Teacup Australian shepherd puppies for sale
Australian Shepherd Information
Australian Shepherd Basics
Where Are Australian Shepherds From?
The Australian Shepherd was created from a combination of various herding breeds in California in the mid-19th century. Their roots are thought to be from herding dogs from the Basque region.
How Many Types of Australian Shepherds Are There?
Apart from color variations, there is just one type of Australian Shepherd.
Which Breeds Mix with Australian Shepherds?
Aussie Doodle (Australian Shepherd + Poodle)
Aussiedor (Australian Shepherd + Labrador)
Australian Retriever (Australian Shepherd + Golden Retriever)
Aussalier (Australian Shepherd + Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Aussiedor (Australian Shepherd + Labrador)
Australian Retriever (Australian Shepherd + Golden Retriever)
Aussalier (Australian Shepherd + Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Australian Shepherd Lifespan
Australian Shepherds live about 13-15 years.
5 Yrs20 Yrs
Australian Shepherd Size (Height & Weight)
Australian Shepherds are medium-sized dogs, most weighing 35-70 lbs and standing around 18-23 inches tall.
Australian Shepherd Appearance
What Colors Do Australian Shepherds Come In?
Australian Shepherds come in a variety of colors, among them red, blue, black, tuxedo, and merle.
How Much Do Australian Shepherds Shed?
Australian Shepherds have moderate shedding, mainly in the spring when they lose their thick winter coat but it can be year-round.
Sheds a LittleSheds a Lot
Do You Need to Groom an Australian Shepherd?
Australian Shepherds require weekly brushings to help avoid the coat from becoming matted. Their coat is not difficult to groom.
OccasionallyFrequently
Australian Shepherd Temperament, Personality & Training
How Much Do Australian Shepherds Bark?
Australian Shepherds are incredibly loyal dogs, which on the other side of the coin, makes them excellent watchdogs. They often only accept strangers once they’ve been proven acceptable by their owners. Like most dogs, they have a tendency to bark at loud noises and intruders. However, they can be discouraged from excessive barking with proper training and exercise.
QuietExtremely Vocal
Are Australian Shepherds Good with Kids?
Because they are herding dogs, it is not uncommon to see Australian Shepherds try to herd small children when playing. However, the instinct to nip at the heels of people in order to corral them can be halted with bite-inhibition training and by redirecting their instincts towards games or toys.As with any breed, it is recommended that your child is always supervised when interacting with your Australian Shepherd to keep both the child and dog safe.
Needs Lot of SupervisionVery Tolerant
Are Australian Shepherds Good Family Dogs?
Australian Shepherds are incredibly affectionate, adaptable, intelligent, devoted dogs. They have a major love of the outdoors and a loyalty that makes them excellent watchdogs. Their sense of humor and eager desire to please makes them well-suited to families, especially those that understand its need to have its energy directed towards exercise and useful pursuits.
Independent SpiritFamily Dog All the Way
Are Australian Shepherds Good with Cats?
Australian Shepherds are herders, so you may find them trying to herd your cats if they are bored and restless, all reasons it is important to make sure they get plenty of exercise and work motivation elsewhere. Of course, each dog has his own preferences and temperament, but you can feel fairly confident your Australian Shepherd, if properly socialized to your cat and/or introduced at a young age, should get along just swell.
Likely to ChaseHey, New Pal!
Are Australian Shepherds Easy to Train?
Australian Shepherds are both incredibly intelligent, athletic, and willing to please – all ideal traits when it comes to training. They also happen to excel at Frisbee.
HeadstrongObedient
Australian Shepherd Health
Do Australian Shepherds Have a Lot of Health Problems?
Australian Shepherds are fairly healthy on the whole, though they do suffer from some genetic health issues such as Epilepsy.
Prone to IssuesGenerally Healthy
What Diseases are Australian Shepherds Prone To?
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, the abnormalities seen in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues such as pain, lameness and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can be done to fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Australian Shepherd, have her checked out by a vet to see if she has or is prone to getting dysplasia so you know what she will be able to handle in terms of activities and exercise.
- Eye problems: These include a detached retina; cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; distichiasis, an abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye, resulting in irritation to the eye; collie eye anomaly, a congenital defect that causes abnormalities or unusual changes in the eye and may lead to blindness; progressive retinal atrophy, a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness; epiphora, an issue that causes excessive eye watering; and persistent pupillary membranes, a condition in which remnant strands of fetal tissue cross over the iris, are all issues that may affect an Australian Shepherd.
- Others: Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid becomes underactive and does not produce enough body regulating hormones; allergies; drug sensitivity; and cancer. Australian Shepherds are also the most common breed to be affected by epilepsy.
Purchasing vs Adopting an Australian Shepherd
How Much Does an Australian Shepherd Cost?
You can adopt an Australian Shepherd at a much lower cost than buying one from a breeder. The cost to adopt an Australian Shepherd is around $300 in order to cover the expenses of caring for the dog before adoption. In contrast, buying an Australian Shepherd from breeders can be prohibitively expensive. Depending on their breeding, they usually cost anywhere from $500-$1,500.
Adoption
$100$10,000+
Purchase from Breeder
$100$10,000+
Where Can I Adopt an Australian Shepherd
The easiest way to adopt an Australian Shepherd would be through a rescue that specializes in Australian Shepherds. A great place to start would be by starting a breed search on Adopt-a-Pet.com. The search will show you all the available Australian Shepherds in your area.
Australian Shepherd Shelters and Rescues
There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for Australian Shepherd puppies. Browse the list of Australian Shepherd rescues and shelters near you, below.