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Australian Shepherd

Aussie

The Australian Shepherd is, despite its name, an American breed — an intelligent working dog with strong herding and guarding instincts. Its standard describes a well-balanced dog of medium size, slightly longer than tall, good natured and sometimes reserved at first meetings, with a medium-length, straight to wavy coat in blue merle, black, red merle or red, each with or without white and tan markings.

It needs more than two hours of exercise a day and mental challenges such as puzzle games and training, and suits a large house with a large garden in the country. In the right household it can make a really good family pet, but its strong herding instinct can make it herd children, so it is not recommended for families with smaller children. It does not like being left alone, and its coat needs brushing a few times a week.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Australian Shepherd — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — The Royal Kennel Club S133
Adult weight
18–29 kg — PDSA S134
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S133
Brushing
more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S133
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S133
Lifespan
more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS133S134
  • needs mental challengesS134
  • may “herd” children at playS134
  • chews things when boredS134
  • shedsS133S134
  • needs brushing several times a weekS133S134

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Height at the withers: males 51–58 cm, females 46–53 cm — FCI S131
  • Adult weight: 18–29 kg — PDSA S134

Training

  • No. 42 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 342, group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs); origin: USA. — FCI S132

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an Australian Shepherd need?

According to our sources, the Australian Shepherd needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S133.

How long does an Australian Shepherd live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S133.

How big does an Australian Shepherd get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Australian Shepherd, according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S133; Adult weight: 18–29 kg — PDSA S134.

How much grooming does an Australian Shepherd need?

Coat and grooming of the Australian Shepherd, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S133; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S133; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S133.

Who is the Australian Shepherd a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Australian Shepherd as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S133S134; family life — PDSA S134; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S133. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S133S134; needs mental challenges — PDSA S134; may “herd” children at play — PDSA S134; chews things when bored — PDSA S134; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S133S134; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S133S134.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 90 (7.5 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing twice a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S133

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Inherited eye diseases occur in the breed, such as collie eye anomaly, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. — PDSA S134
  • Some dogs of the breed have an inherited sensitivity to certain medicines (multi-drug sensitivity, MDR1) — if your dog is affected, tell your vet. — PDSA S134
  • Merle is a standard colour in this breed; two merle dogs should not be bred together, because such puppies risk impaired sight and hearing — the Royal Kennel Club does not register them. — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • DNA test for collie eye anomaly (CEA/CH) — The Royal Kennel Club S133

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for hereditary cataract (HSF4) — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • DNA test for multi-drug sensitivity (MDR1) — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S133
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S133

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S131FCI — FCI-Standard N° 342 — Australian Shepherd, EN (PDF)https://dev.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/342g01-en.pdf
  11. S132FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Australian Shepherd (342)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/BERGER-AUSTRALIEN-342.html
  12. S133The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Australian Shepherdhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/australian-shepherd/
  13. S134PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Australian Shepherd breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/australian-shepherd
  14. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  15. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  16. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  17. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  18. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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