Black and White Australian Shepherd: A Well-Kept Secret Uncovered
The black and white Australian Sheperd is still a well-kept secret in comparison to other more well-known varieties such as the standard Australian Sheperd or Border Collie. Their names are affectionately shortened to Aussies.
Despite the name, the black and white Australian Sheperd was actually bred and originated in America. The dogs are believed to be derived from the Basque region of Spain’s imported cattle dog lines.
As their name suggests these dogs are excellent herding dogs, for any type of beast but particularly cattle, and were known as the cowboy’s dog. They are still used today on working farms with great success.
Physical appearance of Aussies
The harlequin shepherd is considered the rarest color.
Most Australian Shepherds are tricolored, including a mix of white, brown, merle, harlequin, red, and black. The harlequin shepherd is considered the rarest color. Some people consider the black and white trait to be associated with aggression, but studies have not proved this old wives tale. Aggression is most likely linked to poor socialization, training, and underlying health conditions which can be addressed with good trainers and veterinarians as part of your team.
The black and white Australian Sheperd is mostly black, with a small amount of white visible on the feet, legs, belly, or bridge of the nose. For their breed standard, most of the head should be black, and most of their body color again should be black. Their tails are short and bobbed, and they are born this way. It’s thought a short tail helped avoid accidental damage during herding during their formative years as a breed.
Their eye color can be striking, either a bright sky blue that can change with age to brown. Aussies also carry genes for a condition called Heterochromia. This means both eyes will be a different color, usually one blue and one brown. Your dog does not need medical intervention if they have two different colored eyes.
The black and white Australian Shepherd is considered a medium-size breed, and average height and weights are listed in the table below for males and females:
| Sex | Weight | Height (to the shoulder) |
| Male | 50-65 lbs | 20-23 inches |
| Female | 36-50 lbs | 18-21 inches |
The black and white Australian Shepherd is considered a medium-size breed, and average height and weights are listed in the table below for males and females:
Life expectancy
Your Australian shepherd will need grooming at least two times a week.
The Australian shepherd is a healthy breed, and their active lifestyle promotes good cardiovascular health and lean body mass. This allows them to comfortably live between 10-13 years old.
Due to their active nature, they can suffer from osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory joint condition in older age, and require supportive medications for a comfortable retirement. Australian shepherds are predisposed to hip dysplasia and epilepsy and can inherit a particular gene (MDR1) that causes severe neurotoxicity when given Ivermectin. Ivermectin is a type of worming product found commonly on working farms. A test exists for this gene, so its incidence is slowly reducing.
Grooming
The black and white Australian shepherd is built as a working dog. Their coat is considered a double coat, so adds extra insulation against the cold and wet weather. Whilst useful for a herding dog, it does present a challenge for grooming! Your Australian shepherd will need grooming at least two times a week, and more frequently when shedding its coat, usually in spring and autumn.
The Aussie needs a good dental routine, daily brushing of teeth is recommended to slow down the rate of tartar buildup. Aussies can commonly get fractured teeth from chewing on bones or stones, and these often go unnoticed by owners until the infection is advanced.
Exercise
This breed is a working dog. To be a successful working dog you need a high energy drive, a good level of intelligence, and obedience. The Australian shepherd has this in spades. To be truly happy in life, the Australian shepherd needs lots of exercise. The recommended amount per day is around one hour, but with increased fitness, you may find your shepherd will happily go for double this amount of time without appearing to tire. If your lifestyle is a more gentle stroll in the park than hiking in the woods, this breed is not for you.
They are a highly athletic breed and their agility, speed and flexibility see them placed top of the leaderboard for competitive work such as herding, agility, and flyball.
Training
They are born people pleasers so keeping firm boundaries and having daily training sessions will pay off in the long term.
The best training results for the black and white Australian Shepherd come through repetition. They are born people pleasers so keeping firm boundaries and having daily training sessions will pay off in the long term. They have a reputation for being a little pushy, which is a good feature if herding cattle, not so much if herding people in the home such as children or other animals. Start your socialization and training program as young as possible, and get everyone in the family to participate to help your dog learn how to fit in well with family life.
Nutrition
Due to their high activity levels, these dogs need premium nutrition. Look for a brand that is specifically formulated for either the Australian Sheperd breed or for a working dog. These premium brands tend to have labels on the bags specifically for the breed or purpose of the dog. If your Aussie is less than one year old, they need a puppy biscuit diet. Biscuit or kibble diets are best, as raw foods can contain dangerous pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter.
Summary
The Black and white Australian Sheperd is a delightful mix of athleticism, fun, and intelligence. When given a job or purpose they thrive, waking up enthusiastic about the day’s challenges. They are loyal and loving but need an active lifestyle to stop them from turning their energy into destructive behavior. There are many Australian Sheperd clubs across the country. If you’re interested in learning more about the breed, go along to a few meetings. You can meet people passionate about the breed and hear their first-hand experiences.
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