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Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Information Center

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What’s In This Guide

If you’ve been thinking about welcoming an Australian shepherd dog into your home, you’ve come to the right place.

Australian Shepherd FAQs

Check out our readers’ most frequently asked questions about the Australian Shepherd.

In this complete guide, we’ll be discussing the Australian Shepherd’s characteristics, temperament, training, lifespan, health and much more!

Breed At A Glance

  • Popularity:17th most popular dog in the USA
  • Purpose: Herding
  • Weight:50-60lbs
  • Temperament:Active, clever, devoted

Australian Shepherds are fondly known as Aussies by those who love them. Let’s take a closer look at this charismatic breed!

Australian Shepherd Breed Review: Contents

Contrary to popular belief, Australian shepherds are not from the Australian continent. Let’s look at where they came from

History and original purpose of the Australian Shepherd

The Aussie originated in the Basque region of Europe, accompanied emigrating Europeans to Australia and arrived in America from down under with pioneering Australian settlers.

They quickly became the dog of choice for ranchers and cowboys in the emerging communities of the American Wild West. And are still popular farm dogs today

The Aussie’s popularity as an active pet has grown in recent years, and they are now one of the top twenty most popular breeds in America

australian shepherd dog

Fascinating facts about the Australian Shepherd

  • Some Aussies are born with a bobtail – a naturally short tail.
  • The Australian Shepherd Club of America was founded in 1957. And the British Australian Shepherd Dog Club was founded in 1986.
  • Two merle Aussies must never be bred together as double merle puppies can be blind and or deaf
  • The Australian Shepherd became part of the American Kennel Club’s herding group in 1993
  • An Aussie won best in show at Crufts in 2006
  • Unusual eye colors are common in the breed and Aussies can have eyes of different colors (heterochromia)
  • An Aussie called Holster won the Masters Agility Championship in 2016
  • Amanda Seyfried and Steven Spielberg are both Aussie owners

Let us know if you have any fascinating facts about Aussies to add to this section!

Australian Shepherd appearance

Australian Shepherds stand anywhere between 18 and 23 inches tall.

Typically, males weigh between 50 and 65 pounds, while females are slightly smaller, at between 40 and 55 pounds.

The coat is medium length, with some feathering on legs, chest, and tail. The Australian shepherd has a double coat—a straight or wavy outer coat that is weather-resistant, and a soft, dense undercoat.

The outer coat keeps hot or cool air from reaching the dog’s body, while the dense undercoat traps warm air between their bodies and their environment.

Traditionally the Australian Shepherd was a docked breed but the practice of docking is dying out, and in many areas including the UK, is now banned for most breeds

The Australian shepherd comes in four main colors: blue merle, red, red merle, and black.

Their eyes, which are perhaps their most striking feature, range in color from blue, to amber, to brown.

Australian Shepherd temperament

Along with the other sheepdog breeds, Australian shepherds belong to the herding group.

Generally, dogs in this group have a strong instinctive drive to herd, and are very energetic.

Alert, intelligent, and fiercely loyal, the Australian shepherd dog’s temperament is well-suited to an active life.

Are Australian Shepherds affectionate?

This is a very affectionate and devoted breed. But there is a downside

As they love to play with, and be with, their owners, so leaving an Australian shepherd alone at home for long periods of time is not a good idea.

Aussies can become anxious and develop behavioural problems if left alone for long periods of time
australian shepherd colors

Are Australian Shepherds aggressive?

Initially, the Australian shepherd can be a bit aloof when meeting strangers.

Once they feel comfortable around someone, however, they can be very protective and make excellent watch dogs.

In any dog this tendency to guard or protect can spill over into aggression if the dog is not thoroughly socialized. We’ll look at socialization in a moment

Australian Shepherds are an intelligent breed and have been successfully trained as guide dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, as well as therapy and service dogs.

All that intelligence and energy needs an outlet though. So training and activities are a must for this breed

Training and exercising your Australian Shepherd

Like many herding dogs, Australian Shepherds can be protective and reserved with strangers. Without proper socialisation, that reservation can tip over into nervousness or aggression.

