Oh my, you must see this litter of puppies that came from a high kill shelter.  Picasso and his siblings are gorgeous Aussie / Border Collie mixes.  This is my favorite mixed breed dog and they make wonderful pets.

 

However, they are very high energy so would be best in an active home.  If they don't have enough activity, they will find something to do and that typically leads to trouble.

 

Foster Update 03/09/10: Picasso is such a darling, he is a green-eyed beauty! Once you see this little guy your heart will melt. He is timid and shy and just loves being held, he will happily curl up with you on the couch or in bed. He is quite content playing by himself but don't let that fool you, he has no problem keeping up with his siblings. He loves darting in and out of bushes and pouncing on anything he can find. He especially loves chasing a bouncing tennis ball. He enjoys my older dogs, he's making good progress housetraining and walking on a leash. He is a special little pup!

 

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, despite the misleading name, the Australian Shepherd is not Australian at all, but was developed entirely in the U.S. to work as a herding dog on ranches. It is possible that the name was derived from one of the dog's ancestors. The breed's principal forebears were most likely Spanish dogs that accompanied the Basque shepherds and herds of fine Merino sheep exported to both America and Australia in the early days of the colonies. At some point it probably crossed with Collie stock. It has only recently gained recognition as a distinct breed. Its many talents include, retrieving, herding, watchdogging, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, search & rescue, agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks. Australian Shepherds are easy going, perpetual puppies that love to play. Courageous, loyal and affectionate, they are excellent children's companions that are great with active children. A devoted friend and guardian, for they are naturally protective. Very lively, agile and attentive - they are eager to please, with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. Though aggressive when at work with livestock, the Aussie is gentle with human friends. Australian Shepherds needs lots of exercise and a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and easily bored. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without exercise. They are naturally suspicious of strangers, so they should be well socialized as puppies. Working lines of Australian Shepherds may be too energetic to be suitable pets. Some like to nip people's heals in an attempt to herd them. They are quiet workers, unlike some breeds, which are bred to bark constantly at livestock. This breed is not usually dog aggressive. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. This breed is often sensitive to ivermectin; however, the dosage for heartworm preventive is considered safe. Be warned that higher doses of Ivermectin are also used to treat mange and caution should be taken.