Shel-Aussie

Shel-Aussies are hybrid dogs made from the breeding of an Australian Shepherd with a Shetland Sheepdog. Therefore, the history of this breed begins with these parent breeds. Miniature Shetland Sheepdogs were developed in the Shetland Islands, which are located off the mainland of Scotland. When fishing boats began regularly visiting in the 1700s, new dog breeds were introduced to the islands. This includes the Black and Tan King Charles Spaniel, Spitz-type dogs who are from Scandinavia, Yakki dogs from Greenland and other sheepdogs from Scotland. These dogs were then bred with the dogs on the island to create the Shetland Sheepdog. These little dogs began gaining popularity as companion pets in the 19th century after British sailors who would visit the islands would buy them to take back home. The Australian Shepherd most likely originates from the Basque region in the Pyrenees Mountains, which are located between France and Spain. Although they are not from Australia, the breed got their name due to their association with shepherds from the United States (who came to North America from Australia) during the 1800s. Pyrenean Sheepdogs are thought to have been crossed with different types of Collies while they were in Australia, and were later brought to the United States along with herds of sheep throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. This breed was often used to herd large groups of sheep and cattle, which they excelled at, especially in tight quarters. The popularity of this breed increased along with Western horsemanship after the Second World War. They were often seen in rodeos, horse shows, movies and television programs.