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. Aussies also do best with plenty of human companionship: they are often called 'Velcro dogs' for their strong desire to always be near their owners and for their tendency to form intense, devoted bonds with select people. With children, they work best with children over the age of eight: this is absolutely not because they do not like children or have a short temper with kids (most are quite friendly to children)