A Muddy Blue Merle Aussie Stares Up From a Snow-White Rug
Muddy paw prints trail across a fluffy white rug, and at the end of them lies a blue merle Australian Shepherd with wide eyes and a coat plastered with soil. His speckled gray fur is matted and wet, dirt streaks his muzzle, and one pale blue eye stares at you while the other seems to look through you. Behind him, a tipped terra-cotta pot spills soil and a trailing plant across the floor.
The room is bright and calm, with a gray couch, a white door, and a pale wood floor. We'll call him Mudpie. He is sitting in the exact center of the rug as if he decided it was the best place to explain himself.
Australian Shepherds are energetic, intelligent herding dogs that love to run, dig, and explore, so a muddy day is rarely a surprise. Their medium-length double coat sheds a lot and picks up debris, so regular brushing helps, and a bath after a messy outing is a good idea. Use a dog shampoo and avoid human products, which can irritate their skin. Toppled houseplants are a safety issue too, since many common plants are toxic to dogs, so call your vet if you think he chewed one. Keep him busy with training games, fetch, and puzzle toys, and provide plenty of outdoor exercise. A bored Aussie often finds a way to make his own fun.
Mudpie lies still on the white rug, wide-eyed and covered in earth, a very honest portrait of a very busy dog.
