History : Originated in the United States, NOT Australia.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/8/7/23874741/6170612.jpg?259)
- During the Gold Rush.
- Selected for their ability to work in harsh conditions (very hot/freezing cold climates) and herd all sorts of stock.
- Sheep herders did not care about looks, they bred herding dogs for the best workers.
- The Australian Shepherd was born.
- Legend: Native Americans of the West referred to them as the "ghost-eyed dogs." Thought of them to be sacred so they avoided them.
- Australian Shepherds continued to prosper in the West but were unknown outside of that region.
- This changed when Jay Sisler showed he could take their intelligence and athletic ability and train them to do tricks.
- They toured rodeos in the 1950's and 1960's.
- Held roles in the Disney films: Run Appaloosa Run, Stub: The Greatest Cowdog in the West.
- Now people wanted them for their own. They traveled to watch the dogs perform then would return home with an Aussie of their own.
- Many of today's Australian Shepherds can be traced back to Sisler's rodeo dogs.
- 1957: The Australian Shepherd Club of American (ASCA) was formed.
- 1957: The National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) became the official registration body for the breed.
- 1971: ASCA took over as the official registry.
- 1977: The breed standard was approved.
- 1991: The Australian Shepherd Association (USASA) was created.
- 1993: Received the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition.