Australian Shepherd
Also called aussie.
Developed in the western United States despite the name. The merle coat and blue eyes are what people notice, and merle carries a genuine breeding hazard worth understanding.
- Group
- Herding
- Weight
- 16–32 kg
- Coat
- medium
- Ears
- drop
- Muzzle
- medium
- Build
- Sturdy
- Origin
- United States
What it looks like
Solidly built with a medium double coat, triangular ears set high and breaking forward, and frequently a naturally bobbed or docked tail. Often merle with blue or marbled eyes.
The characters that confirm it
- A naturally bobbed or docked tail in many individuals — a Border Collie has a full tail.
- Triangular drop ears breaking forward, not semi-erect.
- Frequently merle: mottled patches of diluted colour over a solid base.
- Heavier coat and squarer build than a Border Collie.
Temperament
High energy, strongly bonded, and prone to herding whatever is available including children.
Health
The MDR1 drug-sensitivity mutation is common and matters clinically. Collie eye anomaly and hereditary cataract have tests. Breeding two merles produces double-merle offspring with a high rate of deafness and blindness — this is entirely avoidable and is the reason merle-to-merle breeding is condemned.
Confused with
Full low-set tail with an upward swirl, lighter build, semi-erect ears.
The same dog scaled down, now a separate breed.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Australian Shepherd?
A naturally bobbed or docked tail in many individuals — a Border Collie has a full tail. Triangular drop ears breaking forward, not semi-erect.
What is a Australian Shepherd like to live with?
High energy, strongly bonded, and prone to herding whatever is available including children.
What health problems do Australian Shepherds have?
The MDR1 drug-sensitivity mutation is common and matters clinically. Collie eye anomaly and hereditary cataract have tests. Breeding two merles produces double-merle offspring with a high rate of deafness and blindness — this is entirely avoidable and is the reason merle-to-merle breeding is condemned.