All puppies need to be socialized but it is crucial that your Australian shepherd is socialized early and very thoroughly to prevent unwanted aggressiveness or fear.

This means taking your Aussie pup everywhere with you, and exposing them to lots of new experiences in the first three months of their lives.

You’ll also need to obedience train your puppy and in general, Australian Shepherds thrive in a training environment.

They love to learn,are very eager-to-please, highly intelligent, and will gladly perform a task until it’s done.

As with other dogs, they respond very well to positive reinforcement, clicker training.

All of the principles of good dog training—consistency, good communication, and teaching according to how dogs learn—will apply here.

How much exercise does an Aussie need?

To keep them from channeling their pent-up energy by destroying your home, Australian shepherds need at least 30 minutes of intense exercise a day.

This could come in the form of agility training, flyball, as a companion on your morning run, or playing frisbee in your yard.

If jogging is your thing your Aussie will be glad to accompany you. And they will soak up any training that you can offer them.

This can be as simple as teaching them to put their toys away or as useful as teaching them to load dirty laundry into the washing machine as demonstrated by Emmi in the video below

Even better, get involved in a sport or activity like agility.

Essentially to really make your Australian shepherd dog happy, make sure they have a job to do, something that will occupy their mind as well as their body!

Australian Shepherd health and care

The Australian shepherd is a well constructed dog. However, the breed is prone to hip dysplasia.

This is a heritable condition in which the hip joint fails to develop properly.

While passed down from parent to puppy, hip dysplasia is also exacerbated by conditions such as obesity, inadequate nutrition, and irregular growth.

Australian shepherds may also be prone to a blood clotting disorder called Von Willebrand’s disease.

Dogs with this disease lack the necessary adhesive glycoprotein in their blood to help it clot properly, and may suffer excessive bleeding after trauma or medical procedures.

Australian shepherds can suffer from thyroid disease. It is very common in this breed and can be associated with Von Willebrand’s disease.

The typical signs of this autoimmune disorder are unexplained weight gain, skin conditions, and a tendency to seek heat.

Australian Shepherd Life Expectancy

Various sources claim that the Australian shepherd dog lives to between 12 and 15 years of age. A study published in the UK in 2010 put the median age of death at 9 years. It was a small sample (22 deaths) of dogs and the leading cause of death was cancer (31%)

Lifespan will vary according to nutrition and other environmental factors. You can help give your dog the best chance of a long life by keeping them slim and active

And if you are choosing a puppy, look for a reputable breeder that carries out all the necessary health tests and breeds from lines of dog that generally live to a ripe old age

Australian Shepherd Shedding

The Australian shepherd dog is very prone to shedding.

In order to keep this shedding to a minimum and maintain a healthy coat and skin, you’ll need to brush your Australian shepherd dog at least once a week with a slicker brush and an undercoat rake.

Depending on the climate, an Australian shepherd’s undercoat can vary in thickness.

If not properly groomed and cared for, it can become tangled and a nightmare to brush.

As it is so dense, infrequent brushing, and the pooch’s tendency to play in grass and the outdoors, can leave the undercoat very matted. Regular brushing should avoid too much matting close to the skin.

But, should larger matts occur, you may need to take your dog to a professional groomer.

Shaving or close clipping is not recommended.This is because the double coat won’t grow back in the same way, and there is a high chance it won’t keep the dog as warm or cool.

Do Australian Shepherds make good family pets

Aussies can make brilliant pets in the right homes but are not suitable for all families. Due to their high energy levels, Australian shepherds need a job to do or plenty of physical exercise to prevent behavioral issues.

Before you adopt a full grown Aussie, consider whether you can provide the necessary mental and physical stimulation.

If you cannot commit to at least 30 minutes of daily intense exercise for your Aussie, and are not very interested in dog training, and activities, you may wish to explore other breeds.

Rescuing an Australian Shepherd Dog

To avoid the work of housebreaking and offering a new chance to an older dog, you could consider an Australian shepherd rescue from an animal shelter.
Our complete guide to the Australian Shepherd - A dog breed guide.

