Koa the Aussie-Lab's sister, Champagne the Puppy (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Koa the Aussie-Lab's brother, Night Night the Aussie Puppy (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Koa the Aussie-Lab's sister, Topaz the Aussie Puppy (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Description:

Koa was adopted from from us in May 2009 as a puppy and was recently returned for anxiety and fearful issues. He is protective and fearful of new people but warms up to new people quickly. Koa likes to be sang to when he's nervous.  He will need an experenced owner, in a home with no small children as he scares easily. He is socialized with dogs and could go to a multi dog home. Koa is a special boy and needs a special owner!

Koa knows how to sit, high five, shake, and lay down.  Everyone here at the shelter loves Koa and says he's a gentleman on a leash.

The mother was an Aussie and the father....well, who knows.  They all kind of look like they could be mixed with a Golden Retriever or maybe a lab. 

Foster Update 8.3.11: He is the perfect dog. He takes some tiem getting used to people, but when he does he is yours forever. He loves to play and is a great walker. Koa has had no accidents in the house. He is warmer to women than men. He LOVES the dog park too. We take him there about once or twice a week and it's his heaven. He is a social dog.

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, despite the misleading name, the Australian Shepherd is not Australian at all, but was developed entirely in the U.S. to work as a herding dog on ranches. It is possible that the name was derived from one of the dog's ancestors. The breed's principal forebears were most likely Spanish dogs that accompanied the Basque shepherds and herds of fine Merino sheep exported to both America and Australia in the early days of the colonies. At some point it probably crossed with Collie stock. It has only recently gained recognition as a distinct breed. Its many talents include, retrieving, herding, watchdogging, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, search & rescue, agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks. Australian Shepherds are easy going, perpetual puppies that love to play. Courageous, loyal and affectionate, they are excellent children's companions that are great with active children. A devoted friend and guardian, for they are naturally protective. Very lively, agile and attentive - they are eager to please, with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. Though aggressive when at work with livestock, the Aussie is gentle with human friends. Australian Shepherds needs lots of exercise and a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and easily bored. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without exercise. They are naturally suspicious of strangers, so they should be well socialized as puppies. Working lines of Australian Shepherds may be too energetic to be suitable pets. Some like to nip people's heals in an attempt to herd them. They are quiet workers, unlike some breeds, which are bred to bark constantly at livestock. This breed is not usually dog aggressive. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. This breed is often sensitive to ivermectin; however, the dosage for heartworm preventive is considered safe. Be warned that higher doses of Ivermectin are also used to treat mange and caution should be taken.