Australian Shepherd Growth Chart & 6 Factors Affecting Their Growth

The Australian Shepherd growth chart is an essential guide for future and current owners of this popular breed. 

As we all know, these pups are known for their smarts, energy, and hardworking nature.

Despite their name, the Australian Shepherd breed has nothing to do with Australia though! Instead, they have European roots, later refined in California for herding and, believe it or not – rodeo work.

Today, Australian Shepherds are still top-notch working dogs, excelling in tasks like herding and even serving as therapy dogs or service dogs.

If you’re lucky enough to have one of these versatile pups as a beloved pet . You might wonder. How big will they get?

Let’s find out in the following chart. 

Australian Shepherd Weights & Heights: Growth Chart Overview

Age(Months)	Weight(lbs)	Height (inches)
Birth	0.75 – 1.25	6-9
1	5 – 10	9 – 12
2	10 – 20	10 – 14
3	15 – 30	11 – 16
4	20 – 40	12 – 18
6	25 – 50	14 – 21
8	30 – 55	16 – 22
12	40 – 60	17 – 23
24	50 – 65	18 – 23 (full height)

Australian Shepherd Breed Growth Stages 

As the Australian Shepherd growth chart shows, they are medium to large dogs known for their balanced appearance.

When it comes to how much an Aussie should weigh, it’s important to note that the numbers provided are estimates of growth patterns. Just like humans, each puppy grows at its own pace.

Here is a quick overview of all the stages your beloved pup will go through until it reaches its full size.

The First Month

All until they reach about the 3 weeks mark, the young Aussie puppies are blind and deaf. They spend most of this time resting and munching as much as they can.

Newborn Aussie puppies often weigh between 300 to 500 grams, which is about 10.6 to 17.6 ounces.

During the early weeks pups usually depend on their mothers. Our momma dog here provides food and a safe haven for the little ones. 

However, as in all dog breeds, there are times when mother dogs can turn against their puppies if something is amiss. This can also mean that the newborn pup will not start properly developing like their siblings. 

2 Months Old

At 2 Months Old, the usual Aussie weight is between 6 to 11 pounds.

This is when they’re considered old enough to leave their mother and start housetraining. The teeth had already grown by now and it’s time to introduce them to some quality food.

Everything is new to them in this new active lifestyle. That’s why it’s important to expose them to different people and animals. It’s really important to know this if you’re going to have other pets around.

It is worth noting that proper socialization becomes an essential factor at this stage. Start introducing them to new experiences early on to help them adapt and thrive.  

3 Months Old

Around 3 months of age, Australian Shepherd puppies’ senses are fully developed. They have become an energetic canine. Familiar with their sense of smell, sight, and sound.

It’s also a period when different issues arise as your puppies start reacting with fear to everyday household objects. The best means is to guide them through this adjustment period. 

It’s worthy to mention that during this time, puppies enter an intense chewing phase.

This could put our pup in a scary situation if it ends up chewing on something it shouldn’t. 

However, this behavior is normal and can be managed through positive training methods.

For example providing them with suitable chew toys or squeaky toys can offer relief and help redirect their chewing behavior responsibly.

4-6 Months Old

By the age of four to six months, your puppy will begin to show signs of the adult dog.

Provided that you pup had a balanced diet throughout her growing stages, it’s approximate weight should be around 19 pounds all the way to 49 pounds.

Taking into consideration the current month your pup is in and its gender. Since adult males and females grow at different rates.

Despite your pup’s endless energy,  bones are still developing, necessitating gentle forms of exercise.

Preventing possible joint issues such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.

6-8 Months Old

Australian Shepherds now almost look like real adult dogs. Well.. Almost!

Between 6 to 8 months old, these pups are still in a significant growth phase.

As a general guideline, an Aussie pup in this age range may weigh anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds. Males are often on the higher end of this scale, while females may be lighter. 

Your Aussie puppies are now fast growing animals, and by this time they usually reach sexual maturity. Monitoring them during this period is important so we prevent any unwanted breeding.

Discussing spaying and neutering with your veterinarian is, therefore, essential during this time.

It’s important to note that performing these procedures too early can potentially create health issues for your pup.

