Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever

An Australian Shepherd
Photo: bantam10
A Golden Retriever
Photo: Johan Spaedtke

Side by side

Australian Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Adult weight
Males 23–29 kg (50–65 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 29–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29 kg (55–65 lb)2
Height
Males 50.8–58.4 cm; females 45.7–53.3 cm (breed club figure)1
Males 56–61 cm; females 51–56 cm3
Lifespan
Median 13.7 years4
Median 13.2 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
12 months, both sexes5
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs6
Retrievers & water dogs3
Coat
Coat of medium length6
Coat with feathering3
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Blood blister in the ear flap (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)7,8
Class
Sport
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Golden Retriever is a little larger on average: about 29 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 24 kg (52 lb) for the Australian Shepherd.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Australian Shepherd: sticks close to its people; Golden Retriever: friendly with everyone) and on handler demand (Australian Shepherd: needs an experienced owner; Golden Retriever: suits a first-time owner).
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.

Golden Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The Golden Retriever's temperament is friendly, intelligent and devoted. It is eager to please, gentle, keen to work alongside people and seldom a good guard dog.

The Australian Shepherd page →The Golden Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Australian Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Australian Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
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 Golden Retriever grows to the heavier adult, about 29 kg against the Australian Shepherd's 24 kg.
Australian Shepherd
Golden Retriever
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Australian Shepherd with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverAustralian Shepherd vs Miniature American ShepherdAustralian Shepherd vs Border CollieAustralian Cattle Dog vs Australian ShepherdEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverFlat-Coated Retriever vs Golden RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·