JAKE, the NOV 2013 Dog of the Month
The November Dog of the Month is Jake, an Australian Shepherd. An Australian Shepherd is different from a German Shepherd and we will go into that below. Jake joined the Central Bark crew back in August of 2012, when he was only five months old. His human mother, Carol, is a nurse, so she knows how to get the most out of Jake by using love and training. Her skill in dealing with people transfers beautifully to raising this handsome dog. Jake graduated from all the basic training classes at Central Bark and is currently a stellar student in the Competitive Obedience Class.
While training focuses on Jake’s serious side, he also has a high energy, fun loving, party side! Jake is EVERYBODY’S friend! No one is a stranger when Jake is around. Despite the fact that Jake is crazy about the pool toys, the slide and chasing his buddies comes in at a close second place.
Carol tapped into Jake’s intelligence and natural instincts by taking him to a herding clinic. That genetic material kicked in and Jake showed a few of the other dogs exactly what herding is all about. Training can be a family affair with Carol and husband (of 36 years) John, their son Mike, and his dog Rusty, joining Jake in his Central Bark training classes.
We mentioned that an Australian Shepherd is different from a German Shepherd and that is no more apparent than in their physical characteristics. The “Aussie” is smaller by about 20 pounds. They live much longer than a German Shepherd. Their coats come in many striking and unusual colors such as red, red tricolor, red merle, blue merle, white markings, and black tricolor and all black. German Shepherds have evolved into dogs that are bred for protection and policing areas, not herding and guarding sheep. Both breeds are highly intelligent, but each excels in a different area. The “Aussie” became the best dog for farmers and ranchers when it came time to get the sheep in cattle in line. The German Shepherd is naturally protective and will be a good companion dog. The “Aussie” also has those virtues, but additionally, is always eager to please you and loves to play.
Despite its misleading name, the dog is not from Australia. The breed as we know it today probably developed in the Pyrenees Mountains somewhere between Spain and France. It was called the Australian Shepherd because of its association with Basque shepherds who came to America from Australia in the 1800s. An “Aussie” is animated, adaptable and agile. He lives for his job, which still involves herding livestock and working as an all-purpose farm and ranch dog. He needs a lot of activity and a sense of purpose to be truly content. Today, due to the breed’s intelligence and versatility, “Aussies” also excel in AKC events such as agility, obedience and herding.
Jake embodies all things good about Australian Shepherds and that is why Jake is our November Dog of the Month. Congratulations, Jake and Carol!
