Australian Shepherd Collie Dog Breed

The Australian Shepherd and Collie mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but since both parent breeds are in the Herding Group in most clubs, these hybrids would fit nicely in that category. Neither does any info exist about the specific origin of the Aussie Collie mix; in all probability, ranchers and farmers have been breeding the Australian Shepherd mix with Collie for generations--but no breeder or breed club has claimed these hybrids' creation. Obviously the active, athletic, intelligent will be a terrific livestock herder and general farm dog, and it'll make a great pet for active families as well.

A few Aussie Collie facts: they're medium-sized, averaging 22 inches at the shoulders in height and 55 pounds in weight; they have medium- to long-haired, thick, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they're very energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Collie-Australian Shepherd mix:

The Aussie Collie mix is the offspring of two breeds with celebrated histories as herding dogs. These hybrids are built for that purpose too: they're medium-sized and agile, and are 20-24 inches at the shoulders in height and 45-65 pounds in weight. Their thick coats come in a variety of colors and patterns, and include black, red, white, and blue, among others.

Personality-wise, these hybrids will be smart, enthusiastic, friendly, and resourceful. Their histories as herders mean Aussie Collies will usually be independent, stubborn, and even bossy at times; since they're used to controlling animals, they like to get their way! Owners will need to provide plenty of socialization and training (starting during puppyhood, if possible) to help minimize that controlling behavior. Speaking of training: these dogs' intelligence and willingness to please mean they'll learn commands, tasks, and tricks easily, especially if owners use firm, consistent, reward-based training methods. Aussie Collies are also loyal and protective, so they'll be good watchdogs.

Herding dogs are accustomed to spending most of their time in the fields with livestock, so these hybrids will be very energetic. They'll need outdoor exercise--walking or jogging, fetch, or general playtime--on a daily basis.

The Aussie Collie doesn't see too much variation in size or physical features (coat length and texture being one exception). Breeders use symbols like P, F1, F2 and so on to denote a crossbred dog's genetic makeup. For the Aussie Collie, the following applies:

• P: Purebred; 100% Australian Shepherd or Collie
• F1: P x P; 50% Aussie, 50% Collie
• F1b: F1 x P; 75% of purebred parent's DNA
• F2: F1 x F1; 50% Aussie, 50% Collie

(The sequence continues up to F5 or higher.)

The main variation with these hybrids is in the coat, and depends on whether the Collie parent has a Rough (long and thick) or a Smooth (short) coat. The Rough Collie-Australian Shepherd mix will obviously have a longer and thicker coat; breeders will advertise these as "Rough Collie-Aussie mix" dogs for sale.

The Aussie Collie, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds, is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip dysplasia, various allergies, and eye issues like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Collie Eye Anomaly (an inherited condition in the Collie breed that often leads to blindness). Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Aussie Collie is 11-14 years.