Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd  Dog: Dog Breed Information Guide

The Australian Shepherd dog, more commonly known as the Australian shepherd or the Australian Shepherd, comes from the ranches of the western U.S. in the 1800's. Not to be confused with the Australian cattle dog, these pups descend from sheep herding dogs in the Spanish region of Basque.

These hardy, intelligent working dogs are loyal and always up for an adventure, and maybe you are, too. You may be thinking about adopting an Australian shepherd, but you aren’t sure what an Australian Shepherd needs for a happy life. We’re here to help.

At Spot Pet Insurance, we care about you and your pup. We want you both to have the best possible life together. To help ensure you can provide for an Australian shepherd’s needs, we’ve collected some of the most important information you might want to know before adding a new member to your family.

Australian Shepherd: An introduction to the breed

As a pet parent interested in an Australian Shepherd for your home, the best introduction to the breed is doing your research to ensure that when you adopt a pet, it’s a good match for both of you. Every person and every pet is different.

Two important things to consider are an Australian Shepherd's physical characteristics and personality. Will your living situation be a suitable size? Do you mind having a fur-filled home? These are important questions to have answers to before you take steps to welcoming an Australian Shepherd into your home.

What are the origins of the Australian shepherd?

Australian Shepherds grew in popularity after being introduced to the general public through a rodeo trick show.

Australian Shepherds are herding dogs. They are medium-sized dogs of about 18-23 inches and 40-65 pounds, depending on gender. Their medium build allows them to move quickly and with agility as they herd livestock.

What are the health risks for Australian Shepherds?

While they are overall healthy, active dogs in most cases, Australian Shepherds have some genetic predispositions to illness. They are more prone to epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and arthritis than some breeds.

Other potential health concerns for Australian Shepherd dogs

Other health concerns for an Australian Shepherd may include:

What is the personality of an Australian Shepherd like?

Personality is one of the biggest factors that will affect whether an Australian Shepherd is right for you.

Australian shepherds are confident and collected. They need to be in order to guide a herd.

Are Australian Shepherd dogs intelligent?

This working breed is extremely intelligent. After all, they needed to keep one step ahead of the animals under their care.

Although their intelligence is usually a bonus, it can become a problem. Dogs can get bored just like us, especially intelligent, hardworking dogs. If an Aussie doesn’t receive enough mental exercise, they express their boredom through destructive behaviors, like tearing up your pillows or chewing up your shoes.

These can be easily prevented. You can train Australian Shepherd dogs in different fields, provide them a job to do, or both. We’ll discuss more of these ideas later.

Do Australian shepherds get along with other dogs?

Aussies love their families, but they typically have a more reserved nature. Although they don’t dislike strangers (human or dog), they are wary of them.

An Australian shepherd is typically good around other dogs if they are socialized properly. They may not immediately love another dog, but they will tolerate them. Their response could also depend on how reserved your Aussie is. Like us humans, some Aussies are friendlier than others.

Do Australian Shepherd get along with other pets?

This type of shepherd may nip at smaller animals, but this may be their tendency to herd rather than an expression of aggression. To get cows or sheep to go where they needed to, an Aussie will sometimes need to nip at their heels.

It likely came in handy for those Basque shepherds and is even useful for some ranchers today. However, this behavior should only be encouraged if you are training your Australian Shepherd to herd livestock.

Do Australian shepherds get along with children?

If you have a baby on the way, are adopting a child, or have small children that visit, you are probably wondering if your Australian shepherd will get along with them.

Most Australian Shepherds are great with kids. They love playing and will be patient and gentle with your child.

However, Aussies may nip at children for much the same reason they would other animals. It’s not intended to harm them; instead, it’s part of their herding instinct. Proper training can redirect their need to nip and manage other animals or people in a home if the Australian Shepherd is not intended to herd large groups of farm animals.

If you’re adopting a rescue, their behavior towards children and other dogs can be affected by their former life situation, so these general rules may not apply to all Australian Shepherds. With a rescue, it’s best to learn as much about their previous history as you can to care for them in the way they need.

Aussies are gentle dogs. They just need a lot of direction. They can be a great addition to your family, whether it consists of humans or pets.

What is the Australian Shepherd’s coat like?

Australian shepherds’ coat colors tend to be very distinctive. They have gorgeous coats with two layers, which means Aussies have a lot of fur. Their double coats are also waterproof and weather resistant.

An Aussie with a merle coat will have a base color and then splotches of red or blue throughout, depending on whether they have a blue merle coat or a red merle coat.

Aussies can also have white marks or tan points. Tan points will only appear on specific spots of a coat, usually on the face or the front legs. A common place for tan points is above the eyes.

Are Australian Shepherd dogs Hypoallergenic?

Australian Shepherds aren’t known as hypoallergenic dogs. Hypoallergenic classification is defined by how little a dog sheds lose hair that is often attached to dander, or dead skin cells similar to dandruff. The less shedding, the less effect it has on people with allergies. Dogs that are categorized as hypoallergenic, shed very little.

What Is grooming an Australian Shepherd like?

Because an Australian Shepherd’s medium-length coat is double-layered, those beautiful tricolor coats need to be brushed at least once a week. During shedding season, however, you should brush them much more often. Even with multiple brushings, you’ll probably end up vacuuming once a day to clean up the fur all over your house.

Australian shepherds need occasional teeth cleaning and nail trimming like all dogs.

How to be the best parent for an Australian Shepherd?

Here’s what you need to know to help give your Aussie a happy life.

Basic training and behavior etiquette for your Australian shepherd

You can (and should) provide obedience training for your Aussie.

What foods should an Aussie never eat?

Aussies (and dogs in general) should never eat any of the following foods:

Exercising tips to keep your dog staying fit and healthy

Aussies are energetic dogs, so they need lots of exercise. You can take this breed on long walks and hikes.

They also need a lot of training to exercise their minds. You can combine these two activities by working on agility training, herding, or playing frisbee. Aussies are well suited for dog sports like flyball, thanks to their high energy level and need for mental stimulation.

Australian shepherd life stages

Puppy: 0 - 1 year | Adult: 1 - 7 years | Senior: 7 - 15 years