The Australian Shepherd is a breed of herding dog from the United States. The name of the breed is technically a misnomer, as it was developed in California in the 19th century, although it has its origins in Asturias, in the northwest of Spain; the breed was unknown in Australia at the time.
Like most medium-sized dogs, Australian Shepherds can live up to 15 years. Australian Shepherds live 13 to 15 years on average. This is similar to other dogs their size and weight.
Longevity. According to Guinness World Records, Bluey (1910–1939) lived to 29 years, 5 months before being euthanised.
Most Australian Shepherds should begin calming down at two years of age. At this point, they're considered mature dogs who can better regulate their energy. That said, not all Aussies will tone it down at this age. It may take them reaching seniority for their energy to drop off.
Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs with a life expectancy of 12-15 years.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), most purebred dogs live 8-15 years. So, the Australian shepherd's life expectancy of 12-15 years is near the upper limit. They are very long-lived dogs. But to truly compare apples to apples, we need to compare Australian shepherd dogs to other dogs of the same size.
Like many doggies, Australian Shepherds love to sleep. In fact, sleep takes up a good portion of an Australian Shepherd's life. In adulthood, they sleep about twelve hours a day! This is an energetic dog who needs to recharge as often as possible to stay in top form.
Your Australian Shepherd will need a minimum of two hours exercise every day, but the more you can give them the better. This should be split into two fairly long walks, with plenty of time to stop and have a sniff, along with the chance to run around off-lead in a secure area.
Australian shepherds are prone to worry, but only under certain conditions. The majority of Australian shepherds who have a regular schedule and live in a serene environment do not exhibit signs of anxiousness. However, this breed does not do well without a schedule or frequent attention from their owners.
Aussies are remarkably intelligent, quite capable of hoodwinking an unsuspecting novice owner. In short, this isn't the pet for everyone.
While an Aussie may be left home alone for four to six hours at a time, crate training may be necessary for the dog's safety.
Australian shepherdtemperament. Aussies are active, protective, friendly dogs that love to please and be loyal to their owners. They also have territorial instincts that can make them naturally possessive of their owners and home.
Being a medium-sized dog, Australian Shepherds, on average, weigh between 40-65 pounds and stand 18-23 inches in height. Their expected lifespan is 12-15 years.
Aussies are active yet easy-going dogs that love to romp with children. They tend to get along well with other pets. The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train.
The behavioral problems that seem to stem for these breeds typically revolve around their need to focus intently, their need to chase, and their need to work their brain. That focus can lead to reactivity or tense interactions with dogs or people, including lots of barking.
The Aussie's desire to cuddle
Dogs in general are known for being happy, cuddly, sweet, and soothing for a human to pet. Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all.
When in the outdoors, your Australian Shepherd will come across new things, hear sounds and smell things along the way. The length of the walk is limited to your energy as this dog can walk all day. Ideally, you should aim for about 45 to 60 minutes once or twice a day.
Loyal. Aussies are very smart, loyal, and love having someone to be with at all times. Loyalty is a necessary trait for any service dog. Besides being extremely friendly and energetic, Aussies are usually very easy to train and can make great emotional support animals or service dogs.
Some breeds that have a predisposition for anxiety are: Australian Shepherd. Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Aussies are beautiful, intelligent, playful, and lots of fun! But they can also be challenging, especially for novice owners. They are very high-energy, and they can be stubborn and mischievous. When combined with their intelligence, that can make them a real handful!
In addition to being herding dogs, Australian Shepherds serve as Seeing Eye dogs, hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Because of their high intelligence, Aussies are well-suited to do a wide variety of jobs.
1. Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.