Australian Shepherd

According to the Royal Kennel Club standard, the Australian Shepherd has an even disposition; it may be reserved with strangers at first but should never be shy or aggressive. It learns very quickly: on the AKC's breed chart it scores at the top for trainability, energy and mental stimulation needs.

It bonds very tightly to its family. According to the AKC, that loyalty can turn into being territorial and overprotective of its owners' property, and it can become destructive if it's left without companionship for long periods too often. The herding instinct is strong: the AKC writes that the best approach is to give the Aussie a job, whether that's herding livestock, "shepherding" children or competing in dog sports.

One point the AKC highlights is important: one of the most frequent reasons Aussies end up in rescue is that owners couldn't, or wouldn't, channel the breed's boundless energy constructively through training.

The Aussie is a great companion for active families who love the outdoors, go on long walks and hikes, and want to do sports or training with their dog. The Royal Kennel Club suggests country living, a large house and a large yard for this breed.

Always supervise play with small children, and don't let the dog chase them. Our article on kids and dogs goes into detail.

According to the Royal Kennel Club, despite its name the Australian Shepherd was developed in the United States as a ranch dog; its roots go back to Spanish sheepdogs brought by Basque shepherds who emigrated to America in the 19th century. The AKC tells a similar story: Basque shepherds from the Pyrenees sailed to Australia with their dogs in the 1800s and later moved on to California; American ranchers assumed the dogs were an Australian breed, and the misleading name stuck.

According to the AKC, the breed's popularity boomed after World War II along with Western culture and horse riding; Aussies were often seen at rodeos, horse shows and in movies. Today they're common on ranches, in dog sports and as family dogs.

A medium-sized, balanced and athletic dog; with its many colors and eye combinations, it can look very different from one dog to the next.

• Height: According to the Royal Kennel Club standard, 20–23 in (51–58 cm) for males and 18–21 in (46–53 cm) for females.
• Weight: The standard gives no weight; the AKC gives 50–65 lb (23–30 kg) for males and 40–55 lb (18–25 kg) for females.
• Coat: A medium-length, weather-resistant outer coat that ranges from straight to slightly wavy, with an undercoat.
• Colors: Blue merle, black, red merle and red, with or without copper markings. White is accepted only in limited areas: the collar, chest, muzzle, blaze, underparts and legs.
• Eyes: Brown, blue, amber or any combination, including flecks and marbling.
• Tail: Some dogs are born with a naturally short tail (bobtail). The Royal Kennel Club standard accepts both undocked tails and natural bobtails.

"Merle" is a marbled pattern in which dark patches are scattered over a lighter base. It's almost a symbol of the breed, but it also matters for health, as explained below.

According to the AKC, weekly brushing usually keeps the Aussie's weather-resistant double coat looking its best. Shedding season means more work: the AKC suggests using an undercoat rake every two or three days to remove the dead hair. An occasional bath is enough.

• Nails: The AKC recommends trimming them regularly.
• Ears: The AKC recommends checking the ears regularly to remove debris and prevent wax buildup.
• Teeth: Brush the teeth regularly.
• After outings: According to the AKC, Aussies spend a lot of time outdoors and often come home dirtier than they left; check the paws and coat.

For more, see our article on dog grooming.

According to the AKC, the Aussie is a high-energy, athletic dog that needs a great deal of exercise every day; at minimum it wants a large, fenced area to run in for an hour or two daily. The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day. It loves long walks and, better yet, hikes.

• Give it a job: Herding, obedience, agility, tracking or dock diving; according to the AKC, giving it a job is the best course.
• Early socialization and training: The AKC calls both musts. Because it's so devoted and smart, it's easy to train.
• Running: According to the AKC, it makes a great running partner once puppyhood is over and its skeleton has fully developed; don't take a puppy on long runs.
• Time alone: Long stretches without company are hard for this breed. Teach it to be alone step by step; our article on separation anxiety can help.
• Brain games: Scent games and new tricks tire out its mind.

It doesn't need a special food; a complete, balanced dog food suited to its age and activity level is enough. The AKC reminds owners that some dogs are prone to weight gain and that too many treats can lead to obesity.

• Measure food; decide the daily amount with your vet based on your dog's ideal weight and activity.
• Count training treats as part of the daily food.
• You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist when you look from above.
• Always have fresh water available.
• Learn which foods are harmful to dogs, and don't feed from the table.

The AKC considers the Aussie a generally healthy breed, but there are a few important inherited issues to know about. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

MDR1: dangerous sensitivity to certain medications

A change in the MDR1 gene causes serious sensitivity to certain medications. According to Washington State University, dogs with this change can become very ill, or even die, if given some common medications. The change is most common in herding breeds, and the university's table gives a frequency of about 50% for Australian Shepherds.

The good news: a simple DNA test shows your dog's status. The Royal Kennel Club also recommends this test for breeders.

Merle to merle: risk of deafness and blindness

The merle pattern is one of the breed's best-loved features, but "double merle" puppies that carry two copies of the merle gene are at serious risk. In a 2009 study, 2.7% of dogs with one copy were deaf in one ear and 0.9% in both, while in double merles the figures were 10% and 15%. That's why the Royal Kennel Club has not registered puppies from merle-to-merle matings since 2013; vision problems are among the reasons too. When buying a puppy, make sure only one parent is merle.

Eye diseases

• Collie eye anomaly (CEA): An inherited disease in which layers at the back of the eye don't develop fully. According to a large 2023 study, it does not progress and vision is only minimally affected in most dogs, but severe cases can lead to blindness. The Royal Kennel Club recommends, as a minimum, a CEA DNA test for breeders.
• Hereditary cataracts: A progressive disease in which the lens of the eye turns cloudy; in this breed it's mainly caused by a change in the HSF4 gene, and there's a DNA test.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): A disease in which the retina degenerates over time, affecting night vision first; there's a DNA test for this type too.

Natural bobtail

A naturally short tail looks harmless, but according to a 2023 European study, most puppies that inherit two copies of the bobtail gene die early in the womb, and two copies can also cause spinal cord defects. That's why breeding two bobtailed dogs together is risky; ask the breeder about it.

Other issues

The AKC recommends that breeders screen for hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cataracts and certain cancers; the Royal Kennel Club also recommends hip and elbow X-rays and eye exams. The gene linked to degenerative myelopathy, a spinal cord disease of older age, has also been found in European Aussies.

In the 2024 UK study by McMillan and colleagues covering about 585,000 dogs, the median lifespan of 245 Australian Shepherds was 13.7 years (confidence interval 12.8–14.6), compared with 12.0 years for mixed-breed dogs. Because the sample is small, this result should be read with caution. The AKC gives a range of 12–15 years.

Being a long-lived breed means years of daily exercise and attention. Regular vet checkups, a healthy weight and eye exams help protect quality of life in old age.

• Consider a shelter: According to the AKC, one of the most frequent reasons Aussies end up in rescue is that their energy wasn't channeled through training. An adult dog's energy level and personality are already known. Our article on adopting a shelter dog can help.
• If you buy from a breeder: Ask for the parents' MDR1, CEA, hereditary cataract and PRA DNA tests, hip and elbow X-rays and eye exams. Find out the parents' colors; don't buy a puppy from two merle parents.
• Red flags: Steer clear of sellers who market puppies as "rare colors" or "double merles," won't show you the mother or can't show test results.
• Lifestyle: Make sure you can give more than 2 hours of exercise and training a day.
• Registration: Rules vary by country; many places require or recommend microchipping. In Türkiye, owned dogs must be microchipped and registered.
• The first days: Our guide to bringing home a new puppy walks you through it step by step.