The Australian Shepherd most likely originated in the Basque country between Spain and France. When Basque sheep farmers who had lived in Australia came to the United States in the 1800s, their intelligent, alert and hardworking dogs became known as Australian Shepherds. These strong and agile dogs are completely devoted to their owners. The range of coat colors within this breed is very wide. This 2010 Australian Shepherds wall calendar offers a terrific sampling of this energetic breed.