Australian Shepherd

Picture a dog that has already planned the day before you finish your coffee. That is the Australian Shepherd at home. The breed's ancestors are generally traced to herding dogs from the Basque region and other parts of Europe, some of which reached the United States by way of Australia alongside imported sheep in the 1800s. The name probably stuck from that route, but the dog itself was refined by ranchers in California, Colorado and neighboring states who wanted a tireless, adaptable stock dog.

Those ranchers cared about ability far more than looks. An Aussie had to push stubborn cattle one hour and gently gather sheep the next, often deciding for itself how much pressure to apply. That independent problem-solving is still very much present. So is the urge to control movement: many Aussies circle running children, bump the backs of legs, or bark at anything that drifts out of formation.

Rodeo performers helped spread the breed after the Second World War, when trick-dog acts showed crowds how quickly Aussies learned, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1993. With family, most are affectionate, clownish and physically close, often following one person from room to room. With strangers, many are reserved and watchful. That reserve is normal for the breed rather than a flaw, as long as it doesn't tip into fear or guarding.

Living with one works best when the dog has a clear outlet. Owners who hike, run, train for agility or keep actual livestock tend to find the Aussie a dream. Owners hoping for a pretty, calm companion that is content with two short strolls usually find the opposite: a clever dog that redesigns the garden, invents games with the cat and barks at every delivery van on the street.