German Australian Shepherd

46-65 lbs
20-23"
Unknown
German Shepherd
Australian Shepherd
Australian German Shepherd

The German Australian Shepherd is a deliberate crossbreed between two popular breeds of shepherding dog, the German and the Australian Shepherd. While the Australian Shepherd is still widely used for working with livestock in this century, the German Shepherd is now more commonly associated with military and police work. With responsible breeding, the result is an intelligent canine with an athletic structure and a strong work drive that makes a good working dog, home companion, or therapy animal. Irresponsible breeding of these two canines may produce an anxious and fearful animal that is prone to several disorders with a genetic component, including epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and hemophilia.

purpose Purpose
Herding and Protection
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
German Shepherd and Australian Shepherd

German Australian Shepherd Health

Average Size
Male German Australian Shepherd size stats
Height: 22-25 inches Weight: 60-80 lbs
Female German Australian Shepherd size stats
Height: 20-23 inches Weight: 46-65 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Hemophilia
  • Eye Disease and Disorders
Minor Concerns
  • Deafness
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Renal Cystadenocarcinoma and Nodular Dermatofibrosis
  • Idiopathic Epilepsy
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Panosteitis
  • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
  • Perianal Fistula
Occasional Tests
  • Physical Examination
  • X-ray imaging
  • Eye Examinations
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)

German Australian Shepherd Breed History

The German Australian Shepherd is a designer dog, an intentional cross between two different types of popular shepherding dogs, the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd. The German Shepherd breed was developed initially in the late 1800’s in Germany, and they were designed to be able to return sheep to the fold without nipping at the heels and to trot for long distances beside them to keep them safe from predators. German Shepherds were initially bred for structural efficiency, a stable temperament, and intelligence, and you will still find these traits in German Shepherds from responsible breeders still today. Modern German Shepherds do vary somewhat from German Shepherd dogs of the late 1800s and early 1900s as breeding choices have resulted in a canine that is more streamlined and thinner-boned than the original German Shepherd, often with an obvious slope to the back. German Shepherds were recognized by the AKC in 1908 and have risen to become the 2nd most popular breed in the United States. The Australian Shepherd that we know today is also a newer breed, one that was developed in the farmlands of the United States in the late 1800s rather than in Australia, as is suggested by the name. This breed was developed to herd cattle and sheep. Thought to be descended from Basque shepherding dogs that traveled from Australia in the early 1800’s, these capable herding dogs are believed to be the foundation stock for the modern Aussie which was then crossed with other hard working stock dogs once they reached America, creating an agile and enduring herding animal with an incredible work drive. German Australian Dogs make good herding dogs, family companions, and even therapy dogs.

German Australian Shepherd Breed Appearance

The German Australian Shepherd is a medium to large-sized dog with a slightly rectangular silhouette. Some dogs that favor the German Shepherd side of the family have a noticeable slope to their backs while dogs that favor the Australian Shepherd have an increased chance of inheriting a missing or half tail.  They have a clean-cut, somewhat chiseled head with a medium to long muzzle that tapers slightly and is rounded at the tip. Their eyes are almond shaped, medium in size, and can come in brown, blue, or combinations of both, with an intelligent and alert expression, and their ears sit high to moderately high on the head and may either stand erect or they may break forward and over. They have long straight legs with oval rather than round bones, and compact, oval-shaped paws with well-arched toes. Their coat is double layered, with a thick, dense undercoat covered by a short to medium weather-resistant layer that can be either straight or slightly wavy. This crossbreed comes in many possible color combinations, including several varieties of merle, putting this dog at a somewhat increased chance of developing hearing loss.

