How long does a Australian Shepherd live?

The listed lifespan for a Australian Shepherd is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Australian Shepherd?

The listed height for a Australian Shepherd is 20–23 in (male), 18–21 in (female).

Is a Australian Shepherd good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Australian Shepherd is 5 out of 5.

When is a Australian Shepherd full grown?

The growth size band for a Australian Shepherd is up to 24 months.

Herding Group

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd is a large dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 50–65 lb (male), 40–55 lb (female), height is 20–23 in (male), 18–21 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Smart, Work-oriented, Exuberant.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Australian Shepherd dog — Photo: Flickr user SheltieBoy (Ron Armstrong) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight50–65 lb (male), 40–55 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupHerding Group

Height

20–23 in (male), 18–21 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 52.5 lb is about 6.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Australia. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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