The Vet’s Guide to Australian Shepherds: Facts, Care, and Training Tips

Australian shepherds are a family favourite, both on the farm and at home, making them the perfect all-rounder pet. Regardless of the role they’ll be fulfilling, your intelligent Aussie Shepherd will quickly learn the ropes and settle in.

While the name suggests that these dogs are an Australian native, the breed is actually an American creation with European roots. Traced back to the Pyrenees, there are strong ties between the Australian Shepherd and Pyrenean Shepherd that hails from the Basque region between France and Spain. 

The bright-eyed dogs make for great help around the farm, and are equally as lovely to keep as a family dog, too. Loyal, loving, and lovable, Aussie Shepherds fit perfectly into households with small kids. They have even been known to keep their herding skills in tip-top shape, corralling little ones by nipping playfully at their heels. If you’re on the lookout for an intelligent addition to your home, this could be the perfect pooch for you. 

Appearance: Australian Shepherds are a medium-sized dog. They can be anywhere from 46-58 cm in height as adults, weighing in at 16-32 kilograms, with females generally taking on a smaller stature than males.

There are four main colours for this breed; blue merle, red merle, solid black, and solid red. These colours can make up their entire fur pattern, or can be combined with white or tan-colour fur, too.

These beautiful dogs also tend to have piercing eyes, with heterochromia being a common feature. This is where each eye is different colours, giving the gorgeous pups a particularly eye-catching feature that will stand out in any dog park. 

Temperament: The Australian Shepherd is a friendly dog with an easy-going temperament. While a large part of this comes down to their intelligence, it’s also important for owners to engage with and keep their dog stimulated during the day to avoid any displays of boredom, frustration, or unrest. 

Thanks to this good temperament, Aussies make for an ideal addition to young families, and will likely adapt well to any new members who may join the home down the line.

As they have a history of working on farms, they are also known to play well with other animals. It is still important, however, to ensure they are properly socialised and supervised, just in case anything might happen and cause them to act up.

Activity Level: Aussies are an extremely active dog breed, and require a lot of physical and mental stimulation throughout the day to keep them happy. An under-stimulated dog is more likely to display negative behaviours out of boredom and unrest. If you’re considering bringing an Australian Shepherd into your life, you’ll want to make sure you can give it at least 2 hours of physical activity each day- this includes walking, running, and playtime. 

Health: Most dog breeds have a range of health implications that they are prone to, and unfortunately, Australian Shepherds are no different. In their case, hearing and vision problems can be common, along with epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and multidrug resistance. We’ll go into more detail on these further down, letting you know what to look out for and how to best care for your pet if they become unwell.

Lifespan: These dogs generally live to 12-15 years old, with proper care and attention being paramount in their quality and length of life. 

Coat: The Australian Shepherd has a medium-length double coat. This extra layer gives them the ability to control their temperature, meaning they can keep warm in the winter and stay cool in the summer. The bottom layer is woolly, soft, and dense, while the top coat has a thicker, coarser feel.

Like we’ve mentioned before, Australian Shepherds are incredibly intelligent dogs. This makes them eager to learn and easy to train, as long as you have a good training schedule that you’re willing to stick to.

Potty Time: From the day you take your Aussie home, potty training should be pretty high up on the list of priorities. Pups will need a set schedule with frequent potty breaks to get them into good habits from the get-go. All going well, by six months old, your dog should be a pretty confident pottier. 

Commands: Start slow with commands from an early age, and build up as they grow. Make sure to get the basics down like “sit”, “down”, “come”, and “stay”, before adding in fun tricks. Remember, these quick learners will ace the commands in no time.

Making Friends: Proper socialising with other animals is an important factor in taking them out and about with peace of mind. Just like with basic training, introducing your pup to other dogs from a young age will help get them used to being around animals and pets. Being traditionally farm dogs, Aussies are pretty accustomed to socialising, so this step shouldn’t be too difficult. Just make sure that their furry friends are also vaccinated to prevent any unwanted illness!

Listening to barking is a natural part of dog ownership, but it can be a lot if it’s ongoing and you don’t quite know why. This is why it’s incredibly important to understand your own dog, as well as common breed behaviours. When you know why they’re barking, you can help them work through whatever the cause is, putting you and your furry friend at ease. 

Protective Nature: As the Australian Shepherd is a working dog at its core, barking is pretty much in their bones. With this being said, they don’t tend to bark without good reason. Aussies will generally bark as a warning to their owners of perceived strangers approaching, wanting to help keep their loved ones safe. As with many breeds, any potential threat will often be met with some barking. Reassuring your pal that everything’s ok with gentle pats and a treat might just do the trick!