8-12 Months Old 

Between the 8th and 12th month, your Aussie puppy has now almost grown into an adult. So it seems. 

Generally, by this age, most Australian Shepherds will be close to their adult height, which ranges from 18 to 23 inches at the shoulder for males, and 18 to 21 inches for females. However, they may continue to gain weight and muscle, reaching their full adult size by about 16 months of age. 

For a working dog like this, introduction to a hard work ethic is necessary in this period. This usually involves at least an hour of daily activity, and about a half an hour of vigorous training. 

At 1 year old, this pup is already fully transitioned to adult food. It is important to keep providing quality food along with their active lifestyle to make sure they maintain stable weight gain and growth.

Aside from that, at around one year old, Aussie’s signature coats are fully grown and more colorful than ever! Their beautiful eye color is now also set in place. 

12-24 Months Old

Compared to smaller dogs, the Aussie takes a bit longer to get to its full adult height. At about 16 months of age your puppy has now reached it’s full size 

Although they don’t gain much in height, most large dogs gain a lot of muscle mass over the period of 1 year. Of course, being medium to large, you would not expect this dog to grow as big as the Boerboel, for example. 

When it comes to differences between males and females, in their mature age, female Australian Shepherd weigh about 40 to 55 pounds, which is 10 pounds lighter then her male counterpart.

That said, an adult male Australian Shepherd typically weighs between 50 to 65 pounds. 

Take into consideration that this is a generalized Australian Shepherd growth chart, and not all puppies will grow the same.

So that’s why we took some time to give you insight into a few factors that could affect your Aussie weight and growth.

Shall we ?

Factors That Affect Australian Shepherd Weights & Heights 

As with any dog breed, raising Australian Shepherds involves understanding the essential factors influencing their growth.

We’re talking genetics, diet, exercise, and health care that all play crucial roles.

Additionally, decisions such as timing of spaying/neutering and environmental factors also impact your pup’s development.

In this guide, we’ll give out some specific information to help owners ensure their Aussie puppy a healthy life. 

1. Genetics

Your beloved pup’s size, health and appearance is greatly influenced by their genetics. 

Australian Shepherds are prone to genetic diseases such as Cobalamin malabsorption (1), cataracts, elbow dysplasia, cancer, and epilepsy. Cobalamin malabsorption occurs when vitamin B12 cannot be properly absorbed into the dog’s gut.

Your pup might show symptoms such as

• Weakness
• Blood-related issues
• Poor growth

Cataracts are a common hereditary condition in this breed, often developing in both eyes. But not necessarily at the same time (2).

The primary treatment for this condition is surgery. So if you notice any sudden changes in your Aussie, be sure to contact the veterinarian.

Additionally, Australian Shepherds can suffer from idiopathic epilepsy, which is characterized by seizures with no identifiable cause (3). 

Aside from genetic diseases your dog might be predisposed to slower or faster growth.

If you got your pup from one of reputable Australian Shepherd breeders, this can easily be checked out. Inform yourselves about the growth of your dog’s parents, as it’s easily converted to puppies.

2. Gender

Gender can influence growth patterns of Australian Shepherds. With adult males typically being larger dogs and heavier than females.

A study looked at how two types of guide dogs, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers, grow. It found that male dogs usually get heavier and grow for a longer time than female dogs.

This study shows that male and female dogs grow differently, and this might also be true for Australian Shepherds (4). 

However, the extent of this difference can vary depending on individual genetics and lineage.

Generally, male Australian Shepherds tend to have more robust builds. While females weigh slightly less and are usually smaller dogs. 

3. Diet

Until your dog reaches one year of age, it’s important to select quality food that provides all the necessary nutrients for optimal growth. 

For example choose a dog food that lists a high-quality animal protein source as the main ingredient, such as chicken, beef, or fish. Aim a protein content of around 20-30% for a balanced diet. 

Finally, aside from healthy food, for essential vitamins and minerals consider adding supplements as recommended by your veterinarian. 

Making sure your dog has a balanced diet reduces the risk of any unwanted health conditions. With that in mind, malnutrition will often lead to your dog staying smaller.

Overfeeding might lead to your dog being overweight and obese which might lead to new health issues.

