Australian Shepherd
An intellectual athlete that needs a job.
- Weight
- 40–65 lbs
- Height
- 18–23 in
- Lifespan
- 12–15 yrs
In short
The Australian Shepherd is a herding breed developed in the western United States, weighing 40 to 65 pounds and living 12 to 15 years. An intensely intelligent, high-drive working dog, it needs 90 to 120 minutes of daily exercise and training, thrives with a job, and bonds to its household.
Is it right for you?
A great match if you…
- want a partner for agility, herding or long hikes
- train daily and enjoy teaching new skills
- can brush weekly and daily during blowouts
Think twice if you…
- are away long hours most days
- want a dog content with one short walk
- have young kids and no time to manage herding
The daily plan
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Training
- 3–5 × 5–10 min sessions × length
- Treat limit
- 115–155 kcal all treats, 10% rule
At a glance
TrainabilityQuick study9.5/10
EnergyAthlete9.0/10
Calm at homeSettles well7.5/10
SheddingSheds seasonally7.0/10
What sets it apart
-
01
Wiggle-butt engine
Many Aussies are born with a naturally short or docked tail, so the whole rear end wiggles when the dog is engaged.
-
02
Herding eye
An intense, direct stare inherited from stock work — Aussies use it to move livestock, and will trial it on joggers and kids.
-
03
Weatherproof double coat
A medium-length double coat with a dense undercoat. Sheds year-round and blows coat twice a year.
Size & coat
| Specification | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 50–65 lbs | 40–55 lbs |
| Height | 20–23 in | 18–21 in |
| Daily calories | 1,350–1,550 kcal | 1,150–1,350 kcal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 yrs | |
Personality
An intellectual athlete. The Australian Shepherd does not just want to be with you — it wants to work with you. Bred to think independently on ranches, this is a problem-solving dog that bonds hard to its household, stays reserved with strangers, and will invent a job (usually involving home renovation) if you fail to provide one. Ideal for owners who want a shadow and a training partner, not a couch ornament.
Work-first loyalty
Velcro attachment with a purpose: happiest mid-task, at your side, watching for the next cue.
Sharp & fast-learning
Learns routines in a handful of repetitions — including routines you never meant to teach.
Reserved, not aloof
Polite but watchful with strangers; early socialization keeps the watchfulness from becoming reactivity.
Training
Train the brain and the body follows. Short, frequent, high-repetition sessions with a genuinely high-value reinforcer beat long drilling every time — this breed reads your criteria faster than you set them.
-
How often
3–5 short sessions a day, 5–10 minutes each. End on a win while the dog still wants more; Aussies rehearse whatever ended the session.
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Socialize early (8–16 weeks)
Between 8–16 weeks, prioritize breadth: surfaces, sounds, handling, calm strangers, other dogs. This window sets the adult dog's default read on the world.
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Self-control
Build a default 'wait for release' around doors, food, and thrown toys. Stationing on a mat with duration, distance, then distraction added one variable at a time.
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What it works for
Use high-value, fast-eaten micro-rewards for new behaviors and high-distraction work — small freeze-dried liver pieces deliver maximum signal without filling the dog up or breaking focus.
Exercise
Budget for a working dog's output: structured exercise plus a mental job, every day. A tired Aussie is made, not born — and an under-worked one redecorates.
Exercise a day
90–120 min
CouchModerateAthlete
Brain work
Daily training, puzzle feeding, herding/agility or scent work several times a week
Best home
House with a yard and an active owner; apartment-viable only with a serious daily work plan
Climate notes
Heat-cautious in summer despite the coat — work early or late and watch for overheating
Feeding
An athletic medium breed with a fast metabolism when working and an easy weight-gain slide when under-exercised. Feed to body condition, not to the bag's chart alone.
