preferably with high-energy activities like playing Frisbee. They need a job to do as well, such as daily obedience training or competing in herding and agility trials.
Australian Shepherds can be very destructive and bark for long periods if they're not getting the exercise and mental stimulation they need.
Aussies will alert bark to warn you if they see or hear something suspicious, and will protect their family and home with a surprising fierceness.
Slightly longer than they are tall, the Australian Shepherd stands 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder for males, 18 to 21 inches for females. On average, males weigh between 50 and 65 pounds, females 40 to 55 pounds.
Like many herding dogs, Australian Shepherds are by nature loyal to their family but standoffish with strangers. They need early socialization — exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences — when they're young.