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The Western Europe Working Australian Shepherd Club (WEWASC) is an official Affiliated Club of the Australian Shepherd Club Of America, INC. (ASCA).  A non-profit club, WEWASC is an all-European club that has devoted itself to the working/herding Australian Shepherd.  Although the bylaws clearly state that all ASCA programs can be offered by the club, the focus of WEWASC is to promote the working Australian Shepherd.

WEWASC will be offering events like herding clinics and ASCA-sanctioned Stockdog Trials .  We also intend to be a valuable resource by providing a list of places to train a working Aussie, and by providing information and resources to help you work with your dog.

Everyone who is really interested in the herding ability of the Aussie and who is also interested in keeping the Aussie "primarily a working dog" is more than welcome to join us.   Please see our membership application .

If you have any questions, feel free to contact any of the members of the Board of Directors for more information. 

Official Club Objectives :

( bylaws , section 1.5) 

  • To encourage and promote the breeding of purebred Australian Shepherds in such a manner as to bring their natural qualities to the highest degree attainable. It shall strive to  educate and assist all owners of the breed to improve their knowledge of the breed and itīs history.
  • To protect and advance the interest of the Australian Shepherd breed and to encourage ethical breeding practices and sportsmanlike competition at all dog shows and trials.
  • To primarily conduct Stockdog Trials. In addition to conduct Conformation Shows, Obedience Trials, Tracking Tests and other events under the rules and regulations of ASCA.
  • To encourage all breeders to accept the breed standard adopted by ASCA as the only standard of excellence by which the breed shall be judged.
  • To preserve, foster and promote the natural working and herding instinct of the Australian Shepherd through activities and actions sponsored by the WEWASC and its members.

Maybe you ask yourself: why should I join WEWASC?  It is only another club with fees to pay!

The Australian Shepherd Breed Standard says: "The Australian Shepherd (...) is primarily a working dog with strong herding and guardian instincts (...)."   WEWASC is focused on promoting the working dog.

In the past, herding with Aussies was not too popular in Europe.  Using an Australian Shepherd was virtually unheard of.  We can help you learn to use your dog, which is one of the big reasons to get into a club with members who also have Australian Shepherds.  Aussies can be very different from other breeds, and often non-Aussie people have trouble understanding the natural instincts of the working Australian Shepherd.  In WEWASC, you are going to find others who work their Aussies on a daily basis that can help you learn.  You can also compete in the ASCA Stockdog Program, and compete for titles. 

If you have an Australian Shepherd and but don't have livestock, maybe you are wondering why you should bother taking lessons on livestock or finding out if your dog has herding instinct.  Because of our limited gene pool and very few numbers of breeding animals to choose from, it is extremely important that we know about the instincts of every dog possible.  It will help breeders make decisions in the long run about preserving the working instinct in the breed.  Plus, it offers the absolute BEST and FAVORITE thing to your working dog...the opportunity to work, to do the job they were born to do.  Dogs and handlers often experience extreme satisfaction by participating in herding, even if they live in an apartment and will never need to use that skill in a real-life situation.  Plus, it's another place for you to compete and possibly earn titles with your dog.  WEWASC offers goals and fun for you and your dog, even if you aren't a farmer.

One of the best "side effects" of joining WEWASC is that you will meet numerous other people who are having a great time with their working Australian Shepherds.  It can open up a whole new population of like-minded friends and acquaintances to the human side of the dog/handler team. 

 It will be worth it!

 
Updated: 24.05.2006