Puppy (8 wks – 12 mo)
- Daily calories
- 1,100–1,400 kcal
- Protein
- 26–30%
- Fat
- 16–20%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 110–140 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 6–7 pieces a day
Adult Maintenance
- Daily calories
- 1,150–1,550 kcal
- Protein
- 24–28%
- Fat
- 14–18%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 115–155 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 6–8 pieces a day
Active / Working
- Daily calories
- 1,600–2,100 kcal
- Protein
- 26–30%
- Fat
- 18–22%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 160–210 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 8–11 pieces a day
Senior (8+ yrs)
- Daily calories
- 1,000–1,250 kcal
- Protein
- 24–28%
- Fat
- 12–16%
- Treat limit, all treats
- 100–125 kcal
- Saylor's liver, suggested
- 5–6 pieces a day
Compare every life stage
| Life stage | Daily calories | Protein | Fat | Treat limit (all treats) | Saylor's liver, suggested / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (8 wks – 12 mo) | 1,100–1,400 kcal | 26–30% | 16–20% | 110–140 kcal | 6–7 pieces |
| Adult Maintenance | 1,150–1,550 kcal | 24–28% | 14–18% | 115–155 kcal | 6–8 pieces |
| Active / Working | 1,600–2,100 kcal | 26–30% | 18–22% | 160–210 kcal | 8–11 pieces |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | 1,000–1,250 kcal | 24–28% | 12–16% | 100–125 kcal | 5–6 pieces |
The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.
Health & grooming
Generally hardy for 12–15 years, with a short list of inherited watchouts worth screening before you buy and monitoring for life.
| Watch for | Ask the breeder or vet for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | OFA / PennHIP evaluation of breeding stock | Once (breeding stock); monitor mobility lifelong |
| Hereditary cataracts (HSF4) | DNA test + annual eye exams (CAER) | DNA once; eyes yearly |
| MDR1 drug sensitivity | DNA test for the MDR1 mutation | Once — result changes safe medication choices |
| Epilepsy | No predictive test — know the pedigree history | Lifelong awareness |
| Elbow dysplasia | OFA elbow evaluation | Once. OFA final results from 24 months |
Official health tests for breeding dogs
The OFA's CHIC program asks Australian Shepherd breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.
- Hip evaluation
- Elbow evaluation
- Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Also recommended
- Thyroid panel
- Collie Eye Anomaly
- Multiple Drug Sensitivity
Grooming Sheds seasonally
Brush weekly (daily during the twice-yearly coat blow) to move undercoat before it mats behind the ears and britches. Bath as needed, nails every 3–4 weeks, and check ears weekly.
History
1800s
Basque Shepherd Roots
Despite the name, the breed's ancestors came with Basque sheepherders via Australia to the American West, where ranchers refined the dogs they actually worked.
1900–1950s
The Ranch Dog of the West
On western ranches the Aussie became the default stock dog — tough, biddable, and smart enough to work a whole herd with one handler.
1950s–today
Rodeo Fame to Household Name
Rodeo and trick-dog acts made the breed famous; registration and suburban popularity followed — outrunning, at times, owners' readiness for a true working dog.
Questions owners ask
Is the Australian Shepherd actually Australian?
No. The breed was developed in the western United States from shepherd dogs that arrived with Basque herders, some via Australia — the name stuck, the continent didn't.
How much exercise does an Australian Shepherd need?
Plan on 90–120 minutes a day combining physical exercise with mental work — training, puzzles, or a sport. Physical miles alone don't tire this breed.
Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs?
With the right family, yes: they're loyal, playful, and generally good with children and other pets. They can try to herd small children, so supervision and impulse-control training matter.
How much should an Australian Shepherd eat?
Most adults land between 1,150 and 1,550 kcal a day depending on workload and body condition; active and working dogs can need 1,600–2,100. Treats should stay within 10% of the daily total.
Do Australian Shepherds shed a lot?
Yes — a double coat sheds steadily year-round and blows out twice a year. Weekly brushing is the baseline, daily during a blow.
What treats work best for training an Australian Shepherd?
Small, fast-eaten, high-value pieces. Keep every treat inside the 10% limit: about 115–155 kcal a day in total for an adult Australian Shepherd of typical size. If you use Saylor's freeze-dried liver, keep it to a small share of that, roughly 6–8 pieces a day: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should stay a topper, not a staple. Adjust for your own dog's size and body condition, and ask your vet if there is a health condition or special diet.
Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats
Back in stock soon
We're restocking. When it's back, a Australian Shepherd needs only 6–8 pieces a day, well inside the 115–155 kcal treat limit.
See the productWhere the Australian Shepherd ranks
Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.
Breeds like the Australian Shepherd
Closest in size, energy, trainability, calm at home and shedding.
