What does ASS mean in VETERINARY

An American Show Shepherd, or ASS, is a hybrid of the German Shepherd Dog and the Australian Shepherd. It is a medium-sized dog with an athletic build and a friendly personality. This breed is often used for conformation shows, performance activities such as agility and obedience, and also as family companions.

American Show Shepherds typically range in size from 18-25 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh anywhere between 40-80 pounds when fully grown.

American Show Shepherds come in a variety of colors including black & tan, sable & white, red & black, blue merle, tricolor (red & white), solid black and solid silver. Some individuals may also have copper points or facial mask markings.

With good care and genetics taken into account, most ASSs can live up to 12-15 years old although some may only live 8-10 years depending on health issues.

Yes! When given proper training and socialization from an early age, ASSs make wonderful family pets due to their intelligence, loyalty and protective nature. However it is important to note that due to their herding instincts these dogs should never be left unsupervised with small children in case of accidental nipping or jumping up behaviours.

Yes! As part of their inherent makeup they are naturally alert to changes in their environment so will bark or act differently if they sense any potential danger. But this does not mean that they should be kept outside as guard dogs since they thrive best when living inside as member of the family.

Unfortunately yes - like many breeds of purebred dogs there are certain health conditions known to affect them more frequently than others such as hip dysplasia, eye problems and autoimmune diseases. Responsible breeding practices aimed at reducing these risks should ultimately help keep numbers down but it's always wise to check your breeder's history carefully before purchasing one.

Not necessarily - standard items such as food dishes, leash harnesses/collars and toys will all be needed but depending on activities you wish to pursue with your pet then you might wish to invest in additional items such as agility tunnels or scent articles for tracking work.

Although grooming requirements vary between individual dogs - generally speaking - routine brushing coupled with occasional bathing will suffice for most specimens of this breed although much longer coats will require more frequent attention than shorter ones.