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When shopping around for an Australian Shepherd, you
will find the approach and information for this
working class dog to be quite different from buying
a Cairn Terrier to use for the show ring. Obviously,
these two breeds are very different, each with
special qualities. Regardless of the line, all will
have good and not so good points. In other words, if
you are looking for a perfect line for an Australian
Shepherd, you need to remember there is no such
thing. While you can get close to clean lines, you
can never be perfect.
Even so, the goal in buying an Australian
Shepherd is to find a breeder that knows his or
her stuff, developing a dog that comes close to
perfect regarding type, temperament, structure,
ability, performance, health, and so on. For your
part, you want to look for bloodlines with the
strongest links possible. Although you will likely
pay more for a better bloodline, depending on how
you intend to use the Aussie, it would probably be
worth it. Now, if you just wanted an Aussie as a
family pet and nothing more, then a near-perfect
bloodline would not be as important as you wanting a
herd dog for work would.
To ensure you buy only the best Australian Shepherd
possible, you want to do your homework to understand
every aspect of this dog. That way, you are not
merely depending on the word of the breeder but can
actually check the withers, the hips, the eyes, and
so on yourself. In addition, make sure the breeder
has had the litter checked for various genetic
problems, which would include retinal atrophy and
hip dysplasia, both devastating diseases to a
working dog.
If you wanted an Aussie for the show ring, which
includes appearance and agility showing, then
remember that breeders will probably inbreed or line
breed as a means of achieving the physical goals,
quickly. While a top sire would be chosen, a good
breeder would know there is much more to the formula
than this. In other words, genetics make a huge
difference in whether a dog wins a ribbon or not,
which is a complex issue.
The bottom line is that working breeders of the
Australian Shepherd should not just turn away from
breeders focusing on genetics. You want a breeder
that understands the strengths and weaknesses of
this breed, being capable of developing litters that
are fine specimens, again as close to perfect as
possible. Any breeder should be open to answer
questions, be willing to show you both mother and
father, and have spent ample time socializing the
puppies so they are not just excellent working dogs
but also gentle, loyal family additions.
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