Shel-Aussie

30-65 lbs
16-23"
Unknown
Miniature Australian Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog
Shel Aussi

Shel-Aussies are beautiful mixed breed dogs who were created from breeding an Australian Shepherd with a Shetland Sheepdog. Both parent breeds are colorful and have thick coats that need to be brushed weekly. They also need to be exercised for around 30 to 60 minutes every day. They are fairly adaptable to all climates, although they do not like the extreme heat. They can live in apartments, as long as they are given enough exercise. This breed gets along well with people of all ages and all other types of pets, although you must keep in mind that these dogs originate from sheepdogs, and may try to herd smaller animals.

purpose Purpose
Herding, Retrieving, Watchdog, Police Dog, Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Australian Shepherd or Miniature Australian Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog

Shel-Aussie Health

Average Size
Male Shel-Aussie size stats
Height: 16-23 inches Weight: 30-65 lbs
Female Shel-Aussie size stats
Height: 16-23 inches Weight: 30-65 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Corneal Dystrophy
  • Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cataracts
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Deafness
  • Hemophilia
  • Allergies
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination
  • Radiographs
  • Urinalysis
  • Fluorescein Test
  • Complete Blood Profile
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Blood Work
  • Complete Blood Count
  • Complete Ophthalmologic Examination
  • DNA Test
  • Electroretinogram

Shel-Aussie Breed History

Shel-Aussies are hybrid dogs made from the breeding of an Australian Shepherd with a Shetland Sheepdog. Therefore, the history of this breed begins with these parent breeds. Miniature Shetland Sheepdogs were developed in the Shetland Islands, which are located off the mainland of Scotland. When fishing boats began regularly visiting in the 1700s, new dog breeds were introduced to the islands. This includes the Black and Tan King Charles Spaniel, Spitz-type dogs who are from Scandinavia, Yakki dogs from Greenland and other sheepdogs from Scotland. These dogs were then bred with the dogs on the island to create the Shetland Sheepdog. These little dogs began gaining popularity as companion pets in the 19th century after British sailors who would visit the islands would buy them to take back home. The Australian Shepherd most likely originates from the Basque region in the Pyrenees Mountains, which are located between France and Spain. Although they are not from Australia, the breed got their name due to their association with shepherds from the United States (who came to North America from Australia) during the 1800s. Pyrenean Sheepdogs are thought to have been crossed with different types of Collies while they were in Australia, and were later brought to the United States along with herds of sheep throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. This breed was often used to herd large groups of sheep and cattle, which they excelled at, especially in tight quarters. The popularity of this breed increased along with Western horsemanship after the Second World War. They were often seen in rodeos, horse shows, movies and television programs.

Shel-Aussie Breed Appearance

The Shel-Aussie will take on an appearance that is a mix between the Shetland Sheepdog and the Australian Shepherd. Shetland Sheepdogs have extremely thick and beautiful coats. Their heads are long and wedge-shaped with narrow and rounded muzzles. They have teeth which meet in a scissors bite and noses which are black. They have dark, almond shaped eyes, small ears that are mostly erect and set high on the head. Their tails are quite long and should reach the hock. The Shetland Sheepdog has a light but muscular body. The Australian Shepherd is an agile breed with a body that is a bit bigger in length than in height. They have pendant ears and, alternatively to the Shetland Sheepdog, their bobtails are very short. These dogs stand squarely with deep chests. Their heads are about as long as their muzzles, which taper slightly. Their eyes are medium sized and oval shaped,  and can sometimes be different colors. Their ears are also high set, triangularly shaped and erect. The Shel-Aussie hybrid usually takes on the harsh and rough coat of the Shetland Sheepdog and it is most often straight. The coat colors of the two parents are similar. Additionally, your Shel-Aussie may have a tail or not, and he may present with different colored eyes.
Eye Color Possibilities
blue Shel-Aussie eyes
Blue
brown Shel-Aussie eyes
Brown
amber Shel-Aussie eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Shel-Aussie nose
Black
brown Shel-Aussie nose
Brown
isabella Shel-Aussie nose
Isabella
Coat Color Possibilities
blue Shel-Aussie coat
Blue
fawn Shel-Aussie coat
Fawn
gray Shel-Aussie coat
Gray
black Shel-Aussie coat
Black
brown Shel-Aussie coat
Brown
white Shel-Aussie coat
White
brindle Shel-Aussie coat
Brindle
cream Shel-Aussie coat
Cream
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Shel-Aussie straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Shel-Aussie Breed Maintenance

Since the Shel-Aussie usually has a similar coat to it’s Shetland Sheepdog parent, they will most likely have the same grooming requirements. This means that you will need to brush your dog once a week minimum using a pin brush. During shedding season, they should be brushed daily. The brushing could be somewhat difficult, since you need to use a spray bottle to wet the fur before you brush it and you have to get all the way down to the skin. The water is important, because brushing these dogs with a dry coat can cause damage to their fur. You need to pay extra attention to the fur behind the ears and on the armpits, since these areas are prone to knots. They do not need baths often, as the coat is water and dirt resistant. They do not need regular baths, since they are usually pretty clean. Like all dogs, Shel-Aussies will need to have their teeth brushed at least three times a week, their nails trimmed around once or twice a month, and the inside of their ears wiped clean once a week.

