Home / Breeds / Compare / Australian Shepherd vs English Shepherd
The Aussie is a tireless, whip smart herding dog that thrives on work, sport and adventure. From United States, the English Shepherd is a medium sized herding breed whose traditional work was to move sheep and cattle with eye, bark and body, working all day beside the shepherd or farmer. The two are put side by side here on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is daily exercise: the Australian Shepherd plan runs to about 105 minutes a day at the middle of its range, against 90 minutes for the English Shepherd.
The next biggest gap is grooming needs: the English Shepherd is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Australian Shepherd.
The third gap worth noting is shedding: the Australian Shepherd is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the English Shepherd.
| Australian Shepherd | English Shepherd | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Herding | Herding |
| Origin | United States (despite the name) | United States |
| Height | 18 to 23 in | 18 to 24 in |
| Weight | 40 to 65 lb | 40 to 65 lb |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Coat | Medium length water resistant double coat with a thick undercoat. | A long coat with feathering on the legs, tail and chest. |
| Temperament | Smart, driven, loyal and intense | Sharp, energetic, devoted and quick to learn |
| Energy | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Trainability | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Shedding | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Barking | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| With children | Good with children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | Usually good with dogs | Usually good with dogs |
| With strangers | Reserved with strangers | Reserved with strangers |
| Apartment fit | Not ideal | Not ideal |
| Daily exercise | 90 to 120 min | 60 to 120 min |
| Food per month (model) | $34 (3.2 cups a day) | $34 (3.2 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $50 to $85 | $36 to $64 |
| Monthly total (model) | $84 to $119 | $70 to $98 |
| Yearly total (model) | $1,005 to $1,425 | $837 to $1,173 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $12,061 to $21,376 | $10,045 to $17,596 |
| Breeder health tests | 5 recommended tests | Panel not published yet |
| Health watch | Watch for the MDR1 drug sensitivity gene, hereditary cataracts, epilepsy and hip dysplasia. Merle to merle breeding can produce deaf or blind puppies, so choose breeders who never cross two merles. | Hip screening and eye checks are the core of responsible breeding in herding breeds, and several herding lines also DNA test for drug sensitivity (MDR1) and hereditary eye conditions. Ask the breeder what their lines are tested for. |
Australian Shepherd: scores 16 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 15 for the English Shepherd.
English Shepherd: matches the Australian Shepherd on the apartment rating ("Not ideal") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
The two are listed the same way for children and tie on the tie-breaks, so supervision matters more than the breed label here.
English Shepherd: sheds less, at 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Australian Shepherd. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
English Shepherd: runs about $18 a month less than the Australian Shepherd on modeled food plus insurance ($84 against $102 at the midpoints).
How the Australian Shepherd and English Shepherd verdicts are scored: the first-time-owner verdict uses 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking). Apartment living ranks the apartment rating first, then barking, exercise and weight. The children verdict ranks the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness. Allergy ranks lowest shedding first, then grooming. Budget ranks the lowest monthly modeled total. Where the Australian Shepherd and the English Shepherd finish level, the verdict is declared a tie.
Month to month, the modeled figures put the Australian Shepherd ahead on cost: about $102 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $84 for the English Shepherd. Run over the lifespan ranges, the model puts the Australian Shepherd at $12,061 to $21,376 and the English Shepherd at $10,045 to $17,596. These figures are planning estimates, not quotes.
For exercise, the Australian Shepherd needs more, at 90 to 120 minutes a day, against 60 to 120 minutes for the English Shepherd. Energy ratings are level at 5 of 5, so the difference sits in the planned minutes rather than in drive.
The English Shepherd sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Australian Shepherd. Coat notes for the English Shepherd: A long coat with feathering on the legs, tail and chest.
The English Shepherd, on the published ratings: "Not ideal" for apartment life against "Not ideal" for the Australian Shepherd, barking rated 4 of 5 against 4 of 5, and a daily exercise plan of 60 to 120 minutes against 90 to 120 minutes.
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Breed facts for the Australian Shepherd and the English Shepherd follow the standards and club guidance summarized on each breed profile. Cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, labeled with their basis, and are not quotes or veterinary advice. Health test panels here are the breed club and CHIC recommendations, as set out on each breed's health testing page.