The Australian Shepherd, often known simply as the 'Aussie', is a medium-sized breed of dog that was, despite its name, developed on ranches in the United States during the 19th century. There is disagreement regarding the exact history of the breed prior to its arrival in the United States, and thus no official consensus on the origin of its name or association with Australia. While they continue to work as stock dogs and compete in herding trials, they have earned recognition in other roles due to their trainability and eagerness to please and are highly regarded for their skills in obedience. With the coat being somewhat long and wavy or curly, this breed does shed, mostly in the spring to get rid of the winter coat.