As with looking for reputable breeders, your veterinarian is always a good place to start here.

The Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline is a non-profit organization that rescues Australian shepherds and helps potential owners.

Australian Shepherd Breeders

If you’re looking for a reputable breeder, you can ask your veterinarian if they know any local to your area.

When you’re looking at a potential breeder, make sure to observe both of the puppy’s parents.

In doing so, you’ll be better able to assess your potential puppy’s size and temperament.

Pay close attention to how their puppies interact with one another.

Make sure that both parents have undergone health checks and that the puppy has had the required shots.

This should avoid buying a puppy with a predisposition to genetic disorders common to Australian shepherds. You can find a comprehensive guide to choosing a puppy on this website. Unless you are very experienced we recommend you read it before visiting a litter

Please do not buy your Australian shepherd from a pet shop that sources their dogs from a puppy mill.

Although the price may be cheaper, these puppies may have grown up in extremely cramped and inhumane conditions.

This may lead to health and behavioral problems down the road.

Australian Shepherd Puppies

If you want to buy an Australian shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder, you can expect to spend at least $1,600 for each puppy.

 

The Perfect Companion For Life With A New Puppy

 

Before you take the puppy home, make sure to spend a bit of time with its parents.

By observing the parents, you’ll be able to more accurately gauge your new puppy’s temperament.

All puppies should be subject to a vet check before they leave their breeders’ home.

Australian shepherd pups should also have hip, elbow, and ophthalmologist screening for some of the breed’s common health conditions.

Some prospective puppy buyers look for an Australian Shepherd Mix rather than a purebred dog. The idea is that this will help avoid some of the health issues associated with the smaller gene pool of the pedigree dog

There are pros and cons to choosing a mix breed over a purebred dog. And it’s worth reading our breed mix reviews for the whole story

Popular Australian Shepherd breed mixes

Some of the most popular Australian Shepherd Mixes are listed below

There are some clever dogs in those mixes!

Australian Shepherd products and accessories

You’ll want to feed your Aussie a high quality food suited to their active lifestyle and weight

If you are still undecided as to whether or not the Aussie is the breed for you, here is some help!

Pros And Cons of Getting An Australian Shepherd

Cons: Without exercise and mental stimulation, Australian shepherds can quickly become bored. This may lead to constant barking and chewing up your furniture. And, as they were bred to herd livestock, they may try this with small children, animals, and even cars if they are bored.

Australian shepherds can become suspicious and fearful if not properly socialized. Despite the breed’s typical confidence and self-assurance, a poorly socialized dog may be reluctant to interact with strangers. In the most extreme cases, this fear and timidity can lead to aggressive behavior or fear aggression.

So for owners who have small children, or are out at work all day, the Aussie is not a great choice.

Pros: This is a lively intelligent and very trainable breed that can provide the right family with a huge amount of fun. At the same time the Aussie will be a good watchdog and a loyal companion. For very active families with older children, this breed is worth considering. In homes where there is someone at home for part of the day, or that can afford a place in a good doggy daycare center the Aussie should be happy. And in homes where there is also someone interested in some kind of dog sport and activity, this could be a great choice

Similar Breeds

Many of the herding breeds are similar in temperament and energy to one another. You might also want to consider:

Do you have an Australian Shepherd? We’d love to hear about them. Share your story in the comments section below!

Australian Shepherd Breed Rescues

A list of breed rescues in USA, UK, Australia and Canada

If you would like to be added to this list, just drop your organisation’s name into the comments box below

References And Resources

 

Comments

  1. I had two rescues. Two of the best dogs I ever had. Both were great watchdogs as well. Nothing happened they didn’t know about.

    Reply

  2. It’s awesome that this article talked about Australian Shepherd. I love how you mentioned that they make great guard and watchdogs, are incredibly loyal, intelligent, and are gentle with younger children. The latter part is the most important aspect for me as I have a 5-year old granddaughter at home.

    Reply

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