Breed Info

The Australian Shepherd (or Aussie) is commonly kept as a companion dog. However, they still work as herding dogs, compete in dog shows, and dog sports. They have a striking beauty, are highly intelligent, and very energetic. Aussies are athletically built and are slightly longer than tall. They have a lush coat that is medium-length and can be straight or slightly wavy. Males tend to be somewhat larger and more robust in overall appearance. Aussie faces are wide with triangular ears and females will appear more feminine. Both males and females have solid builds, muscular bodies, and deep chests. They also have feathery back ends, legs, and a docked or natural bobtails.

Personality & Expectations

Australian Shepherds are eager to please, have high energy, bark moderately, and have a high need to do a job or activity. You can also expect they will be affectionate with family members, good with children, get along well with other dogs, are open to strangers, and have a medium watchdog/protective nature. This breed will bond closely with their owners.

Aussies are not couch potatoes. Their high energy means they need something to do otherwise, they can become destructive. They need both physical and mental exercise. Fortunately, their loyalty combined with the breed’s keen intelligence and high energy makes them easy to train.

Weight

Male 50 - 65 pounds
Female 40 - 55 pounds

Height

Male 20 - 23 inches
Female 18 - 21 inches

Longevity

12 - 15 years

General Health

Australian Shepherds are generally a healthy breed, but they can be prone to certain health issues. Common concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, and autoimmune disorders.

Regular vet check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise, and early screenings can help maintain their well-being.

Care and Feeding

The Australian Shepherd should do well on a high-quality dog food. Any diet whether fresh food or dry, needs to be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.

Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Try vegetables as an alternative to purchased dog treats. Be sure to check that the vegetables you choose are not toxic to your dog. Clean fresh water should be available at all times.

Aussies ears should be checked regularly to remove foreign matter and avoid a buildup of wax, and their teeth should be brushed regularly.

Grooming

In general, weekly brushing will keep the Australian Shepherd’s waterproof, double-layer coat looking its best. During shedding season, more work will be required. During this period an undercoat rake can be used every two to three days to remove the abundant dead hair, followed by a cleanup with a wire brush.

Aussies require a bath only occasionally. As with all breeds, the nails should be trimmed regularly.

It's good to know!

Aussies come in four standard colors – black, red, blue merle, and red merle. They can be solid colored or standard markings of white, tan points, or white markings and tan points. All dogs will inherit either a solid color or a merle pattern from their parents. Both parents must have the red coat gene to produce red puppies. Red is a recessive gene, so that means it is a rarer coat color than other Aussie colors.

Black Australian Shepherd

A black tri shepherd has a white undercarriage, a black body, and tan markings around the lower legs and above the eyes. They often have a white blaze on their heads, which connects to a white muzzle. A black and white Aussie is called a Black Bi. All black dogs will have black-colored noses, eye rims, and paw pads.

Red Australian Shepherd

A red Aussie can be bi-colored or tri-colored. The red tri-color will be a mixture of red with tan markings and a predominantly white chest. The red tri can also have white faces and legs. A red dog will have liver-colored noses, eye rims, and paw pads. Red ranges from light orange to a deep russet color.

Red Merle Australian Shepherd

A red merle Australian Shepherd also comes in three variations. You can have a solid red, a tri-colored merle red, or a bi-colored merle red. The copper highlights on the tri-colored merle are usually confined to the face and legs. A recessive gene causes the appearance of a red coat.

Blue Merle Australian Shepherd

The blue merle Aussie coats of grey can range from silver to slate grey and be spotted in black. There will be no white markings anywhere except the chest. You'll find more white in tri-colored dogs, and they can have tan markings around the legs, face, and chest. In bi-colored shepherds, there's a distinct lack of any tan shades in their coats.

Merle

Merle in dogs is one of the most intriguing coat patterns in both appearance and genetics. Merle is not a color but a pattern. It can be combined with any base color. Merle hairs are randomly lighter than others, giving the dog a spotted appearance. A black dog with a merle pattern is called a blue merle. A red dog with a merle pattern is simply a red merle.

Eye Color

Australian Shepherds exhibit fascinating eye colors, and their coat color can influence the shades they possess. Typically, black Aussies, irrespective of their markings, tend to have brown eyes. Red Australian Shepherds often showcase blue or bi-colored eyes, while blue merles frequently exhibit blue eyes or blue highlights within their brown eyes. Additionally, Aussies can have heterochromia, where they have two different colored eyes. However, marbled blue eyes are most commonly observed in this color variation.