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Brushes for Shel-Aussie
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Scissors
Scissors
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Shel-Aussie requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Shel-Aussie Temperament

The intelligent Shel-Aussie is a breed that gets its fun and playful personality from both the Australian Shepherd and Shetland Sheepdog. They are eager to please their owners and should be easy to train. Because they are alert, they make good watch dogs. The Shel-Aussie is also a great pet because they are so loyal. Although they may get along well with people and are also friendly with pets, they may not be the best choice for houses who are home to small animals, since they have high herding instincts. This breed is lively and playful, which makes them a great match for owners who are also active and would enjoy a jogging or hiking companion. They are not always good around kids. This breed, just like all others, should be well socialized and trained in obedience as a puppy. Introduce them to new people, places and pets while their young to teach them how to act around things that they are not familiar with.

Shel-Aussie Activity Requirements

This designer dog is quite active and loves to participate in all types of activities, including playing fetch and going swimming. They should be walked every day, and given some time to  play and run around freely in an enclosed area. This breed does not do as well in warm climates, and should not be overworked when it is hot out. Since the Shel-Aussie has a very high intelligence level, they will need to be given mental stimulation as well as physical and will enjoy pursuits like agility training and field trials. The recommended amount of exercise for both the Shetland Sheepdog and the Australian Shepherd is 30 to 60 minutes per day.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Shel-Aussie Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Shel-Aussie Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Shel-Aussie size stats at six months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 21.0 lbs
Female Shel-Aussie size stats at six months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 21.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Shel-Aussie size stats at 12 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 27.0 lbs
Female Shel-Aussie size stats at 12 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 27.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Shel-Aussie size stats at 18 months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
Female Shel-Aussie size stats at 18 months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs

