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Australian Shepherds: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Behavior, and Training

The Aussie is indispensable to farms and families alike.

Australian shepherds are hardworking, versatile, and intelligent dogs. This guide shows you how to be the best possible friend to your new dog, including:

The best places to find and adopt an Australian shepherd
The gear and care you need to make sure your Aussie settles in at home
Feeding, grooming, and training tips to keep him healthy and well-behaved

Breed Profile: Australian Shepherd

Hstorians believe that the Australian shepherd descended primarily from the collie/shepherd gene pool of the British Isles, although it may have some lineage in Spanish and Basque breeds as well. The Aussie’s varied gene pool likely arose due to the movement of immigrants and their flocks of sheep from one country to another—as the flocks were relocated, so were the dogs who protected them. From this general pool of dogs, different breeds, including the Australian shepherd, began to emerge.

Despite its name, the Australian shepherd is an American breed developed on the farms and ranches of the West as herding and working dogs—in fact, it’s unclear how exactly the “Australian” moniker ever came to be applied to this breed in the first place. It remained a relatively obscure breed until the mid-1950s, concentrated mostly in the western and northwestern areas of the United States. Early breeders selected their stock based on working ability as well as physical and mental soundness, thus shaping the Australian shepherd of today. The breed was recognized officially by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

Appearance

The following description is of an “ideal” Aussie. Not all Aussies will fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.

Height: Height ranges from 20–23" (51–58 cm) for males and 18–21" (46–53 cm) for females.
Weight: Both male and female Aussies typically range from 35–70 pounds (16–32 kg).
Coat: An Aussie’s basic coat color is either black or red, with variations including white, tan, and copper markings. The coat is double-layered, with a water-resistant outercoat and a shorter, dense, insulating undercoat to act as a protective layer against water and capable of enduring inclement weather.

Temperament and Personality

The classic Aussie temperament is happy, funny, devoted, and playful. However, Aussies also have a century-old heritage as working dogs bred for courage, longevity, and staying power. Though intelligent and good-natured, they are unfit for sedentary lifestyles and become bored, or even destructive, without an outlet for their boundless energy.

Traits

Here are some traits to consider when determining how well an Aussie is going to fit in with you and your family.

Companionability

Most Aussies are high-octane dogs who love to be included in every activity, be it biking, swimming, or riding in the family car. However, the qualities that make them exceptional working dogs are the same qualities that can make them unsuitable as suburban pets. Few, if any, working Aussies are able to suppress their natural instincts, making some too active and intense for the average dog owner. Aussies can be socialized to get along with other pets and do quite well in households with children when established guidelines are followed and children are supervised.

Environment

The ideal environment for an Aussie is a farm or ranch with an array of chores to keep him physically and mentally stimulated. Generally, an Aussie does not make a good apartment dog unless the owner can devote time to multiple and extended exercise sessions—as many as five or six per day. In the absence of this level of activity, an Aussie will seek an outlet for his energy on his own, usually with destructive results. Though some Aussies are naturally calmer and less energetic than others, and older Aussies may be suited to a more sedentary lifestyle, most require a great deal of activity.

Exercise Requirements

A healthy adult Aussie requires more than just a walk around the block to satisfy his exercise requirements. The breed’s history as a working dog translates to a powerful need to be active. Most Aussies can work from sunup to sundown and still have enough energy for a game of fetch. Also, Aussies have a desire to exercise with their owners. When outside, most Aussies will sit by the door—or chew, dig, and bark to amuse themselves—while they wait for their owners to come outside and play.

Trainability

One of the great pleasures of owning an Australian shepherd is training him. An Aussie is quick to learn and eager to please, but he also is a high-energy herding dog with a propensity for attacking moving objects, herding cats and horses, and chasing kids on bicycles. Learning to work within the confines of the breed—and learning to work around their ingrained tendencies—will help to ease the training process for both you and your Aussie. Keep training sessions short, fun, and positive to yield the best results with your dog.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer

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Where to Get an Australian Shepherd

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