Australian Shepherd vs Border Collie

An Australian Shepherd
Photo: bantam10
A Border Collie
Photo: Horacio Cambeiro

Side by side

Australian Shepherd
Border Collie
Adult weight
Males 23–29 kg (50–65 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 14–25 kg (31–55 lb); females 12–19 kg (26–42 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 50.8–58.4 cm; females 45.7–53.3 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 13.7 years3
Median 13.1 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs6
Coat
Coat of medium length5
Long coat or short coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Balance disorder (more likely); Joint wear-and-tear arthritis in the limbs (slightly more likely)7,8
Class
Sport
Working

Which suits you

Size
The Australian Shepherd is larger on average: about 24 kg (52 lb) as an adult, against 18 kg (39 lb) for the Border Collie.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Australian Shepherd: affectionate on its own terms; Border Collie: likes its own space) and on sensitivity (Australian Shepherd: average; Border Collie: needs a calm, predictable home).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
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 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.

Border Collie
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament it learns quickly, concentrates hard and pays close attention to its handler.

The Australian Shepherd page →The Border Collie page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Shepherd
Border Collie
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 Shepherd
Border Collie
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Australian Shepherd
Border Collie
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

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

Compare the Australian Shepherd with
Australian Shepherd vs Miniature American ShepherdAustralian Cattle Dog vs Australian ShepherdBorder Collie vs Rough Collie (Collie)Australian Shepherd vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverBorder Collie vs Miniature American ShepherdAustralian Shepherd vs Rough Collie (Collie)All breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·