Australian Shepherd
Other names: Aussie

The Australian Shepherd entered the top 10 dog breed rankings with a bang several years ago, and these dogs haven’t stopped delighting those looking for an affectionate, playful, intelligent and dynamic companion ever since. Particularly skilled in a number of canine sports (agility, treibball, dog dancing, canicross, etc.), the breed is able to adapt to a number of lifestyles as long as his physical and mental needs are respected and met.
Key facts about the Australian Shepherd
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Origins and history
While many theories exist regarding the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed was principally bred in the United States. The “Australian” association was attributed to the dog after the arrival of the sheepdog in the United States from Australia in the 19th century.
It wasn’t until the mid 1980s that this sheepdog came to the UK, and over the years, he became the popular dog that we know and love today.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Australian Shepherd
Adult size
Female : Between 18 and 21 in
Male : Between 20 and 23 in
Weight
Female : Between 42 and 57 lb
Male : Between 55 and 75 lb
Coat colour
The sheepdog’s coat colours can vary, but white will never be the principal colour of his fur:
- Tri-colour black or two-tone black with white and fawn markings
- All-over red, tri-colour red or two-tone red with white and fawn markings
- Blue merle with or without white and fawn markings
- Red merle with or without white and fawn markings
Type of coat
Medium hair.
Fairly dense fur, either straight or slightly wavy with an undercoat that changes with the seasons.
Eye colour
The eyes can be different colours: brown, blue, green or amber.
The Australian Shepherd can also have odd-coloured or multi-coloured eyes. This means that the dog can have eyes with different colours, or even eyes with markings of various colours.
Description
An intelligent, dynamic and active sheepdog. He is medium-sized, slightly taller than wider, with a muscular but not overly heavy physique. With an insatiable playfulness, this dog will bring to both young and old people a lot of joy thanks to his abundant energy and unwavering joviality.
Good to know
The Australian Shepherd is actually anything but Australian, originating from the United States. His little “brother”, initially named the miniature Australian Shepherd or dwarf Australian Shepherd, was renamed as the American Shepherd.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Australian Shepherd
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Compatibility
Price
The price of an Australian Shepherd varies depending on its origins. You should budget around £1000 for a dog registered at the Kennel Club. The price will also depend on the sex, breeding and age of the dog.
For a monthly budget, you should be looking to set aside between £35 and £45 to meet the needs of an Australian Shepherd, to be able to provide him with a high-quality diet and keep him in good health.
Grooming
The mid-length hair of this dog won’t be difficult to maintain if he is brushed regularly. This regularity will reduce the likelihood of knots, but most importantly will allow you to maintain the beauty and protective qualities of his lovely coat.
Shedding
This mid length-haired dog sheds a significant amount, notably due to the density of his coat. He will shed the most during the two annual moulting periods (spring and autumn).
Nutrition of the Australian Shepherd
This companion will need a diet adapted to his lifestyle, whether raw or dry. A diet principally made up of wet (tinned) food is not suited to this dog.
It is necessary to provide him with all the nutrients he needs, especially if he engages in intense daily physical activity.
The sheepdog puppy will need a diet that provides him with all he needs for a healthy development and growth.
Health of the Australian Shepherd
Life expectancy
The lifespan of this dog is between 13 and 15 years.
Strong / robust
This dog is resilient and solid. He can happily work all day at his owner’s side and will prove his impressive endurance in doing so.
Withstand heat
This sheepdog can adapt to a number of climates but will not be able to handle extreme temperatures.
Withstand cold
Thanks to his impressive undercoat that changes with the seasons, this dog is well adapted to cold climates, with the exception of extremely cold temperatures.
Tendency to put on weight
His (ideally) regular and stimulating physical activity prevents him from easily putting on weight, despite his greediness. However, it’s necessary to be vigilant by providing him with a balanced diet that responds to his demanding exercise needs.
Common illnesses
Several health problems can affect the Australian Shepherd, particularly problems related to the back, hips and eyes. The breed is also linked to epilepsy.
Moreover, studies have shown that the mating of two merle dogs can result in 25% of the litter being at risk of blindness/deafness. This type of mating should therefore be avoided.
Finally, it is recommended to test your dog for the MDR1 gene. Just like Collie dogs, they are potential carriers of this gene. This test is very important as carrying this gene means that certain treatments/substances are fatal and thus to be prohibited.