Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is classified as a degeneration of the retina, which will eventually lead to blindness. This is uncommon in Australian Shepherds, but has been seen on rare occasions.
Due to this relatively long list of eye problems that can occur in Australian Shepherds, it is recommended that you ensure that your puppy’s parents have been evaluated and cleared by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for any canine eye problem Results must be registered through the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF).
Needs food or water
It could also mean that your Aussie needs more food or water when handling you.
Many times, when dogs kick us, they try to tell us something and we don’t know what it is.
What the heck is «Coat Blow»?
When spring arrives and the mercury in your thermostat begins to rise, the dog sheds its fur. This allows them to shed most of that undercoat to make it thinner. Now they are ready for summer.
Well, that’s the first coat, but what about the second coat on a double-coated dog? That is known as the top layer. Unlike the shorter, woolier hairs that make up the undercoat, a dog’s top coat has guard hairs.
These hairs are much longer than the undercoat and their functions are also different. The top coat prevents dirt and moisture from settling on the dog’s coat. The top layer is not used for temperature control.
The paw lift of the anxious dog
It is the paw lifts of non-hunting dogs that can be a sign of anxiety, stress and/or fear. I translate this body language into my Dog Decoder smartphone app using illustrations by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings. There are 60 different poses and settings. Each pose features three parts; The pose, information and details about the pose and the star of the application, Diamond:
The pose
Kicking means affection
Depending on the context, it is possible that A dog putting its paw on a person is a way of expressing affection or offering comfort. If you’re petting your dog or sitting nearby and enjoying your bonding time, a paw probably means your dog reciprocates the love.
Studies show that touching, in this case stroking, releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin in both petter and pettee, and in a self-sustaining cycle, the calmer the person, the calmer the dog. There is no explicit «I love you» in this exchange, but the message is literally felt.