Eye Color Possibilities
blue German Australian Shepherd eyes
Blue
brown German Australian Shepherd eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Australian Shepherd nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Australian Shepherd coat
Black
cream German Australian Shepherd coat
Cream
blue German Australian Shepherd coat
Blue
white German Australian Shepherd coat
White
sable German Australian Shepherd coat
Sable
gray German Australian Shepherd coat
Gray
silver German Australian Shepherd coat
Silver
red German Australian Shepherd coat
Red
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Australian Shepherd straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Australian Shepherd Breed Maintenance

Although German Australian Shepherds only require bathing a few times a year they do have very thick undercoats and tend to shed heavily year round. This hybrid requires a thorough brushing at least two to four times a week to remove dead hair and to prevent the dense undercoat from tangling and matting. Both the German and Australian shepherds shed more actively on a seasonal basis, a phenomenon called “blowing the coat”. The German Australian Shepherd is also likely to inherit this quality and will require more frequent brushing and bathing when the change of seasons. This crossbreed may also be somewhat prone to ear infections, particularly those whose ears fold forward, so their ears should be cleaned and examined at least once a week.

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Brushes for German Australian Shepherd
Dematter
Dematter
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Australian Shepherd requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Australian Shepherd Temperament

The temperament of this crossbreed can vary quite a bit, depending mostly on the breeding practices that were used when developing the animal. A well-bred German Australian Shepherd should be highly intelligent, with a protective nature and a great deal of energy as well as a high work ethic. These dogs may be reserved with strangers but should be good with most children, although it is important to remember that small children should never be left with dogs unsupervised, for their protection and the dogs. The German Shepherd dog, in particular, has an extremely powerful bite at 238 pounds per square inch, this dog has the capability to break any bone in the human body, and this trait may be passed down to the German Australian Shepherd as well. Fortunately, both German and Australian Shepherds are also extremely trainable and work oriented canines, and when properly socialized and kept busy, they are enthusiastic and dependable companions. Unfortunately, some lines of these breeds can lean towards fearful or hyperactive temperments as well, and a fearful, unhealthy, or downright unmanageable dog may result from poor breeding practices.

German Australian Shepherd Activity Requirements

This hybrid is a cross between two energetic and athletic working dogs and as such, it requires a great deal of exercise to maintain its fitness and prevent destructive or neurotic behaviors. These dogs are happiest and healthiest with at least two or more hours of vigorous exercise and training activities per day and along with being physically active, these dogs are very mentally active. German Australian Shepherds that are not given enough mental stimulus in the form of puzzle toys, new experiences, or training routines, can become anxious and destructive, both to their surroundings and to themselves. The German Australian Shepherd requires a great deal of room to run and tends to be far too active for apartment living, and prefers a home with a large, secure yard to run in.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes
activity minutes

