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Pastoral group · United States

Australian Shepherd

Also called Aussie.

Medium dog, needs a serious amount of exercise, learns almost anything, fast.

  • Smart
  • Work-oriented
  • Exuberant
  • Good-natured
  • Protective
Australian Shepherd, a medium pastoral breed
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels
Size
Medium
Weight
18 to 29 kg40 to 65 lb
Lives
12 to 15 years
Energy
Very High
Trains
Very High
Barks
Moderate

Training

Training an Australian Shepherd

Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.

  1. Keep Busy

    Start here

    Boredom leads to destructive behaviour.

  2. Channel Herding

    Provide outlets for natural herding drive.

  3. Variety in Training

    Quick learners who get bored with repetition.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Australian Shepherd and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.

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Coming to iPhone first. The list hears the day it opens.

At home

Living with one

Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsHigh
  • StrangersModerate
  • CatsModerate

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
2+ hours daily. Active sports and mental games.
Grooming
Heavy shedding. Regular brushing needed.
Drool
Low
Coat
Double coat, Medium lengthBlue Merle, Red Merle, Black, Red, Tricolour
In a flat
Needs more space than a flat gives.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Hip Dysplasia

    Moderate

    Joint issues

  • MDR1 Gene

    Moderate

    Drug sensitivity, test required

  • Eye Problems

    Moderate

    Cataracts, coloboma

Where they come from

History

Despite name, developed in western US in the 19th century from various herding breeds.

Similar breeds

All breeds

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