Australian Shepherd

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

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A herding dog that will herd the children

Australian shepherds are medium herding dogs, often 40 to 65 pounds, with a lifespan around 12 to 15 years. The name is American. The work drive is not optional. They nip heels, stare, and invent rules about where the cat is allowed to walk. That is herding, and it gets a child bitten if you call it a quirk.

They are trainable to a degree that surprises people coming from a hound. They are also noise-sensitive and poorly suited to a home that wants a dog to sleep through the workday with nothing to chew but the door. A sport, a flock, or a serious training habit is the housing plan.

Merle, eyes, and the drug list

Do not buy a puppy from a merle-to-merle breeding. Collie eye anomaly and cataracts show up, so a puppy eye exam is part of the purchase, not a luxury. Hip dysplasia is on the list. The MDR1 drug sensitivity is a cheek-swab test. VCA explains MDR1. Itching that starts with a diet change or a flea is the itching page, and it is common in this double coat.

Australian shepherd questions

Do Australian shepherds need a farm?

They need hours of training, scent work, herding, or running. A yard without a person in it is not a job. Apartment life fails when the exercise is a lap around the block.

What is the merle gene risk?

Merle crossed to merle can produce puppies that are deaf, blind, or both. Ask to see the parents. A breeder who breeds two merles is a reason to leave.

Which drug sensitivity do they carry?

Many carry an MDR1 mutation, also called ABCB1. Ivermectin and several other drugs can poison them. Test, and hand the result to every clinic.