Dog breed

Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd, or Aussie, is a medium-sized herding dog with a striking, often marbled coat and a sharp, intelligent gaze. Despite its name, the breed took shape in the United States, on ranches and at rodeos. It is a workaholic with a big need for exercise and tasks, affectionate with its family and eager to learn.

FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 342

Weight: 18–29 kg
Height: 46–58 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: United States

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Trickdog-Fina, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

An Aussie always has a plan. It watches the household, quickly learns daily routines and throws itself into every activity, from running alongside a bike to learning new tricks. It is warm with its family and usually sizes up strangers from a distance before making friends. The herding instinct can be obvious: some Aussies round up children, circle running dogs or nip at heels, which should be gently redirected into ball games or training. The breed is sensitive and responds well to praise, but it handles boredom badly. Left with nothing to do, an Aussie barks, digs and invents its own projects. It usually gets along with other dogs and can live peacefully with the family cat if it learns from puppyhood that the cat is not for herding.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Australian Shepherd for?

An Aussie is a good choice for an active person or family who loves spending time outdoors and wants to train with their dog: sports, long hikes, trick training. An ambitious beginner can manage one with the help of a training school. I would not recommend it to people who work long hours away from home, hate dog hair on their clothes, or want a dog for short strolls around the block.

Pros

very smart and eager to work with you
good with children
excellent for dog sports
long-lived

Challenges

huge need for physical and mental exercise
heavy shedding
instinct to herd people and animals
copes poorly with boredom and being alone

Size and looks

Size and looks: Australian Shepherd
Height at the withers	males 51–58 cm, females 46–53 cm
Weight	males 23–29 kg, females 18–25 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	medium
Colors	blue merle, black, red merle, red, with white and/or copper markings
Country of origin	United States
Classification	Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Also known as	Aussie

Care and exercise

120–180minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

An Australian Shepherd needs more than two hours of activity a day, ideally combining exercise with thinking. It thrives in agility, obedience, disc dog, treibball or herding sheep; an ordinary leash walk will not tire it out. Ten to fifteen minutes of trick training or a scent game every day makes a big difference to how calm it is at home. Training comes easily because Aussies love to cooperate, but watch that your dog does not become obsessed with the ball; mix fetch with other tasks. The medium-length double coat needs brushing 2–3 times a week, and daily during shedding; it mats especially easily behind the ears and on the trousers. Aussies handle cold weather well, but in summer limit hard exercise in the heat. Do not give your dog any medication without consulting a vet if you do not know its MDR1 test result.

How much should the Australian Shepherd eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Australian Shepherd is a long-lived breed: in a British study the median lifespan was 13.7 years, and the AKC gives 12–15 years. The main problems are genetic and can be managed with testing. The MDR1 mutation means that some drugs, including certain parasite treatments, can cause serious neurological symptoms. The breed is also affected by hereditary cataracts (HSF4), progressive retinal atrophy, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Merle coloring is a separate issue: the UK Kennel Club points out that two copies of the merle gene increase the risk of hearing and vision disorders, which is why responsible breeders never pair two merle dogs.

MDR1 mutation (sensitivity to certain drugs)Dogs with the mutation tolerate some drugs poorly, including some parasite treatments; your vet should know the test result.
hereditary cataracts (HSF4)Clouding of the lens that appears in young dogs; a DNA test is available.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-prcd)Gradual loss of vision; a DNA test detects carriers.
hip and elbow dysplasiaA developmental joint defect; both parents should have X-ray results.
hearing and vision defects in double merlesBreeding merle to merle raises the risk of deafness and eye defects in puppies that inherit two copies of the gene.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
MDR1 DNA test
HSF4 DNA test
PRA-prcd DNA test

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed's name is misleading. The Aussie's ancestors were European herding dogs, and the FCI standard links the name to Basque shepherds who came to the United States by way of Australia with their flocks of sheep in the 19th century. The breed itself was developed in the US, where American cattle and sheep ranchers spent decades selecting for agile, tough and clever dogs. After World War II the Aussie's popularity grew along with the fashion for Western riding, and the dogs appeared at rodeos, horse shows and in films. The FCI recognized the breed, with a standard published in 2009. Today Aussies work livestock, compete in dog sports and live as companions.

Fun facts

Aussies can have brown, blue, amber or odd-colored eyes, and the standard also allows flecks and marbling in the iris.
Some Australian Shepherds are born with a naturally short tail; according to the standard, it should not exceed 10 cm.
The breed is named after Basque shepherds who reached the US from Australia, not after the place where the breed was developed.
The UK Kennel Club lists the Aussie among breeds in which merle coloring has long been established.

Frequently asked questions

Do Australian Shepherds shed a lot?

Yes, quite a lot. They have a double coat with a dense undercoat that sheds year-round and blows out heavily twice a year. Brushing 2–3 times a week cuts down on hair around the house and prevents mats behind the ears.

Can an Australian Shepherd live in an apartment?

It can, if it gets more than two hours of exercise and mental work every day and learns to settle down. An apartment without a yard is no problem for an active owner, but a bored Aussie in an apartment building will soon start barking and chewing things up.

How long do Australian Shepherds live?

On average 12–15 years. A large British study of purebred dog lifespans found a median of 13.7 years, which places the Aussie among the breeds with good longevity.

What is the MDR1 test for Australian Shepherds?

It is a DNA test that detects a mutation that makes it harder for the dog to clear certain drugs from the brain. A dog with this mutation can react to normal doses of some medications with seizures or a coma. Share the result with your veterinarian.

How much does a Australian Shepherd weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 23–29 kg, females 18–25 kg. Height at the withers: 46–58 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.