4. Physical Activity

A physically active lifestyle is an essential factor of a healthy Aussie. 

These dogs are well-known for their hard work ethic. They play roles as therapy dogs, help canines, and even herding dogs. It is, therefore, very important to engage them in lots of different training activities.

Make sure that they train each day. These can include walks, runs, hikes, playtime, or agility training. Not only does this make them fit, but also happy and fulfilled. 

Daily activity also reduces the risk of some health conditions such as elbow dysplasia.

Always supervise your Aussie during playtime to ensure their safety and prevent them from getting into potentially scary situations. 

5. Spaying/Neutering

Spaying or neutering dogs eliminates the risk of diseases associated with sex organs or hormones, as these organs are removed. This procedure offers health benefits, as it prevents certain pet illnesses.

For adult female Aussies, it prevents uterine infection and lowers breast cancer risk. For male dogs, it eliminates testicular cancer risk and reduces the chance of enlarged prostate glands (5). 

It may also prolong the period during which a dog’s bones can grow, potentially resulting in different rates of growth.

Surgical procedures that remove the gonads may increase the risk of certain health issues. Specifically, spayed and neutered pets are more prone to becoming overweight (6). 

However, your veterinarian can offer personalized advice on nutrition and exercise to help maintain your pet’s health. 

6. General Health Condition 

Most of the time we treat our pups as we do all family members. Learning about their genetic predisposition to certain diseases, like Cobalamin malabsorption, cataracts, elbow dysplasia, can help us notice them earlier.

Although Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, regular veterinarian check-ups are always welcome. They can help us prevent any important issue that may arise.

At What Age Are Australian Shepherds Fully Grown?

Australian Shepherds typically complete their growth around 16 months of age. However, the most rapid growth occurs within the first 10 months of life.

After this period, their growth rate slows considerably and eventually levels off.

Adult males, on the other hand, don’t reach their full size until the 2.5 years mark.

During this time, they continue to gain muscle mass, widen their chest, and develop an impressive coat, especially around their neck.

At What Age Do Australian Shepherds Calm Down?

As we reach the end of our Australian Shepherd growth chart, there is this lingering question many current and future Aussie owners worry about. When do these pups calm down?

These energetic canines typically begin to show signs of maturity around 2 to 3 years of age.

Most of them tend to become more settled and manageable as they mature, but we are not making any promises here! Sometimes it takes a bit longer for your Aussie to calm down.

The best means to cope with this is constant training and exercising. Playing fetch, taking them to the dog park for some proper socialization will always do the trick.

And, as a final consideration – no matter their size all dogs should always be nurtured with love and care. 

References

1. Gold, A., Scott, M., & Fyfe, J. (2015). Failure to thrive and life-threatening complications due to inherited selective cobalamin malabsorption effectively managed in a juvenile Australian shepherd dog.. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 56 10, 1029-34 .
2. Mellersh, C., Mclaughlin, B., Ahonen, S., Pettitt, L., Lohi, H., & Barnett, K. (2009). Mutation in HSF4 is associated with hereditary cataract in the Australian Shepherd.. Veterinary ophthalmology, 12 6, 372-8 . https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2009.00735.x. 
3. Weissl, J., Hülsmeyer, V., Brauer, C., Tipold, A., Koskinen, L., Kyöstilä, K., Lohi, H., Sauter-Louis, C., Wolf, M., & Fischer, A. (2012). Disease progression and treatment response of idiopathic epilepsy in Australian Shepherd dogs.. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 26 1, 116-25 . https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00853.x. 
4. Helmink, S., Shanks, R., & Leighton, E. (2000). Breed and sex differences in growth curves for two breeds of dog guides.. Journal of animal science, 78 1, 27-32 . https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.78127X. 
5. McKenzie, B. (2010). Evaluating the benefits and risks of neutering dogs and cats. Cab Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 5, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR20105045. 
6. Vendramini, T., Amaral, A., Pedrinelli, V., Zafalon, R., Rodrigues, R., & Brunetto, M. (2020). Neutering in dogs and cats: current scientific evidence and importance of adequate nutritional management. Nutrition Research Reviews, 33, 134 – 144. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422419000271.