Australian Shepherds generally come in black, red, blue merle and red merle colours, usually with sections of white on their heads and bodies. Some Australian Shepherds also have copper or tan markings. A black or red dog with copper and white markings is known as tri-coloured and a black or red dog with white patches but no copper is known as bi-coloured.

Origin of the Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd, commonly known as the Aussie, did not in fact originate in Australia, despite its name. In fact, it was bred as a herding dog on ranches in the Western United States, probably after being transported to America and Australia from mainland Europe during colonial times. It was called the Australian Sheepdog after American settlers discovered some of them on boatloads of sheep sent from Australia. Today, the Australian Shepherd excels at sports such as flyball and agility, but is also used for search and rescue, therapy, disaster dogs, detection dogs and guide services.

Sizes of Typical Male and Female Australian Shepherds

Male Australian Shepherds are slightly larger than females, weighing between 23kg and 29kg, compared to the lighter females who weigh between 18kg and 25kg. Male dogs usually measure between 51cm and 58cm at the shoulder, and females average between 46cm and 53cm in height.

Australian Shepherd Temperament

Like its relation, the collie, the Australian Shepherd is a herding dog, and as such is happier working than staying still! They are a very high energy breed, requiring a lot of physical and mental stimulation to stop them developing negative and occasionally destructive behaviours. Aussies are a very loving and devoted breed of dog, often referred to as the ‘Velcro dog’ because of their tendency to stay close by their owner’s side.

Australian Shepherd Coats

Australian Shepherds have medium texture coats, which vary from straight to slightly wavy. They also have an undercoat, the thickness of which is dependent on the season – it grows thicker in the winter months, then sheds to avoid overheating in the summer. As such, the Australian Shepherd requires a reasonable amount of grooming to prevent tangling which can become painful if allowed to penetrate the undercoat. A good quality dual-texture brush (wire bristles and soft bristles) is an essential when you bring an Australian Shepherd into your home.

Exercise Your Australian Shepherd

As a working dog, the Aussie excels at sports such as flyball and agility. Australian Shepherds are naturally athletic and requires at least two long walks per day, preferably off-leash. They also require a reasonably large garden for running around in between walks. Mental challenges are very important too, as this intelligent breed may become restless and destructive if not exercised daily, both mentally and physically.

What Health Problems can Australian Shepherds Suffer From?

Australian Shepherds suffer from a variety of genetic conditions, including back, hip and vision problems. The risk of blindness and/or deafness is greatly increased when merle to merle breeding occurs. Epilepsy can also be a concern.

The Life expectancy of an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds usually live on average between 12 and 15 years.

The cost of an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd puppies generally cost between £500 and £800 for pure bred lines.

Australian Shepherd Puppies

Puppies are generally born into litters of between six and nine puppies, so are competitive for attention and dislike being alone, especially at night and in the first few weeks of coming into their new home. They tend to chew anything and everything left lying around, so ensure valuables and things that could hurt them are well out of reach. Always buy your puppy from a reputable breeder and ask to see the parents when visiting the puppy.

Dog Groups Related to Australian Shepherds

Pastoral Group

Similar dog breeds to the Australian Shepherd

Miniature Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd