Breed comparison
Australian Shepherd vs Border Collie
Australian Shepherd or Border Collie? Both are brilliant, tireless herding dogs that need a job, and both make life difficult for bored owners. Both shine in agility, obedience and herding, and both can turn noisy or destructive when they are under-stimulated. The short answer: the Border Collie is the more intense, sport-focused thinker with a slightly lighter frame, while the Australian Shepherd is a touch sturdier, more watchful and a little better with kids on our meters. Neither is a casual pet, and both do best with active owners who enjoy training.
Photo: Trickdog-Fina · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
| Australian Shepherd | Border Collie | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Height | 18–23 in (46–58 cm) | 18–22 in (46–56 cm) |
| Weight | 40–65 lb (18–29 kg) | 30–55 lb (14–25 kg) |
| Life span | 12–15 years | 12–15 years |
| Group | Herding | Herding |
| Coat | Medium-length, weather-resistant double coat, straight to slightly wavy | Medium-length double coat (rough or smooth) |
| Lower-allergen coat | No | No |
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise needs | ||
| Trainability | ||
| Good with kids | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly to strangers | ||
| Apartment living | ||
| Tolerates being alone | ||
| Good for first-time owners | ||
| Shedding | ||
| Grooming needs | ||
| Barking | ||
| Drooling | ||
| General health |
Trait scale 1–5. Shedding, grooming, barking and drooling: 5 = more. Highlighted rows are where the two breeds differ.
The key differences
Size
Australian Shepherds stand 18 to 23 in (46 to 58 cm) and weigh 40 to 65 lb (18 to 29 kg). Border Collies stand 18 to 22 in (46 to 56 cm) and weigh 30 to 55 lb (14 to 25 kg). Both are medium dogs, but the Aussie is typically a bit heavier.
Energy and exercise
Both score 5 out of 5 for energy and for exercise. PetMD says adult Border Collies need at least one to two hours of exercise a day, and describes Aussies as highly energetic well into their senior years. Both need mental work as much as physical, and neither suits apartment life (1 out of 5) or long stretches alone (1 out of 5).
Coat and grooming
The two score the same for grooming (3 out of 5) and shedding (4 out of 5). The Aussie has a water-resistant double coat that sheds year-round and heavily in spring and fall, and PetMD says not to shave it. Border Collies come in rough and smooth varieties, and PetMD suggests brushing a few times a week. Expect hair around the house with either.
Temperament and training
Both score 5 out of 5 for trainability and learn bad habits as fast as good ones. PetMD describes Aussies as strong-willed, often reserved with new people and inclined to shadow their owners. It describes Border Collies as spunky, reserved around strangers and likely to herd children or other pets. The Aussie scores higher for kids (4 versus 3) and watchdog instinct (4 versus 3), while the Border Collie scores higher for other dogs (4 versus 3).
Health and life span
Both typically live 12 to 15 years. PetMD lists hip dysplasia, collie eye anomaly, epilepsy and MDR1 drug sensitivity for both breeds. For Aussies it adds elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and merle-linked deafness, and for Border Collies it adds trapped neutrophil syndrome and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Our health meter favors the Border Collie (4 versus 3 out of 5), and the MDR1 result is worth knowing before any medication.
Cost and care
The big costs are time and containment. Both need long daily exercise, training classes or dog sports, and a secure fence, and PetMD calls Aussies known escape artists. Genetic testing of the parents (eyes, hips and MDR1) is worth asking your breeder about. Both breeds can become destructive and noisy when under-stimulated, which can cost you in repairs.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Australian Shepherd if you want an athletic, sturdy partner that is a little better with kids and a bit more watchful, and you can give it one to two hours of activity and real training every day. Choose the Border Collie if you want the highest-focus working partner for dog sports or herding, you have time for even more mental work, and you like a slightly better health score on our meters. Neither suits a first-time owner who wants a laid-back dog, and both need a plan for the day when you are away.
Australian Shepherd profile Border Collie profile
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for first-time owners, an Aussie or a Border Collie?
Neither, on our meters. Both score 2 out of 5 for first-time owners because of their exercise and training needs.
Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Border Collies?
They tie at 4 out of 5 for shedding. Both have double coats that shed all year and heavily in spring and fall.
Which is smaller, an Australian Shepherd or a Border Collie?
The Border Collie is a bit lighter, at 30 to 55 lb (14 to 25 kg) versus 40 to 65 lb (18 to 29 kg) for the Aussie. Their heights are almost the same.