Also known as: Aussie

Description: Powerful yet not cumbersome with a smooth, free and easy gait. Very bouncy and well balanced. Length slightly greater than height. Medium in size, solid and muscular. Come in various colours.

Temperament: Good, but won't be told off by other dogs. Strong-willed and determined. Expression is alert, keen and friendly. Highly intelligent and good-natured. Can be reserved with strangers.

Advantages as an agility dog:

• Above all fun loving dogs that like to work for their masters. They do tend in general to work closer to the handler than BCs and seem to check in more with the handler than Collies do.

• Good jumpers and powerful.

• They have a long working life, natural sense of balance and do not mind what the weather is like, hot, cold or damp.

Disadvantages as an agility dog:

• Might lack some of the speed of Collie.

• Can be over keen, have a tendency to try and take control, very mouthy.

• They do have lots of aggression but, if trained properly and channelled, that aggression could prove its worth on the Agility course.

Rating out of 10: 8/10

Examples of dogs that have done well in agility: Denise Moon with Mogi (Accra L. Eagle) has won over 23 trophies and has qualified for four major finals as well as Agility Eye national Starter Dog of the Year. Other handlers who are doing well include Mandie Gibson, Bill Metcalf, Steve Rose, Alan Score, Georgina Stout and Ruth Summerley.

What's it like to live with as a pet: Excellent guard dog and very good to live with. Extremely affectionate and loyal. It makes a good pet as long as it has plenty of exercise and something to do with its brain. Aussies do want to be Top Dog but in general they get on very well with other dogs you may have in your pack and they like children.

Sources: Mandie Gibson, Steve Rose, Alan Score & Kimberly Olson

From Jacqui Brown
I too have a red merle Aussie 'vertical take off machine' - great photos!