Physical Characteristics
The Australian Shepherd is a medium size dog. Males tend to range from 20-23 inches in height and have a muscular build. Females are slightly smaller at around 18-21 inches and appear more feminine. Both the male and female tend to weigh between 44 and 55 ponds.
The Aussie's coat is one of their most prominent features that makes them stand out among other breeds. They can vary from blue merle to black to red merle to solid red in colour and can have distinct white and/or copper markings. The top coat is straight or somewhat wavy, silky or weather resistant, and of moderate length while the undercoat is usually much thicker and softer.
The Aussie's coat is one of their most prominent features that makes them stand out among other breeds. They can vary from blue merle to black to red merle to solid red in colour and can have distinct white and/or copper markings. The top coat is straight or somewhat wavy, silky or weather resistant, and of moderate length while the undercoat is usually much thicker and softer.
Aussie's eyes may be blue, brown, gold-coloured, a variation or even a combination of these. Flecks or marbling may also be visible in the eyes.
The Australian Shepherd's naturally bobbed tail is a another feature known to the breed although this characteristic may not be present in all dogs of this type. The bobbed, or docked, tail, allows the dogs to maneuver through brush, ditches, and other weeded areas without the irritation of burrs. The tail can also be long and fluffy.
The Australian Shepherd's naturally bobbed tail is a another feature known to the breed although this characteristic may not be present in all dogs of this type. The bobbed, or docked, tail, allows the dogs to maneuver through brush, ditches, and other weeded areas without the irritation of burrs. The tail can also be long and fluffy.
A unique feature of the Australian Shepherd is its ability to smile. Many dogs do smile but the Aussie will tend to show all their teeth when they smile, just as humans do. This grin is usually followed by a snorting noise.
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SmileThis video shows an example of an Australian Shepherd smiling for the camera.
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