I bred Aussies for many years. Long before they were AKC recognized and in fact got away from the Aussies shortly after they were accepted into the AKC Misc. group. Not because AKC recognized them, but rather due to divorce. My last Aussie died in 2000 at the age of 14.
When I first began with the Aussies there wasn't really much differentiation between working and show Aussies. The working dogs were showing in conformation and the show dogs were competing in Stock Trials.
I do watch the Aussies from time to time at the AKC shows and see much more coat then days past and the dogs seem (to me anyway) to be getting a bit bigger. They also seem to have gone in the same direction as the dobes have as far as angles as well. I recently attended an Aussie Specialty in Kalamazoo, as the judged were a father/daughter team that were friend of mine in California. In fact they bred one of my bitches. I saw more Aussies over driving in the rear than I ever remember seeing before. In fact, it was rare to see an Aussie with so much rear angulation that they would overdrive their front. But, I have seen the same in the Dobes, including my own... much more rear angulation. Better fronts, but overdone rears.
Anyway -- one of the things that attracted me to Aussies is their intelligence and temperaments that IMO were/are very much like a Doberman. I grew up with Dobermans, so the Aussie was an easy addition for me. They were fabulous family dogs and I didn't find them to be anymore drivey or active than my Dobes. Easily as intelligent as Dobes, but in my experience, less manipulative and less apt to take advantage. Example: every Dobe I have ever owned was not only smart enough to learn whatever I chose to teach them, but was also smart enough to know when I couldn't enforce it. Used to be I never allowed dogs on my furniture, never, ever, not once. But, leave the Dobes home alone and you would come home to everybody greeting you at the door and it would be obvious that they were sleeping on the couch and/or loveseat. Warm cushions and little black hairs are a dead giveaway! NEVER had that with the Aussies.
The last Dobe I had before Wheeler, would lay down during the long sit in the Open Obed class -- because after all, I wasn't there and couldn't "get" him. But, I would return and he would be as I left him. Then, of course I learned that he had layed down and was this DQ'd. NEVER had that happen with an Aussie.
My Aussies were just as easy to train, but actually listened better than my Dobes and there was much less trying to get away with stuff.
Yes Aussies shed, but it is, again IMO, much easier to deal with than Dobe hair. Dobe hair weaves itself into everything -- Aussie hair doesn't -- it just vacuums up. As far as grooming, a bath now and then and a weekly brushing was all it took to keep them looking spiffy. Brambles, stickers and such weren't really an issue. Aussies don't have a soft coat, their outer coat is rather coarse (or should be) and sheds brush and brambles as well as water quite well. I honestly don't ever remember having issues with burrs and such.
For the show ring there is some trimming, but relatively minimal. Feet, a bit around the ears and a tiny on the back legs, but that is about it. Whiskers aren't normally trimmed on these guys and many compete as stock dogs, or actually work as stock dogs at home.
My Aussies were great with kids, great with people -- although several were a bit reserved with strangers initially, but much like Wheeler would warm up after a few minutes. I had 2 intact male Aussies and a neutered Male Dobe, and never had a hint of a problem (we did keep the boys separate when one of the girls was in heat). In general I didn't find Aussies to be dog aggressive. We also had Cats, birds, a pet rat, rabbits and horses .... No issues.
I love Aussies and I had a real difficult time deciding whether it was going to be Aussies or Dobes this time around and I will definitely have another Aussie one day.
Here's a few old photos for you.
ASCA CH Hisaw's Hunnie Bear, CD,CDX, ATD-d,s (aka Honey)
AKC/ASCA CH Gingerbred's Felony Blackmale (aka Romeo), going BOB and his daughter, going BOBP and went on to become
ASCA CH Divinity's Call Me the Breeze (aka Breezy). Oh and that is Me with the puppy.
AKC/ASCA CH Gingerbred's Felony Blackmale (aka Romeo)
ASCA CH Divinity's Promises for Devynne (aka Bailey. A Romeo x Hunnie daughter)
AKC/ASCA CH Divinity's Three Cheers for Gingerbred (aka Copper. Copper is Bailey's son)