How to Select an Australian Shepherd

The Australian shepherd came to the United States from Australia in the 1800s accompanied by Basque shepherds. This bright working dog is bred to be a herder and a guard dog and is playful and energetic, demanding an abundance of physical activity.

Things You'll Need

  • Dental Kits (for Dogs)
  • Dog Beds
  • Dog Bones
  • Dog Brushes
  • Dog Collars
  • Dog Dishes
  • Dog Food
  • Dog Leashes
  • Dog Shampoo
  • Dog Toys
  • Nail Clippers For Dogs
  • Frisbees
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Instructions

    • 1

      Realize that the Australian shepherd has seemingly boundless energy - expect to spend a lot of time exercising and running with your dog.

    • 2

      Select an Australian shepherd if you have children in the house. The Australian shepherd is a puppy at heart and loves to romp around with children.

    • 3

      Choose this breed if you're looking for a watchdog and guard dog. The Australian shepherd is very protective of its home and family, and is gentle with adults and children alike.

    • 4

      Know that your Australian shepherd will expect to be an important member of the family. This is a social dog and it does not do well when left alone.

    • 5

      Look at the Australian shepherd's features when choosing yours. The dog will be intelligent, alert and poised in appearance, with a medium-length coat that is either straight or wavy.

    • 6

      Choose from a variety of coat colors. The Australian shepherds can have coats with a black tricolor, red tricolor, blue merle or red merle (all colors can have white or tan markings as well).

    • 7

      Understand that the Australian shepherd is prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint), cataracts (cloudy eye lens), progressive retinal atrophy (blindness) and Von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder).

    • 8

      Check out potential breeders very carefully, being sure to ask if they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. Affiliation with a club means you can check their references to make sure that they don't run a puppy mill and that they screen for health problems before they breed.

    • 9

      Note that male Australian shepherds will grow to 20 to 25 inches and weigh 50 to 65 pounds. Females will grow to 18 to 21 inches and weigh 40 to 55 pounds.

    • 10

      Be aware that you'll probably pay between $300 and $1,000 for a purebred Australian shepherd.

    • 11

      Realize that an Australian shepherd's life expectancy is 12 years or more.