Australian Shepherd
Summary
The Australian Shepherd is, despite the name, an essentially American breed, developed in the western USA from sheepdogs brought from Europe (possibly by Basque shepherds who passed through Australia) to work with livestock on American ranches. The breed has become extremely popular in the last 50 years, both as a working dog and as a companion and sport dog. It is famous for its intelligence, versatility and the beauty of its eyes (frequently of different colors).
Physical Characteristics
- Size
- Medium
- Height (male)
- 51–58 cm
- Height (female)
- 46–53 cm
- Weight (male)
- 22–29 kg
- Weight (female)
- 18–25 kg
- Life Expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Medium, straight to slightly wavy, with moderate undercoat
- Common Colors
- Black, blue merle, red (brown), red merle; with or without white and/or copper markings
Temperament & Personality
The Australian Shepherd is an energetic, intelligent and extremely versatile dog, with a very pronounced working instinct. It is deeply loyal to its family and tends to be reserved with strangers. It is an excellent sport dog, excelling in agility, obedience, frisbee and herding. It needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation — without it, it can develop anxiety or destructive behaviors.
Activity & Exercise
- Energy Level
- High
- Recommended Daily Exercise
- 5400–120 minutes
Grooming & Care
- Grooming Needs
- Moderate to high
- Shedding
- Moderate to heavy
- Bathing Frequency
- Every 4–6 weeks
Health
- Common Health Issues
- Collie eye anomaly (CEA)
- Drug sensitivity (MDR1)
- Epilepsy
- Hereditary cataracts
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Lens luxation
- Recommended Health Tests
- CEA and MDR1 genetic tests
- Eye examination
- Orthopedic evaluation
Compatibility
- With Children
- Good
- With Other Dogs
- Good
- For First-Time Owners
- Not recommended
