Australian Cattle Dog vs Australian Shepherd

An Australian Cattle Dog
Photo: Wonderchook
An Australian Shepherd
Photo: bantam10

Side by side

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Adult weight
16–23 kg (35–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 23–29 kg (50–65 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 50.8–58.4 cm; females 45.7–53.3 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 14 years3
Median 13.7 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs6
Coat
Short coat5
Coat of medium length6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Working
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Australian Shepherd is a little larger on average: about 24 kg (52 lb) as an adult, against 19 kg (43 lb) for the Australian Cattle Dog.
Grooming
The Australian Shepherd needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Australian Cattle Dog needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Australian Cattle Dog: cooperative, with its own ideas; Australian Shepherd: keen to work with you) and on prey drive (Australian Cattle Dog: likely to chase small pets; Australian Shepherd: chases; needs managing).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Australian Cattle Dog
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament it is alert, tireless and quick to learn, usually devoted to its own people and reserved with strangers.

Australian Shepherd
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament the Australian Shepherd is quick to learn, energetic and keen to have a job, and it may be reserved with strangers while devoted to its own people.

The Australian Cattle Dog page →The Australian Shepherd page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Australian Shepherd grows to the heavier adult, about 24 kg against the Australian Cattle Dog's 19 kg.
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
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More comparisons

Compare the Australian Cattle Dog with
Australian Shepherd vs Miniature American ShepherdAustralian Shepherd vs Border CollieAustralian Shepherd vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverAustralian Shepherd vs Rough Collie (Collie)Australian Shepherd vs Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)Australian Shepherd vs Golden RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·