Jasmine, good link to that site. I did some poking around and came across their Puppy Raising page. Here's one of their six goals:

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Our dogs can be reserved. Some are reserved ,others not at all. We do not want too much of it because we want our dogs be able to react normally in daily life situations.

That sums up my desire pretty well. Maybe I'll see this out of Suzzie more as she matures.

Ingrid, I didn't get her from a shelter. I have a friend from church that had her, but didn't want to keep her. My friend couldn't find a new home for her and I was in the market for a dog, so I took her. My friend says Suzzie is a full-blood Aussie given to her from a friend of hers who's a breeder (assuming BYB). Her friend the breeder has since moved. Suzzie was the last puppy she had and didn't want to move with the pup and that's why it was given to my friend. Make sense? No, not really. To complicate matters, my friend is mentally/developmentally challenged and doesn't communicate very well. So when I've asked about Suzzie's parents I haven't gotten anywhere. My friend says that Suzzie was born with a naturally docked tail.

I did an image search on google for english shepherds. They are very close to an aussie. Several pics looked a lot more like Suzzie than others. It's really hard to say.

Your dog is very likely a purebred Aussie, especially if she's a bobtail. If you suspect she is backyard bred, depending on how many generations, it could account for her lack of drive (but then again, so could her age).

Here is an excellent discussion of coat colour inheritance in Aussies. They have a very wide variety of colour combinations. Here is the link to black http://www.ashgi.org/color/black_aussies.htm (Not as many colours as the catahoula, but a lot!) Solid black and bi-colour are common.

As for the friendliness, generally with dogs that are supposed to be standoffish (with dogs or people), that does not show up until maturity.

You will notice as she gets to around 14-18 months old, *if* she has that propensity, she will start becoming less excited and friendly toward strangers.

When will we see updated pics of her?

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Your dog is very likely a purebred Aussie, especially if she's a bobtail.

Agreed. I don't know about English Shepherds, but many Aussies are born with natural bobtails (although some are docked).

Do you think they way a puppy is raised could effect her drive?
Maybe the Aussie's drive was never stimulated, or discouraged. I have an adopted dog Bindi and she never played so she didn't know a thing about toys and fun when I got her. I had to work hard at let her know she could romp and have fun. Even now, she isn't much for toys like my other dogs. Of course she spent most of her life before I got her not playing but being in a shelter or foster home. She will play but rarely. She has high drive which sounds funny , show her the stuffed rabbit I use on the flirt pole and she goes nuts!!!
Maybe after time your new dog will relax, feel at home and be herself.

I've met some Aussies who were reserved around strangers and it seemed to be a pain to deal with. However, I have talked to people who prefer the reserved attitude.

I think you're right that you'll see it more out of Suzzie as she matures. Keiko is another one of those "OMG! PERSON! HI!" dogs but as she matures, I've noticed that she's increasingly more interested in me. Or at least once she has said hi to them, she's content and she's more interested in what I want to do or playing with me. She has even begun to ignore some people.

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Right now I think I'd be happy to work on stronger OB with faster compliance for sit, down, come and a good stay. If I could get a good down away and fetch this by this winter that'd be ideal.

Just remember - baby steps! She is still a pup and they have short attention spans. If you keep working consistently with her, I'm sure you'll notice a change by the time she is a year old.

My Border Collie had no interest in chasing a toy or retriving when I got him at 20 m/o. I played very short, very exciting games of squeaky ball with him to build interest. By short I mean about a minute before ending the game and putting him up. But I put alot of energy into that minute to make it very exciting. Within a couple weeks he would play for a few minutes and within a month or so he was a ball chasing feind. He also loves frisbee and tug now.

My dogs are very active, but also have a great off switch. They do not at all fit the description that most people think of when they think "border collie". Yes, they need work to do and mental stimulation, but they don't need to be constantly going and are quite good at chilling when I tell them to. It could quite possibly be that Susie will be perfectly happy just being an acitive family pet

I have met aussies who have fit this description, but I personally have never owned one. Most of the aussies who I have met who fit this description aren't over the top reserved of strangers, but rather just give a warning bark and seem to be fine with the person after the owner does the meet and greet. But again, your dog is a puppy and this will come when your girl is older.

And as for your dog loving strangers, my girl who is now going on 8 months is the same way. She just likes anyone who comes near her and she would like to meet them. The only difference is, I have followed the nobody pets my dog but me rule. Only the trainer at my club has ever handled her besides me, but she has never been discouraged by rejection from everyone else. She is a stubborn little thing. I must say though that from when she was little until now, she tries just a little bit less and I'm sure when she gets older, all of this will be different. I'm just enjoying the ride for now as I didn't have this luxury with her sister(same breeding different litter) with whom was the exact opposite.

-Lamarr