Australian Shepherd
Working herding breed. Insanely smart, needs a job, heavy shedder. MDR1 mutation means drug sensitivity — test and be careful.
Coat
double
Size
medium · 40-65 lbs
Life expectancy
12-15 yrs
Activity
very high
The breed
Where the Australian Shepherd comes from, and what living with one actually asks of you.
About the Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is an American-developed herding breed despite the name. It became associated with western ranch work, stock handling, and later dog sports. Aussies are intelligent, athletic, and visually striking, but the useful version of the breed is built around work and responsiveness.
Living with an Aussie is best for people who enjoy training and structure. Many are affectionate, playful, loyal, and highly aware of movement. Without outlets, they may herd children, chase bikes, bark, guard resources, or become anxious. Exercise alone is not enough; they need thinking work and calm-settle skills.
Health planning should include hips, eyes, seizures, MDR1 drug sensitivity, and merle-related hearing or eye concerns where relevant. Local data flags hip dysplasia, epilepsy, Collie Eye Anomaly, MDR1 sensitivity, cataracts, and PRA. MDR1 status matters for medication safety, and eye exams/DNA testing matter in breeding programs.
Living with an Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are usually intelligent, energetic, loyal, and responsive. They can be excellent with children and other dogs when socialized, but motion sensitivity and herding nips need early redirection. Some are reserved with strangers. Training should emphasize recall, leash manners, settle skills, handling, barking control, and appropriate outlets for chasing and problem-solving.
Daily care
Feeding, exercise, and coat — plus how the routine shifts from puppy to senior.
Feeding an Australian Shepherd
Active herding breed. Calorie needs vary with size, neuter status, and work level; working dogs may need substantially more than companions. Needs balanced protein for muscle.
Key nutrients
- —high-quality protein
- —omega-3
- —taurine
Portion notes: Two meals daily; adjust for activity level.
Exercise & enrichment
Aussies need daily physical exercise and mental work. Herding, agility, obedience, scent work, hiking, and trick training fit well. Feed to body condition and actual workload; working dogs and companions have different needs.
Grooming routine
The medium double coat needs regular brushing and more during shedding. Check ears, trim nails, brush teeth, and inspect eyes. Do not shave the coat for routine cooling; manage heat with timing, shade, water, and conditioning.
The Australian Shepherd through the years
Aussie puppies need socialization, calm exposure, handling, crate skills, bite inhibition, and early work on chasing, barking, and settling.
Adult Aussies need regular training, measured meals, exercise, and monitoring for seizures, eye changes, drug-sensitivity status, lameness, or anxiety.
Senior Aussies benefit from lower-impact work, eye checks, arthritis support, dental care, and prompt evaluation of appetite, mobility, vision, or neurologic changes.
Health
What Australian Shepherds are prone to, the signs worth catching early, and what supports them.
Health concerns to watch
MDR1 gene mutation causes sensitivity to certain drugs (ivermectin, loperamide). Get tested.
Needs 1-2 hours of intense physical AND mental exercise daily; bored Aussies become destructive.
Heavy double coat sheds year-round with two heavy blows per year.
Common symptoms in Australian Shepherds
What to watch for, what causes it, and when to worry.
Supplements for Australian Shepherds
Matched to this breed's common health concerns. All NASC-sealed.
Cosequin (Nutramax)
The #1 vet-recommended joint supplement
- —#1 vet-recommended
- —NASC Quality Seal
- —Glucosamine + chondroitin
- —Clinically studied
Supplements support — they don't treat or cure disease. Talk to your vet for anything clinical.
Gear & services
Food, gear, training, and what the first year with an Australian Shepherd actually costs.
Fresh food picks for Australian Shepherds
Our recommended fresh-food subscriptions for medium dogs.
