Australian shepherd

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Australian shepherd - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

breed of dog known for its intelligence, strong and enthusiastic herding instinct, and protectiveness; coat is moderately long, slightly wavy, and has a dense undercoat; coat color can be white or tan mixed with black, liver, or red or it can be blue merle or red (liver) merle; ears are furry and droop sideways over skull; tail is naturally or surgically bobbed; eyes may be brown, amber, blue, flecked or two different colors, leading to their nickname of ghost-eye dogs; adult stands 18-23 in. (46-58 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 35-70 lbs (16-32 kg); despite name, originated and perfected in U.S. primarily from Basque ancestor brought to America by settlers; used today in Australia to herd sheep; also serve as narcotics detectors, trackers, search-and-rescue dogs, and hearing dogs for the deaf.

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