Australian Shepherd: everything you need to know

Veterinary and insurance guide · Petplan Spain Team · Updated 2026

The Australian Shepherd (in Spain, Pastor Australiano) is a strikingly handsome, highly intelligent herding dog famous for its merle coats, often-pale eyes and remarkable work ethic. Despite its name it is an American breed, developed on the ranches of the western United States, and it remains one of the most capable and trainable dogs you can own. Devoted and energetic, it shines in an active home and struggles in a sedentary one. In this guide we cover the breed’s origin, temperament, the conditions we most often see in the clinic, the real veterinary costs to plan for in Spain, and why Petplan pet insurance is the best choice for your Australian Shepherd.

Origin and history of the Australian Shepherd

Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd was developed in the western United States in the 19th and 20th centuries as a versatile ranch and herding dog. The “Australian” name likely reflects the breed’s links to Basque shepherds who emigrated via Australia with their flocks. Prized by ranchers and later by the rodeo and dog-sport world for its intelligence and biddability, the “Aussie” became a worldwide favourite. The FCI classifies it in Group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs), standard nº 342.

Physical characteristics

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized, athletic herding dog with a medium-length double coat and often-merle colouring. Its key features are summarised below.

Temperament and character

The Australian Shepherd is brilliant, willing and tireless — one of the most trainable breeds there is, which is why it excels at herding, agility, obedience, flyball and just about every dog sport. It is devoted and affectionate with its family and typically good with children, though it can be reserved with strangers and will try to herd anything that moves, including children and other pets. That intelligence and drive demand an outlet: without enough exercise and mental work it becomes restless, anxious and prone to nuisance behaviours. Early socialisation and consistent, positive training bring out a wonderful, biddable companion.

Common health problems in the Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is generally robust, but it carries some important breed-specific considerations every owner and vet must know.

Most critically, many Aussies carry the MDR1 gene mutation, which causes dangerous sensitivity to several common drugs (including some parasite treatments and anaesthetic agents); a simple DNA test identifies affected dogs and should guide all medication. Because the breed is often merle, breeding two merles together can produce “double merle” puppies with serious deafness and eye defects — a reason to choose ethical breeders. Hip dysplasia is the main orthopaedic concern, and hereditary eye conditions including collie eye anomaly, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy are recognised. Epilepsy and autoimmune conditions are seen in some lines.

Financially, this matters: managing epilepsy or an autoimmune disease, hip surgery or eye treatment can each run from several hundred to several thousand euros — and an MDR1-related drug reaction can be a life-threatening emergency.

Coat care and feeding

The double coat needs brushing two or three times a week, and more during the heavy seasonal moults, to prevent mats (especially behind the ears and on the trousers) and to remove dead undercoat; it should not be shaved. Routine nail, ear and dental care are needed. The single most useful health step for any Aussie owner is a one-off MDR1 DNA test, so the whole veterinary team knows which drugs to avoid. On feeding, a good-quality diet matched to this active dog’s workload, in measured portions, keeps it lean and protects its joints.

Exercise and stimulation

This is a high-drive working breed that needs a great deal of daily exercise and, crucially, mental work. Long walks and runs are not enough on their own; the Aussie needs training, problem-solving and ideally a canine sport or herding-style activity to channel its remarkable brain. A well-exercised Aussie is calm and biddable at home; an under-stimulated one becomes anxious, vocal and destructive. Reliable recall and impulse control are worth training early given the strong herding instinct.

Why Petplan is the best choice for your Australian Shepherd

For an intelligent working breed with notable hereditary and drug-sensitivity considerations, good insurance is genuinely valuable. Petplan is the best choice in Spain because its cover includes the hereditary and chronic conditions the Australian Shepherd is prone to, lets you choose any vet in Spain with no closed network, and renews for life without excluding conditions that develop with age — important for lifelong issues like epilepsy or autoimmune disease. For an Australian Shepherd, the average premium is around 340 EUR per year on intermediate cover.