How Long Do Australian Shepherds Live?
Australian Shepherds live 12-15 years on average. Here is the AKC breed profile, the health areas to stay ahead of, and how to give a Australian Shepherd more good years.
Breed profile
Breed profile and trait ratings: American Kennel Club. Trait scores are AKC ratings from 1 to 5.
At 50-65 pounds, the Australian Shepherd is a large breed. Large breeds tend to age faster and live a few years less than small dogs, which its 12-15 years average reflects.
Does a Australian Shepherd fit your life?
The Australian Shepherd is a brilliant, high-drive herding dog that trains exceptionally well and thrives on both physical exercise and mental challenges in equal measure. It's wonderful with kids and brings a playful, clownish energy to family life. The tradeoff is intensity: this breed needs a genuinely active household, or its smarts and energy can turn into mischief.
A great match if you
- You want a highly trainable dog that excels at learning new skills.
- You can offer serious daily exercise and mental work, since both energy and stimulation needs run at the top.
- You have kids at home, since this breed rates exceptionally well with children.
- You enjoy a playful, clownish companion.
- You're an active household looking for a dog that can keep up.
Think twice if
- You have a low-activity lifestyle, since this breed's energy and mental needs are both intense.
- You'll want to give this dog a job, sport, or serious daily outlet to prevent boredom-driven mischief.
- You should plan for regular grooming upkeep, since its coat still needs consistent brushing to manage shedding.
Health areas for the Australian Shepherd
Based on the breed profile, the health areas most worth staying ahead of for a Australian Shepherd are Joint and mobility, Dental and oral health, Eye and vision, Neurological / seizure and Cancer / cellular health (owners often watch for hip dysplasia, teeth, cataracts).
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Australian Shepherd facts, quick answers
How long do Australian Shepherds live?
Australian Shepherds live 12-15 years on average, and plenty go beyond that. The two biggest levers on where a given dog lands are keeping it at a lean, healthy weight and staying ahead of the health issues the breed is prone to.
How big do Australian Shepherds get?
A full-grown Australian Shepherd stands 20-23 inches (male), 18-21 inches (female) and weighs 50-65 pounds (male), 40-55 pounds (female), which puts it firmly in the large-breed range.
What kind of dog is a Australian Shepherd?
The Australian Shepherd is a herding breed, and one of the country's more popular breeds, ranked 12 of 208. It is a large dog that typically lives around 12-15 years.
Are Australian Shepherds high-energy dogs?
Australian Shepherds are a high-octane breed that needs serious daily exercise and, ideally, a job to burn it off; without that outlet they get bored and restless.
Are Australian Shepherds easy to train?
Australian Shepherds are very trainable and love having their brain worked, picking up commands quickly with positive, consistent training.
Do Australian Shepherds shed a lot?
They are moderate shedders. A weekly brush keeps most of the loose hair off your furniture.
Do Australian Shepherds bark a lot?
They bark a normal amount, mostly to let you know something is up.
Are Australian Shepherds good with kids?
Australian Shepherds are great with children, gentle and patient, which is a big reason families love the breed; supervise young kids around any dog.
Do Australian Shepherds get along with other dogs?
Australian Shepherds are able to get along with other dogs, though early socialization helps and some prefer to be the only dog.
Are Australian Shepherds good for first-time owners?
Australian Shepherds are rewarding but not the easiest first dog; they do best with an owner ready to commit to their exercise, training and grooming.
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