German Australian Shepherd Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

German Australian Shepherd Owner Experiences

Dually
12 Weeks
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very energetic, intelegant quick learner and a joy to have a round.
6 years, 10 months ago
Merlin
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Soccer
Hike
Play keep away
Tug-of-war
Throwing tennis ball
Eating Snacks
Car rides
Playing in the snow
This is the best dog we could have picked for our first family dog. I know they say “German Australian Shepherds arent starter dogs” and he is A LOT of work; but Merlin makes it easy. From day one we took 1 week to fully potty train (with minor excited peeing when my boyfriend came home). He knows sit, lay down, stay, and come all with hand motions (and the command as well), just by command he knows how to roll over, high five, he plays soccer, and is completely trained off of his leash. Also we did crate train him in the very beginning, but now he doesn’t even have a crate in the house bc of how well behaved he is. He’s very gentle with kids, and older dogs, as well as when he takes food from a human. And just a cute thing Merlin does, he brings socks (his favorite thing in the house) to whoever is upset, if you’re crying he brings over a pile of his favorite socks to make you feel better. I would highly recommend a German Australian Shepherd mix, they’re incredible dogs, and well worth the time. They’re so full of love, I couldn’t imagine a life without Merlin now.
6 years, 9 months ago
Bailey
11 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Our dog in particulair is incredibly sweet and affectionate. He really enjoys cuddling and sits directly on top of you if he's given the oppertunity. We started socializing from the day we got him so he's very friendly to other dogs. He doesn't bark at other dogs and doesnt react to other dogs when they react agressive towards him. He does tend to get really jealous or protective towards me. I don't really mind the protective attitude because i feel safe when i'm walking him at night. The jealousy can get a bit annoying. When my fiance shows me any physical form of affection the dog gets really worked up and starts barking loudly. We try to do this a lot in front of him and we reward him when he doesnt react to it. This helped a lot already. He is also really smart. Within his first 3 months or so he thought himself to open doors. We tried to turn the door handle so it points up but he still opened them. We eventually had to put locks on the doors because he had a habit of going upstairs in the middle of the night to wake us up. I also strongly advice a lot of diffent toys and bones. When they don't have a lot of variety they get bored and will chew on furniture, carpets, pillows, shoes or basicly everything they can reach. In short Extremely sweet and intelligent breed. High energy. Tend to get bored quickly so a lot of attention and toys are a must.
6 years, 8 months ago
Diesel
17 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Tug-of-war
Playing/fetching tennis balls
Dog Parks
Cuddling
Car rides
Diesel is so smart and a very fast learner. He was potty trained in less than a week when got him at 10 weeks old. He went straight to the puppy 2 obedience class at 4 months old, because he caught on so fast. He has since completed his Canine Good Citizenship with flying colors. He is very sweet, loyal and protective of me and gets jealous when someone else hugs me or my husband kisses me he gets between us because he wants the hugs and kisses for himself. He can play fetch with a ball for hours a day and even carries 2 tennis ball in his mouth at a time. He can be protective of his toys so we are working on his aggression towards certain dogs. He loves biting at water when it comes out of the hose and sprinklers in the yard. When I empty his water bowl outside to get fresh water he tries to get wet from it, but he hates taking a bath! He loves riding in a vehicle and goes everywhere we go, even in all the stores we go in and he knows to act very respectful and calm. He loves being told he is beautiful or possibly the most gorgeous dog they have every seen. Diesel is so much fun, I call him my GAS (German Australian Shepherd) We really love and enjoy him!
6 years, 7 months ago
Stitch
5 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Fetch
wrestling
He's a puppy now but he already guides his 4 siblings (11 years old and up) like they are his charges. He's very playful and willful. Training will be continuous because he watches everything from eagles to ants. He wants to know what everything is. Obedience will be tough be cause he wants to know "why?". I've had a Shollie and 6 collies in my life and they have trained me more than I trained them. I hope he does too.
6 years, 5 months ago
Bear! He is the dog in the featured photo!
2 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Swim
Fetch
Car rides
Walk
Chase
We got our dog when he was 6 weeks old. His mother is full Australian shepherd, and his father is full German Shepherd Dog. He was potty trained very easily from the start. He would make a great house dog if were not so BIG! and he sheds a lot too! but at almost 2 years old, he is a very large dog, probably larger in size than both German and Australian shepherd breeds. GREAT with kids! my 2 year old daughter loves him! extremely friendly even with strangers. but also protective of our home especially at night he is always guarding the front door. he used to bark when he was a puppy, but he has finally grown out of that and rarely barks. everyone in the neighborhood loves him to pieces, and we all rave at how beautiful he is. At first glance he looks like a very large German shepherd, but his coat pattern is swirled with different colors and his hair is longer. His back side is not as slanted low downward like a German shepherd dog, but more even with his front. Lots of energy, loves to play. when he was younger, he went through a "herding" stage and would try to yes, HEARD us! he would nip the backs of our legs and try to make us go a certain direction. We broke him from that after a while and he did stop. I figure that was the instinct to heard animals as a shepherd dog. that was very annoying but like i said, he did grow out of that. otherwise great family dog!
6 years, 4 months ago
Angus
6 Weeks
7 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is energetic has a strong bite and chews on everything. He has bonded to our other dog and is getting housetraining quickly
