Aussalier Dog Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The Aussalier is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved.

Cavaliers are descended from the toy spaniels depicted in many 16th, 17th, and 18th century paintings by famous artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. Used as a hunting dog, the athletic Cavalier was bred for both work and the ability to curl up on a lap at the end of the day. However, the breed itself is fairly new. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the UKC in 1945, after much pushing from devoted breeders and fans. However, American Cavalier fans still had to wait longer before the breed became popular or recognized in the US. In 1954, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created, the official breed club and only registering body for Cavaliers in the United States for more than fifty years.  The AKC officially recognized the breed in March 1995 — meaning that the breed has been able to be registered in the US for less than thirty years.

Despite the Australian Shepherd’s misleading name, the breed originated fairly recently in the western United States.  It’s likely that the Aussie’s ancestors include collie and shepherd-type dogs that were imported from Australia during the 1840s, leading to their ‘Australian’ name. Although the breed is prized both for their ability as working sheepherding dogs and talented agility participants, the breed wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1993.