Boredom Busters: These hyper-intelligent dogs can also get bored pretty easily, and will be sure to vocalise their frustration. The easiest way to mitigate this is to simply keep them entertained. This doesn’t mean that the owner has to be at the dog’s beck and call 24/7, as there is a huge range of puzzles and interactive toys on the market to bust any boredom the pooch may feel. 

Training: Training can also be a great way to put a stop to unwanted barking. Positive reinforcement works wonders with this clever breed, so a quick command and treat can help to keep any non-desirable behaviours in check.

An energetic breed, Australian Shepherds require about two hours of exercise a day to keep them healthy, happy, and stimulated. This can be made up of different activities to change things up and offer some variety for them (and you)!

Working Dogs: As Australian Shepherds are known for their skills on the farm, it’s no surprise that the breed is well-accustomed to exercise. These dogs can reach speeds of up to 56 kilometres per hour, and can run at a gentler pace for up to about nine kilometres. If it’s a furry farmhand you’re after, make sure to get your Aussie Shepherd from a reputable farming breeder. Farm dogs will likely get their daily exercise needs met while rounding livestock and helping you out, but make sure to build up their stamina over time- too much too soon can lead to pain and injuries for the pups!

The Great Outdoors: These farm dogs love nothing more than embracing the outdoors and running around in big, open spaces. If there’s somewhere safe where you can take them to bound around off-lead, this is a great option. It gives them a chance to burn off some energy, while you can stroll, throw the ball, and take in the fresh air at a more leisurely pace.

Fun and Games: If you’ve had enough walking and running with your pooch, there are plenty of activities you can do to appeal to your Aussie’s natural herding instincts. Think fetch, frisbee, and hide and seek. Treibball is also a beloved game of herding dogs and their owners alike; you gather exercise balls of different sizes and leave them around the room, allowing your pal to “herd” them together just like they would with livestock. 

Mental Stimulation: Puzzles and treat-guided toys can be the perfect way to keep your Australian Shepherd entertained while you get some work done. Kongs, lickers, and basically anything that requires some brain power to get to the bottom of will keep your pet entertained.

It’s important to tailor the playtime to your dog’s age and ability. Be careful not to play too rough or over-exercise your dog, as this could increase the risk of injury, particularly where the breed may be predisposed.

Hip Dysplasia: While Australian Shepherds are keen runners and high-energy dogs in general, the breed is prone to experiencing joint issues like hip dysplasia. This is where the hip joint, which is supposed to be rounded in shape, has a flatter appearance, causing pain and movement issues for the affected dog. The progression of hip problems can be slowed down through careful exercise, physiotherapy, and weight management. 

Vision Issues: Aussies can also face vision problems like cataracts, retinal detachment, and progressive retinal atrophy, among others. These are genetic conditions, so be sure to see the parents’ eye certificates if buying from a breeder, as they will be required to screen for any inherited conditions.

Hearing: Double Merle Australian Shepherds, who are bred with two of the dominant merle gene, are also more likely to suffer hearing problems and potential deafness. It’s important to check your dog’s pedigree to avoid conditions associated with double Merle.

Epilepsy: This is another health implication that the breed can be prone to, facing seizures or convulsions while having an episode. While there is no cure, symptoms can be managed with proper diagnosis and medication.

Balanced Diet: Just like you, your Australian Shepherd needs a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and happy. Look for foods where the protein source is clearly named as the first ingredient. This will be great for your Aussie’s activity level and to maintain their muscular physique. 

Age: This is one of the main factors that will influence your dog’s diet. As Australian Shepherd pups are energetic and rapidly growing, they’ll need 1-2.5 cups of food, split between 3-4 meals per day. Adults will need 1.5-3.5 cups twice daily, whereas seniors will need slightly less as their activity level and metabolism slow.

Playing with their Meal: Integrating mental stimulation into mealtime is a fantastic way to keep your Aussie Shepherd engaged in activities throughout the day. Slow-feeders and lick mats will make eating an enriching experience, and will help your dog pace themselves, preventing indigestion and bloating, giving them all the fuel they’ll need for a happy and healthy life!

Whether you own an Australian Shepard or are considering adding one to your family, we trust that our guide has provided you with valuable insights. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Australian Shepard ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Engage with other Australian Shepard owners, share your experiences and continue learning about your dog's breed, characteristics, temperament, and the best ways to care for and cherish them.

This article was written by Dr. Jack Ayerbe