Australian Shepherd

Good to know

• Herding instinct: bred to herd livestock on American ranches, many try to round up children, pets or bikes, and may nip at heels.
• Plenty of exercise: highly energetic, they need vigorous daily exercise and enjoy dog sports like agility, herding and flyball.
• Brainy and eager: quick learners that need mental challenges, or they can get bored and destructive.
• Weather-resistant coat: the medium-length double coat sheds and needs weekly brushing, more during seasonal sheds.
• Reserved with strangers: loyal to family but often cautious with newcomers, so socialize them early.

Getting out with a Australian Shepherd

Bred to keep going: they need plenty of exercise every day, like long trail walks, hikes and off-leash play where it's allowed.

Common health considerations

Inherited conditions to ask your vet about

• Hip dysplasia
• Cataracts
• Epilepsy
• MDR1 gene

Can carry the MDR1 gene, which makes some common medicines unsafe at normal doses. A simple test tells you; let your vet know either way.

Not every Australian Shepherd will have these. Good breeders screen for inherited conditions, and your vet can advise on testing and check-ups.

Explore more breeds in the Herding group