Shel-Aussie Owner Experiences

Koda
9 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Walking
Our Shel-Aussie is definitely a herding dog. He wakes us up in the morning and puts us to bed at night. He is extremely bright - perhaps to bright :). Koda does not like to fetch or play with toys unless they are mental stimulation toys. He refuses to go in the water and crosses the street if someone's sprinkler is on. He's getting older and sleeps quite a bit, but can walk for miles if we are out and it's not too hot.
2 years, 3 months ago
Riley
5 Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My daughter got Riley from a Petstore (grr) but we are both completely in LOVE with her! aside from the fact that she is the most adorable puppy, she is SUCH a sweetie! even though she is a lively puppy, she is also super chill. She is the best car rider. I have 2 cats and she loves trying to engage the cats in play time (the older one just looks at her sideways with an "I'm not interested" look, and the younger one "pretends" to be annoyed, but engages Riley back). The only time she barks is when she tries to get the cats to play. My daughter lives in an apartment, and Riley does just fine there. They come to my house on the weekends so Riley has a huge yard to play in. She also just loves to play with the neighborhood kids, as well as the neighbor's dog - a large black lab mix. She is super friendly with everyone she meets and is a cuddle bug. I want to get a Shel-Aussie for myself, but unfortunately have not been lucky in finding any breeders. (I do not want to buy from a pet store, since I don't know if the dog is coming from a puppy mill). I keep a daily watch on the rescue sites. IF anyone knows of a breeder, or any pups needing adoption, I'd sure like to know!
2 years, 8 months ago
S’more
4 Months
4 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hide & Seek
Fetch
Chase
He’s been amazing so far, he’s young and we haven’t had him very long, but he’s been so loving and sweet already. One issue I would say is he has horrible anxiety already, if he’s with someone he’s been with before he will calm down when my boyfriend or I leave him, but if we leave in a room alone or the cage for even a second he starts to nearly scream bloody murder. He’s getting better over time though, so maybe he’ll grow out of not really sure. He also has a habit of getting aggressive with me and not wanting to listen, but I also have a tendency to be too soft with him and am very small so he might see me as easier to push over! Besides these though, he’s been amazing! He started letting us know he had to go outside after nearly 2 weeks of having him, and he doesn’t go inside on pads at all anymore, only outside! He knows sit and stay, kind of lay down, and we have already gotten him to mostly stay away while we eat! He isn’t the most cuddly, but he doesn’t hate them either. He prefers to lay on your leg or something than to fully cuddle though. Unless you’re in a car! Then he wants to be in your arms! He’s a love bug, just overly hyper. He loves meeting new people, just excited pees a little too much, one time all over me because I was holding him. Regardless though, he is by far one of the best dogs I’ve ever met.
2 years, 11 months ago
Suki
1 Year
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
swimming
wrestling
Running
Tug-of-war
chewing
one of the smartest and sweetest dogs i’ve owned, i literally adore her. she loves to play and while she’s not a big snuggler, she’s so affectionate. she’s not always very friendly/trusting of strangers and other dogs, but we’re working on it :)
2 years, 11 months ago
Bailey Raina Stout
13 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Love it first sight! So trainable, very empathetic and loving. It's only been 6 weeks but I'm so happy for our journey together❣️❣️
3 years, 1 month ago
ANGUS
13 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
HE IS SUPER INTELLIGENT. MEMORIZES TV COMMERCIALS WITH ANIMALS IN IT AND BARKS AT THEM WHEN NOT EVEN IN THE SAME ROOM. HE LOVES TO WATCH TV. AS HE HAS AGED, I GOT HIM AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD, HE HAS BECOME LESS ENERGETIC, BUT HAVING A 5 YEAR OLD AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD HAS IMPROVED HIS BEHAVIORS!
6 years, 3 months ago
Bailey Blue
10 Weeks
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Tug-of-war
She is very active right now and likes to bite a lot. She is very intelligent. She already knows sit and that she gets a treat when she goes outside to potty.
5 years, 6 months ago
Blu
6 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Chew Toys
She’s a great dog, great personality, but she’s starting to go blind at 6mons but other that she’s amazing with the kids and a super happy pooch. We wouldn’t trade her for anything she fits so well in our family
5 years, 5 months ago
Charlie
1 Year
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Road trip
Fetch
Swim
Run
Chase
We adopted him from a shelter, the shelter explained that a puppy mill was over flowed and started looking for homes for him and his kin. I quickly adopted him as he was scared and didn’t know how to “dog” properly. But with time love and patience he started to grow into his personality. He became more energetic and cuddly. He still gets nervous around pet stores but he’s started to get used to it over time. He’s a great family dog doesn’t get aggressive he’s just shy but will gladly lay up next to you so he can be greeted by guests.
5 years, 2 months ago
duke
1 Year
4 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Catch treats
Run
swimming
duke is such a fast learner and he loves to swim. the first time he went to a lake he swam like he has been doing it his whole life. very protective of his little humans.
3 years, 4 months ago
Gypsy
9 Years
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Going to the Beach
My Shel-Aussie is a rescue who was found on a dirt-road in Florida with her two puppies (who had Parvo). She was thin and had fleas. Went to a shelter and a rescue group called The Pixel Fund brought her up to Maine. She is the SWEETEST dog you ever met and loves people and kids. She is rather indifferent to other dogs (which is fine) but gets along well with them. She is very calm. After about six months I did training with her to become a Certified Therapy Dog Team and we volunteer at a local hospital. She is an amazing, intelligent, beautiful dog who is a celebrity here in Portland, Maine. And a great poster dog for rescues!
4 years, 10 months ago
Dexter
16 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Our guy is so very affectionate with my husband and me too. Luvs to be brushed, bathtime is fun with treats. Plays with other nice dogs chase me. He has all the great moves hockey deaks, does zoomies runs everywhere in the backyard. Getting better at walking on the leash he want to learn,likes to please us.
4 years, 7 months ago
scout
3 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
my experience with my shel-aussie is great he is great I love him.
4 years, 7 months ago
Parker
4 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Wonderful. Parker is friendly, easy to train, eager to please and has helped keep our older dog active
4 years, 1 month ago
Harper
4 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We had 2 aussies prior to rescuing Harper. She is the most lively and quite a character. She makes us laugh every day. We find 2 walks a day, am and pm ideal, with a game of Frisbee in the mid day for added fun.
4 years ago
Ori
1 Year
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Our shel-aussie has been great. Hes around 8 months now and a bit over 25 lbs. He's happy to hike and run, but also very content to relax around the house as well. Exceptionally friendly (almost to a fault, but he's still young) with other dogs and happy to meet/engage with other people as well. Quick to learn new behaviours, but will also disengage/seek out other stimulation if he gets bored/its too repetitive.
3 years, 10 months ago
Patches
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
walks, play fetch and hide and seek with toys
He has been a beautiful dog, extremely loving and intelligent, energetic, great with grandkids from tiny on up, very social, and loves herding large balls in the back yard
3 years, 6 months ago
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Sketch of smiling australian shepherd