The Australian Shepherd started out as a working dog. Today, this is still the case for the majority, but they have embarked on a type of work other than breeding. The Australian's versatility is remarkable. Today's Aussie is an active, intelligent companion who needs stimulation and activity. There are very few dog breeds that can perform as many different tasks as the Australian Shepherd. The breed's trainability, intelligence, common sense, and problem-solving abilities, combined with a medium-sized build, easy-to-maintain coat, strong willingness to work, and incredible loyalty make it a excellent companion for work and play. Australian Shepherd, also known as Spanish Shepherd, New Mexican Shepherd, or California Shepherd, herding dog breed developed in the United States (Encarta). Its ancestors were likely Australian dogs bred to guard livestock (Braund 106). Shepherds who emigrated from the Basque region of Spain to the United States had these dogs shipped to California when the United States imported sheep from Australia in the 19th century (Palika 23). The history of the West in the late 1800s is filled with fables, and the story of the Australian Shepherd during this period is no exception. Leaving aside the romance of the Wild West, most people who moved west in the 1800s modestly dreamed of starting a new life, purchasing land where they could raise a family (Palika 19). Although the story of this time comes from diaries and some personal photographs showing a dog resembling the Australian Shepherd (Palika 19). The Wild West needed a loyal, protective, easy-to-train sheepdog, and the Australian Shepherd was the perfect fit. Jay Sisler, a talented dog trainer from Idaho, had Australians before the breed was well known as the Australian Shepherd (Sisler 3). He acquired Keno, his first “blue dog,” as he called them, in 1939 (Palika 34). Sisler spent twenty years traveling with his “blue dogs,” performing at rodeos and wowing people with the tricks his wonderfully trained dogs could perform (Sisler 4). Sisler's dogs gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. They stood, balanced on bars, jumped rope, climbed ladders and much more (Palika 34). Their actions greatly increased interest in the breed. Sisler's Shorty (1948-1959) sired many of the breed's most important foundation strains (Sisler Appendix B). It was a beautiful blue merle. He was the star of Sisler's act for many years and a Walt Disney film, Cowdog, was based on his life and talents (Palika 35).