The Farmer's Dog
Fresh, human-grade food portioned for your dog
- —Human-grade fresh food
- —Portioned per dog
- —Vet-developed recipes
- —50% off first box
Ollie
Fresh food with both cooked and baked recipes
- —Fresh and baked recipes
- —Turkey, beef, lamb, chicken proteins
- —Custom portions
- —60% off first box
Nom Nom
Restaurant-quality fresh food with microbiome testing
- —Pre-portioned pouches
- —Vet-formulated
- —Microbiome testing available
- —50% off first order
Spot & Tango
Fresh or UnKibble — whole-food nutrition, your choice
- —Fresh or UnKibble options
- —Human-grade ingredients
- —Shelf-stable storage option
- —50% off first order
What to budget for an Australian Shepherd in year one.
A practical range for routine care and first-year setup. It assumes a dry or mixed diet and mostly at-home care; purchase and adoption fees are excluded.
Practical first-year range
$1,475-$4,375
A typical ongoing year runs $1,200-$2,900before optional services and unexpected medical care.
Food (year one)
Dry or mixed diet; fresh food can cost more
$600-$1,300
Gear & supplies (year one)
Crate, bed, harness, bowls, toys
$225-$500
Routine vet + preventatives
Wellness, vaccines, flea/tick and heartworm; no emergencies
$450-$775
Grooming
high needs; DIY to periodic professional help
$50-$600
Training
At-home work to group classes
$0-$600
Optional supplements
Not included in the headline totals
$0-$480
Other first-year
Microchip, license, spay/neuter if needed
$150-$600
Optional pet insurance
Not included above; premiums vary by age, ZIP and coverage.
$550-$1,350/yr
Also not included: fresh-food-only diets, boarding or day care, emergencies, and condition-specific treatment. Breed health risks are planning flags—not guaranteed annual bills.
Size-adjusted U.S. planning ranges, updated July 2026 and benchmarked against Rover's 2026 cost report and Synchrony's 2025 study. Actual costs vary by region and lifestyle.
Gear for Australian Shepherds
Breed-size-appropriate picks. Links go to Amazon.
Training for Australian Shepherds
Matched to Australian Shepherd temperament (smart, work-oriented, exuberant).
GoodPup
1-on-1 virtual dog training with certified trainers
- —1-on-1 live video sessions
- —Certified trainers
- —Custom per-dog plan
- —Weekly structure
BAXTER & Bella
Online puppy training program, lifetime access
- —Lifetime membership
- —Self-paced video lessons
- —Puppy + adult content
- —Behavior troubleshooting
Dogo
App-based training with daily structure
- —App-based daily plans
- —AI-guided feedback
- —Affordable monthly cost
- —Trick training library
GPS trackers for Australian Shepherds
Size-appropriate picks for tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts.
Fi
Smart collar with GPS + activity tracking
- —Real-time GPS
- —Activity + sleep tracking
- —Escape alerts
- —3-month battery
Tractive
Affordable GPS tracker with unlimited range
- —Attaches to any collar
- —Worldwide GPS coverage
- —Activity monitoring
- —Budget-friendly
Curious about their DNA?
Confirm breed mix, check for genetic health risks, and get actionable insights.
Embark
The most comprehensive dog DNA test
- —350+ breeds identified
- —250+ health conditions screened
- —Cornell-partnered science
- —Relatives finder
Wisdom Panel
Breed identification + health screening
- —350+ breeds
- —Genetic health insights
- —Budget-friendly option
- —Fast results
More on the Australian Shepherd
Compare the Australian Shepherd
Similar-size breeds
Australian Shepherd questions, answered.
Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs?+
What is MDR1 sensitivity?+
Do Aussies need a job?+
Are merle Aussies at health risk?+
What health testing should I ask about?+
How long do Australian Shepherds live?+
How big do Australian Shepherds get?+
How much exercise does an Australian Shepherd need?+
What health problems do Australian Shepherds commonly have?+
Are Australian Shepherds hard to groom?+
What should I feed an Australian Shepherd?+
Are Australian Shepherds good for first-time owners?+
Ask Searchbreed about your Australian Shepherd
Get personalized answers about food, health, and care.