHowever, the fact that it is a working animal that spends a lot of time in the field and outdoors makes it vulnerable to diseases transmitted by external parasiteslike mosquitoes, fleas or ticks, so it is very important to protect it throughout the year using repellent products such as collars or pipettes, check its body well when you get home and go to the vet if you have any symptoms or suspicion of illness. In this other post we explain how to deworm a dog.
On the other hand, it is important to protect your pads and keep them always hydrated and in good condition, as well as check the dog after walks to locate possible spikes that have been stuck between your fingers, in your ears or in any other part of your body.
The pathologies that most commonly affect short-tailed Australian shepherds, especially the elderly, are those of the osteoarticular type, such as dislocations, fractures or dysplasias of the elbow or hip The latter condition is the most serious and, although it can be treated and controlled, in some cases surgery is necessary to correct the problem.
Remember that, to ensure a long and happy life for this dog, it is very important to keep the annual vaccination calendar up to date, deworm it correctly and carry out a complete check-up at the vet at least once year. With all the necessary care, the life expectancy of the short-tailed Australian Shepherd is around 14 years.
Where to adopt a short-tailed Australian Shepherd?
The Short-Tailed Australian Shepherd is a highly prized breed in several countries, including, of course, Australia, its country of origin. However, in Spain this dog is not well known and there are few specimens, which means that it is not very common to find them in shelters or animal protectors However, As with many dogs used for work in the field, sometimes those responsible for the animal discard or abandon it if the dog does not provide the expected results. Some protective associations specialize in rescuing this type of dog, so we recommend that you contact different rescue centers and let them advise you when it comes to adopt your new best friend. You may not find a purebred specimen, but you will find a mongrel dog wanting a second chance.
