Size: Weight Range: Male: 50-65 lbs. Female: 40-55 lbs.
Australian Shepherds grow for about 16 months until they reach about 50-65 pounds (males) or 40-45 pounds (females) on average. A mature Australian Shepherd stands approximately 18-23 inches tall, classifying the breed between medium- to large-size dogs.
A Female is a bit smaller than the male. The female Australian Shepherd is usually about 18-21 inches at the shoulders and weighs between 35-50 pounds. A female does not have the density or thickness as well as the length of the coat as the male.
Weight Range:
Male: 50-65 lbs. Female: 40-55 lbs.
However, it is common for an Australian shepherd to go through heat cycles every six months. So, they go into heat at least twice a year. By the time they reach their third or fourth cycle, they might establish a pattern, but before that, it is too early to determine their heat cycle.
Border collies, German shepherds, poodles, Australian shepherds and golden retrievers all have a reputation for being intelligent dogs.
They are generally healthy with a life expectancy of 12-15 years. Common health conditions include hip and elbow dysplasia, multidrug resistance mutation (MDR1), ocular conditions, epilepsy, and various cancers.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot, making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the 'speak' command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.
Your Aussie will bond to his family and be protective of and loyal to them. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that even though Aussies have strong guarding and herding instincts, they are sweet and cuddly indoor dogs that can even be kept in apartments.
Australian shepherd
The cute and thick-haired Australian shepherd is also prone to jealousy. Aussies are protective in nature. Therefore, when they see another person giving you a hug, their protection instincts kick in immediately.
Australian Shepherds are especially prone to hearing, eye, and vision problems, including Collie Eye Anomaly (which can be prevented through good breeding practices) and cataracts. Cataracts may occur at any stage of life and present themselves as a cloudiness in the eye.
As a general guideline, though, the American Veterinary Medical Association breaks it down like this: 15 human years equals the first year of a medium-sized dog's life. Year two for a dog equals about nine years for a human. And after that, each human year would be approximately five years for a dog.
Australian shepherds shed a lot. Many dog breeds that have a double-coat, like the Aussie's, are listed among the heaviest shedders out there. The German shepherd, husky, Labrador retriever, and golden retriever all have double coats and all frequently top the list of the heaviest shedders.
Aussies are known to bare teeth when they smile, one of only a few breeds to do so. Although they are not obsessive barkers, they will bark to protect their property, and warn you of nearby activity.
There's something Aussies are known the world over for, and that's their easy-going, friendly attitude. Of course food, events, art and history are all vital parts of the Australian culture, but what really distinguishes an Aussie is his or her laid-back outlook on life.
The 2022 Great Australian Dog Survey has also revealed cavoodles are our most popular dog breed and the most common name for dogs is Luna. Aussies are also happy to splash cash on their pups, with 74 per cent purchasing their dog for more than $1000.
The smaller breeds of dogs tend to live the longest. Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Toy Poodles and Lhasa Apsos are the breeds who typically live the longest with these averaging a lifespan of up to 20 years. This is much higher than the average lifespan of a dog which is between 10 and 13 years.
What Do Dogs Dream About? While no one knows for sure what your dog dreams about, researchers think they likely dream about dog things like chasing squirrels, running after rabbits, and playing fetch with you. But while dogs dream happy dreams about fun activities, they can also have bad dreams or nightmares.
The natural bobbed tail is a recessive gene within the Australian Shepherd dog breed genetic code. This genetic mutation curbs the tail, naturally creating a shortened tail that is only about one or two vertebrae in length.
Dogs do not have night vision in the sense that they can see when it's very dark or there's no light. A dog's eye is constructed of a cornea, pupil, lens, and retina which contains photoreceptors made up of rods that absorb light and cones to absorb color and brightness.
Aussie Eye Color and Eyeshine. Our breed standard allows eyes of any pigment color or combination of pigment colors. Aussie eyes have been seen that are golden, lemon yellow, amber, light brown, dark brown, green, orange, and blue. On very dark individuals they may even appear black.
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.