6 years, 4 months ago
Otis
1 Year
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug of war running in the yard, anc playin fetch
Very energetic very sweet good with all kinds of other animals
6 years, 4 months ago
Buster
7 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
Buster is still very much s puppy and is up to puppy antics
6 years, 2 months ago
Frexton
8 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Drexton is a rescue puppy. He is very energetic and loves playing with other dogs. Also loves his toys and bones . He is a pretty verbal pup and always wants a belly rub🤣
6 years, 2 months ago
Myla
18 Months
1 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Tricks
Long walks
I got Myla from a breeder a little over a year ago. Her mother is a German shepherd and father an Australian shepherd. From the very start Myla has been very attentive, playful, and affectionate. She loves learning new tricks, which she learns very fast. She was also potty trained very quickly. Myla is still so playful and she’s very vocal, which is so cute to me. She seems to get very restless when I don’t give her enough attention. She sheds a lot, which is pretty standard for her breed but it doesn’t bother me anymore, I just clean it up and go about my dash. I can honestly say my German Australian sheperd is the best dog I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a smart loving and protective breed this is one you don’t want to pass up.
6 years, 1 month ago
Maddie Shai
8 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is so smart and very affectionate and the most beautiful girl I've ever seen! The love of my life!
5 years, 11 months ago
Lady
15 Weeks
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Obedience classes
Agility training
She very sweet and smart but does not like strangers
5 years, 10 months ago
Kai
7 Months
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
This dog is an absolute joy in my life! He loves learning tricks & showing them off & is great to watch for entertainment, as he is incredibly goofy! He is also extremely affectionate & super friendly with everyone he comes into contact with. He is a very energetic dog & while I am still working with him to not jump on people that visit, he’s excellent around small children and will not jump on them at all. He shows no signs of aggression, however he is very protective when riding in the car. He is also a great watch dog. He makes a well balanced , loving & loyal companion & is my registered ESA as well. I would recommend this cross breed with flying colors!
5 years, 10 months ago
Dawson
11 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Best, smartest mixed breed ever!!!
5 years, 9 months ago
Luna
4 Months
6 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
So far she’s an amazing dog. She fits in perfectly with our family. She doesn’t like going outside much when it’s cold out though. I live in Maine so it’s cold most of the time haha
5 years, 7 months ago
Diego
6 Weeks
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug-of-war
Walk
Run
Fetch
Got mine from a backyard breeder..dad is full blood australian shepherd while mom is full german. He is very much the people pleaser. During training his attention span seems rather short unless I remind him I still have treats. I think that may just be because he is still so young and I just recently started training him a couple of days ago. He learned to sit on command in less than 2 days and doesnt even know his name yet! He knows to make eye contact with me before he gets rewarded. Now he sits when i hold his toys because he thinks he has to and i never even told him to! Lol He seems very intelligent for being 6 weeks
5 years, 6 months ago
Zara
9 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My dog is 9 months old. Her name is Zara. She learned to sit within the first couple of days with us. She has 1/4 blue eye like her mother who is Australian Shepherd. She is so great with my 11 year old son with Autism. They just click. Yes she's very hyper and also doesn't like being home alone. She is getting big so quick. We love her!
5 years, 4 months ago
Rocky
2 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Rocky is a adopted shelter dog that was described as a 'lab/mix'. Had DNA test- 1/2 GSD & 1/4 Aussie Shepherd. Very smart, active & fun. Loves other dogs & people. Great w/ tools & yard work (jk.)
5 years, 4 months ago
Ace
2 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Road trip
Run
Frisbee
She is an amazing dog who loves people and us and is extremely eager to please. She loves running around and riding in the car all the time as well as visiting the dog park. She works great in the apartment in a large crate. We are very active and walk her every 2 hours or so. She loves mental training toys and don’t anything with us. She can be really protective and has the force of 10 men when she’s worried about us.
5 years, 1 month ago
Atlas
8 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Running
Atlas is a great dog - very smart and loving!
4 years, 4 months ago
Maggie
6 Months
7 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We've actually had Australian shepherds for over 25 years. A family members German shepherd mated with another family members Australian shepherd and we decided to take one of the last two pups. She's definitely more energetic than our aussies and obedience classes just opened up so we will be attending to ensure a well behaved dog. Looking forward to the new experience.
4 years, 3 months ago
Mozart
4 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
going for walks
Trying to play catch
Going on drives
Not much it's my first one
4 years, 3 months ago
Odin
5 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Playing fetch
Jumping
Playing with a frisbee
Running
So far it’s been amazing! It’s our first dog and we didn’t even know German Australian Shepard’s were really a thing. He actually was surrendered to a local shelter with his siblings so we really lucked out. He definitely can be protective / anxious when he comes across people he’s not too sure of but he’s great with kids and other animals!
3 years, 11 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - New pet
Question

Would a year old male mastiff who is skiddish be a good match for a 9 week old male Australian Shepard/German Shepard mix?

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd