Australian Shepherd

• Don’t let their name fool you — the Australian Shepherd is not native to Australia. This breed was refined in the American West during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• According to legends from the American Old West, Native Americans called the Australian Shepherds “ghost eye” dogs and revered them as sacred. Many Aussies have pale blue eyes (or a combination of blue and other colored eyes).
• The Aussie is a quintessential ranch dog. After World War II, they could be seen performing tricks with cowboys and showing off their skills at rodeos. Jay Sisler was a successful dog trainer that performed with his Aussies throughout the 50s and 60s. His dogs made several appearances in Walt Disney productions and were featured on The Ed Sullivan Show.
• An Australian Shepherd named Harley was adopted in 2017 by Vice President Mike Pence.
• While popular throughout the mid 20th century, the Australian Shepherd wasn’t officially recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1991.

Breed Summary

Lifespan

12 to 15 years

Weight

40 - 70 pounds

18 - 23 inches tall

Energy level

Tri-athlete

Breed Group

Herding

Unique personality

Outdoorsy. Rugged. Loyal. Full of vigor. The Australian Cattle Dog is not for the faint of heart! Their endless energy is matched only by their dedication to their owner. While Heelers tend to be more reserved with people they don’t know, they are very affectionate with their family. This dedication to their people, alertness, and loud, high-pitched bark make them excellent watchdogs. Because this breed was created with the specific task of driving cattle over long distances, they are truly endurance athletes, with the intelligence to match. If you’re up for an active lifestyle full of adventure, a Heeler is a dog for the job!

Similar Breeds

• Border Collie
• Pyrenean Shepherd
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Collie
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Miniature American Shepherd

History of the Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd’s history can be traced back to the Basque region of Spain and France, where Pyrenean Shepherds were the herding dog of choice by the talented herdsman of the region. These Basque shepherds emigrated to Australia in the 1800s, and their herding dogs traveled with them. It’s believed, during their time in Australia, these dogs were crossed with Collies and Border Collies. Eventually, the Basque immigrants made their way across the Pacific to the vast American West. The breed’s name is most likely due to its long journey to the United States by way of Australia.

These herding dogs became a popular choice for ranchers in the rough terrain of California and Colorado. They were unaffected by the higher altitudes of mountain ranches and were excellent working dogs with the stamina to herd all day. The Australian Shepherd breed was refined during the late 1800s and early 1900s by ranchers in the west, technically making it an American breed.

North American History of the Australian Shepherd

The Aussie didn’t explode onto the popular scene until after World War II when western riding and rodeos became a popular pastime. Aussies would help cowboys herd livestock at rodeos and then put on a show with tricks and performances. The dogs made appearances in mid-century western films and became an integral part of cowboy culture in America. As the breed spread beyond the west, they excelled in many different roles, working as service dogs, in search and rescue, and even drug detection jobs. Even though they are more of a newcomer to the American Kennel Club’s official breed list (recognized in 1991), they ranked as the 17th most popular dog breed in 2018.

Australian Shepherd Behavior and Training

Australian Shepherds are rockstars in training and need a committed owner who will sign up for a dog sport or provide other regular physical and mental activity. If this breed doesn’t have a job to do, they will create their own — and they often decide that herding the children or other pets is the job for them. Aussies are quite food motivated, but also respond well to toys and play when used as training rewards.

It’s important to work on nipping and herding behavior from a young age with Australian Shepherds, giving them appropriate outlets for these behaviors as puppies and redirecting them when they start to herd the wrong things.

Do Australian Shepherds play well with others?

Australian Shepherds can be reserved and cautious when first meeting new people, and need time to get comfortable. Many Aussies enjoy attention if they have been introduced to it from puppyhood in a positive way. Proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy is essential for their socialization skills.

This Aussie has natural herding instincts that can make living with younger children difficult. They will do better with older children that don’t run around or squeal, which often triggers herding and nipping behavior. However, Australian Shepherds can make fantastic family dogs if socialized with children from puppyhood and given appropriate outlets for their herding instincts. Children should always be taught how to interact with dogs respectfully and politely to help keep everyone safe. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.

This breed can do well with other pets in the home, as long as their herding behavior is managed, and they have been well socialized. Introducing pets to each other should be done in small increments, always focusing on creating positive associations with each other, and rewarding calm behavior. Herding dogs can sometimes overwhelm other dogs during play, with herding and nipping. Make sure to manage playtime between an Aussie and other dogs to ensure everyone is having a good time.

Exercise requirements

Australian Shepherds are long on endurance and make excellent running or hiking buddies. Provide your Aussie with at least an hour of physical exercise every day. Working different kinds of activity into exercise sessions helps to burn energy, so mix in games of fetch or frisbee with their regular walks.

While these dogs do need lots of physical activity, it’s also essential to give them time to recharge. Their herding instincts mean they’re very responsive to movement and other environmental stimuli. If they are constantly busy, they can become overstimulated, nervous, and reactive. After lots of exercise, make sure they have a quiet place to relax and recover.

Speak with your veterinarian about appropriate exercise for an Australian Shepherd puppy. Until they are full-grown (bone growth plates typically all close between 12 and 18 months of age), avoid strenuous or repetitive activities like jogging or running — as this can increase their risk of damage to the growing bone and cartilage, causing pain and future joint issues.

Mental enrichment needs

Without a herd of sheep to work, an Aussie needs an outlet for their mental energy. By giving them mental enrichment, you’ll prevent boredom and the unwanted behaviors that boredom often causes. Give your Australian Shepherd interactive toys, feed them their regular meals from food puzzles, practice nose work, and incorporate lots of trick training into their daily routine. Mental enrichment will help an Aussie puppy learn good habits from a young age, and give them an appropriate outlet for instinctual behaviors like chewing, digging, or herding.

Activities for the Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds do well in many different activities:

• Agility
• Disc Dog
• Herding / Treibball
• Nosework / Tracking
• Flyball
• Rally Obedience
• Therapy Work
• Search and Rescue
• Skijoring

Australian Shepherds in pop culture

Famous Owners of the Australian Shepherd

• Amanda Seyfried (Actress)
• Alyssa Milano (Actress)
• James Brolin (Actor)
• Trace Adkins (Singer)
• Steven Spielberg (Director)
• Mel Gibson (Actor)
• Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly (Actors)
• Jay Sisler (Actor)
• Flip Wilson (Comedian)
• Devin O’Branagan (Author)

Famous Australian Shepherds

Bunk, the sidekick of silent-era film cowboy Jack Hoxie