Smart, agile, and loyal – the Australian Shepherd is a popular dog loved not only for its wits but for its beautiful merle coat color, too. They bear the name Australian but they have origins in Spain. However, people first brought these dogs to the States from Australia, so they were called Australian Shepherd dogs. Although these dogs thrive doing what they were bred to do – herd sheep, they are amazing family pets around the world.
1. Size
Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog, with a length slightly greater than its height. Males are bigger than females, but the overall appearance of both sexes is that of a well-balanced and agile dog.
- Male height: 20 to 23 inches (50 to 58 cm)
- Male weight: 50 to 65 pounds (22 to 30 kg)
- Female height: 18 to 21 inches (45 to 53 cm)
- Female weight: 40 to 55 pounds (18 to 25 kg)
Australian Shepherd dogs have great stamina, they are very active and capable of quickly changing directions or speed. This is much needed for a job they were bred to do. The ears are triangular, spet high, eyes almond shaped of different colors depending on the coat color.
2. Color
There are four standard coat colors:
- Black
- Red
- Blue merle
- Red merle
The breed can also have white markings, white marlins & tan points, or just tan points. The most striking coat color is merle which often brings heterochromia or eyes with different colors. One is usually blue and the other one dark brown.
Australian Shepherd dogs can have heterochromia – different eye colors
3. Social Traits
Australian Shepherd dogs are playful, active, and loyal dogs. They go great with active individuals or families. They also go great with children and are often amazing playmates who love to play ball! Fetch is one of Aussies’ favorite games!
Australian Shepherd is a great dog for families with children
Although they are loyal and friendly with family members, they can be reserved towards strangers, both people and dogs. This comes from their protective nature. They were bred as herding dogs, but their job was also to protect the sheep. To avoid this territorial aggression or reservedness towards strangers, it is recommended to start with socialization early on, when a dog is still a puppy – and never stop!
They can be reserved towards strangers, both dogs and people
Being very smart, they will often “argue” with you with their barks and growls. The “argument” is usually about playing because they love to play and stay active. Being active as well is very important if you plan on having an Australian Shepherd.
Good with children: yes
Good with dogs: needs socialization
Good with other animals: yes
4. Activity Needs
As we already mentioned, the Australian Shepherd is a very active dog. But, it’s more than just giving a dog a good amount of exercise every day. They need mental stimulation too. In other words, the playtime and exercise need to be meaningful. Give them something to do, hide the treats, and let them find them. Or teach them tricks, agility, flyball, and so on. They love to learn and work.
Australian Shepherd is great for agility, flyball, or other dog sports
Generally speaking, an adult Australian Shepherd needs more than 2 hours of daily activities. They need walks, hikes, games, and anything else you can offer them to satisfy their high need to work and stay active.
This dog requires owners who can meet its high exercise needs daily
A bored Australian Shepherd will soon turn boredom into misbehavior or even aggression. The misbehavior often shows up as chewing furniture or disobedience. This is not just for this breed but for any dog. The only difference is that some dogs don’t require too much daily exercise because they are low-energy, and some need a lot.
Activity needs: more than 2 hours a day; suited for country
5. Trainability
One of the greatest traits of an Australian Shepherd dog is their high trainability. Similar to other herding dogs, they were bred to work closely with people following their signs. The Australian Shepherd is eager to please. They love to work and to do the work correctly.
It is important to use positive reinforcement or redirection while training an Australian Shepherd
However, if you don’t make the training interesting and give them enough exercise every day, they won’t be as eager to follow your orders. These are smart dogs and they can be stubborn or one step ahead of you if you don’t give them what they need.
Trainability: 5 out of 5 (5 being very trainable)
6. Feeding
Generally speaking, an adult Australian Shepherd needs from 2 to 3 cups of kibble a day. The amount depends on their activity, health, age, and other factors. Whatever the amount is, it is recommended to divide the amount into two meals – one in the morning and one in the evening.
Be careful with treats. We don’t want our dogs to be overweight. Obesity leads to numerous health issues so keeping your dog at a recommended weight helps keep the dog healthy and prolong its life.
Adult Australian Shepherd dog needs from 2 to 3 cups of kibble food a day
7. Grooming
The Australian Shepherd dog has a double, medium, and waterproof coat. They need weekly brushing to keep the coat healthy and pretty, as they shed moderately. However, they shed more during the shedding season when it is recommended to brush them more often, a couple of times a week.
The best option is a pin brush and an undercoat rake during shedding seasons
Their medium-long and double coats need different dog brushes to keep the loose hair at bay. The best combination is a pin brush with an undercoat rake brush during shedding seasons. You can use the pin brush for regular brushing, and the undercoat rake brush for when the shedding increases.
Shedding: moderately (weekly brushing)
8. Possible Problems
Generally speaking, an Australian Shepherd dog is a healthy breed. Of course, all dogs can get sick, but responsible breeding programs lower the chance of hereditary diseases. Some common health issues are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Eye problems
- Epilepsy
Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Summary
The Australian Shepherd dog is a playful, smart, and loyal dog. They are suited for the countryside but can do well in urban places too if they get enough daily mental and physical stimulation. Being playful and loyal, they go great with children but can be reserved for strangers. This means it is important to properly socialize them from an early age to diminish their naturally reserved nature toward dogs or people outside of their inner circle. Luckily, they are easy to train! Just keep in mind they need their daily activities to keep them from getting bored.
Read Next: Shetland Sheepdog Traits – Breeds 101
Cover Photo by Wolfgang Herath
