Australian Shepherd picture
Australian Shepherd

Aussie, Little Blue Dog

Overview

This is an athletic dog of medium size and bone; it is lithe, agile and slightly longer than it is tall. It is muscular and powerful enough to work all day, without sacrificing the speed and agility necessary to cope with bolting livestock. Its gait is free and easy, and it must be able to change direction or speed instantly. Its double coat is weather resistant, with the outer coat of medium texture and length, straight to wavy. The expression is keen, intelligent and eager.

The Australian shepherd has a great deal of stamina and is loving, bold, alert, confident, independent, smart and responsive. If it doesn't get a chance to exercise and challenge its strongly developed mental and physical activities, it is apt to become frustrated and difficult to live with. With proper exercise and training, it is a loyal, utterly devoted and obedient companion. It is reserved with strangers and has a protective nature. It may try to herd children and small animals by nipping.

Size Medium
Height Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm)Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)
Weight Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg)Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)
Lifespan 12-15 years
Colors Black Blue Merle Red Red Merle
Origin United States
Classification Purebred
Good Lapcat
Good In Apartments

This breed is not recommended for apartment life. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least a large yard.

Good With Children

Good with Kids: This is a suitable breed for kids and is known to be playful, energetic, and affectionate around them.

Good With Dogs

Good With Cats

Exercise Needs

This energetic working dog needs plenty of vigorous exercise to stay in shape, mentally and physically, or better yet, some real work to do. Very intelligent and craving a good challenge, they need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. If under-exercised, this breed can become restless and destructive.

Trainability

Easy Training: The Australian Shepherd is fun to train because it learns quickly and easily. Aussies are unusually eager to please and adept at a wide variety of sports and games, such as herding, Flyball, and agility competitions.

Affectionate

Playfulness

Grooming Requirements

Moderate Maintenance: The Australian Shepherd has a lot of hair and his grooming needs may appear daunting, but caring for him isn’t as much work as you might think. Brush the coat regularly to remove dead hair that will otherwise land on your clothes and furniture. The rest is basic care. Active Australian Shepherds often wear their nails down naturally, but it’s a good idea to check them weekly to see if they need a trim. Otherwise, just keep the ears clean and brush his teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.

Shedding

Moderate Shedding: The Aussie sheds, but it’s a major event only twice a year, in the spring and fall. Frequent brushing, warm baths and thorough blow drying during that time will help keep the handfuls of hair under control. Outside of shedding season, bathe the Aussie only when he gets dirty.

Vocalization/Barking

Occassional

Australian Shepherd Pictures