Australian Shepherd vs German Shepherd

An Australian Shepherd
Photo: bantam10
A German Shepherd
Photo: Erick Drumss Hernández

Side by side

Australian Shepherd
German Shepherd
Adult weight
Males 23–29 kg (50–65 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 36–45.5 kg (79–100 lb); females 30.6–39.5 kg (67–87 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 12,146, middle 50%)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 11.3 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs6
Coat
Coat of medium length5
Double coat or long coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Blood-vessel cancer (much more likely); Elbow joint disease (much more likely)7,8
Class
Sport
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The German Shepherd is larger: about 38 kg (84 lb) as an adult, against 24 kg (52 lb) for the Australian Shepherd.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Australian Shepherd lives longer: a median of 13.7 years, against 11.3 for the German Shepherd.
Temperament
They differ most on sensitivity (Australian Shepherd: average; German Shepherd: 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.

German Shepherd
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Large

The breed is alert, watchful and self-assured, devoted to its own people and reserved with strangers.

The Australian Shepherd page →The German Shepherd page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Shepherd
German 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 Shepherd
German Shepherd
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
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
German Shepherd
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 German Shepherd grows to the heavier adult, about 38 kg against the Australian Shepherd's 24 kg.
Australian Shepherd
German Shepherd
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More comparisons

Compare the Australian Shepherd with
Belgian Malinois vs German ShepherdAustralian Shepherd vs Miniature American ShepherdDoberman Pinscher vs German ShepherdGerman Shepherd vs RottweilerAustralian Shepherd vs Border CollieAustralian Cattle Dog vs Australian ShepherdAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·