Australian Shepherd vs Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)

An Australian Shepherd
Photo: bantam10
A Shetland Sheepdog
Photo: ApiStart

Side by side

Australian Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog
Adult weight
Males 23–29 kg (50–65 lb); females 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 7–11 kg (15–24 lb); females 6–10 kg (13–22 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 50.8–58.4 cm; females 45.7–53.3 cm (breed club figure)1
Males 34.5–39.5 cm; females 33–38 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 13.7 years3
Median 13.4 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs6
Coat
Coat of medium length5
Long coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Underactive thyroid (much more likely); Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (more likely)7,8
Class
Sport
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Australian Shepherd is far larger: about 24 kg (52 lb) as an adult, against 8.5 kg (19 lb) for the Shetland Sheepdog.
Grooming
The Shetland Sheepdog needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Australian Shepherd needs brushing a few times a week.
Temperament
They differ most on handler demand (Australian Shepherd: needs an experienced owner; Shetland Sheepdog: suits a first-time owner) and on affection (Australian Shepherd: affectionate on its own terms; Shetland Sheepdog: a lap or leaning dog).
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.

Shetland Sheepdog
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Small

Shelties learn quickly, respond well to handling and are closely attached to their own people, though they are often reserved with strangers.

The Australian Shepherd page →The Shetland Sheepdog page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog
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
Shetland Sheepdog
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
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
Shetland Sheepdog
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
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 Shetland Sheepdog's 8.5 kg.
Australian Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

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

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·