Australian Shepherd. History: There are many theories about the origin of the Australian Shepherd: it was given this name after the shepherd dog of Basque origin, which arrived in the United States from Australia in the 19th century. The popularity of the Australian Shepherd increased significantly after the Second World War: thanks to the great notoriety achieved by "Western" riding, people became aware of rodeos, horse shows, as well as films and television shows. Due to its versatile nature and being easy to train, this dog was used on farms and vast American ranches. The cattle ranchers persevered in developing the breed, maintaining its versatility, keen intelligence, strong herding instincts and handsome appearance they had admired from the start. While each individual is unique in color and markings, all Australian Shepherds show unsurpassed devotion to their family. The many qualities have ensured this breed continued popularity. General Appearance: The Australian Shepherd is well proportioned, slightly longer than tall, of medium build and bone, with a coat of various colors. It is alert and lively, lithe, and agile, solid, and muscular without awkwardness. It has a coat of moderate length and coarseness. It has a docked or naturally short tail.