Australian Shepherd Growth Chart (Standard & Mini Aussie) – The Complete Guide

Last Updated on July 1, 2023

Known as a loveable and gorgeous ranch dog, the Australian Shepherd (Aussie Shepherd) is the perfect companion for farm lovers, cowboys, and active pet owners.

These are intelligent dogs with loads of energy that need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. And while not big dogs, they still need plenty of space. 

Keep reading to discover more about this breed, how big Australian Shepherds get, and what your puppy will look and act like as he grows.

Overview: A Few Fun Facts About the Australian Shepherd

Despite the name, the Australian Shepherd does not originate in Australia.

These dogs originated from Europe and flourished in California, where they were bred as herding dogs and used in American rodeos. 

This hard-working breed loves having a job to do, and they excel as service dogs, therapy dogs, and, of course, as farmhands.

Australian Shepherd Size

Australian Shepherds are known to come in two sizes, standard, and miniature. Most small dogs take quicker to mature than big dogs, and the Aussie Shepherd is no exception.

Miniature Aussies will be at their adult height at 10 months while Standard varieties will take 16 months to reach their adult size and then continue to fill out until they are about two and a half years old.

How big is a Standard Australian Shepherd?

Standard Australian Shepherds stand between 18 and 23 inches (45.7 and 58 cm) tall from the paws to the shoulders and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds (18 and 27 kg).

Male Standard Aussie Shepherds can be about 15 pounds (7 kg) heavier and 2 inches (5 cm) taller than their female counterparts. 

How big will a Mini Aussie Get?

When they are fully grown, Mini Aussies should not weigh more than 18 to 20 pounds (8 to 9 kg). These dogs typically stand between 14 and 17 inches (35.5 and 43 cm) tall.

Males typically stand about one inch (2.5 cm) taller and weigh about 10 pounds (4.5 kg) more than female Miniature Australian Shepherds. 

When Do Australian Shepherds Stop Growing?

Australian Shepherds take longer to reach their full adult weight than many breeds.

The growth rate of this breed will begin to slow at around ten months old when they reach sexual maturity, and it is at this age that female Aussie Shepherds will go on heat for the first time. 

Most Aussies will only stop growing when they are about 16 months old. They should have already reached their adult height at about one year old. 

After 16 months, these dogs will still gain muscles, their chests may broaden, and their coat will grow longer.

Your Australian Shepherd should have stopped filling out by the time they are about two and a half years old.

The Ultimate Australian Shepherd Puppy Growth and Weight Chart Infographic

It’s important to determine if your puppy is at the right weight for its life stage, not to grow too fast or too slowly.

The below Australian Shepherd growth chart will help you keep track of your dog.

Share this infographic on your site or click here to enlarge and download the image

It’s also necessary to keep in mind the gender of your puppy when weighing them to see if they are in the appropriate weight range for his age since male Australian Shepherds are bigger than females. 

You shouldn’t be concerned if your puppy doesn’t exactly match these statistics.

It’s unlikely that gaining or losing a few pounds or kilograms will significantly change your pet’s life. If you’re concerned about your puppy’s growth, ask your veterinarian.

Female Australian Shepherd Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

Female Aussies are typically lighter and smaller dogs than their male counterparts. 

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Male Australian Shepherd Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

As mentioned, male Australian Shepherds will be heavier and taller than females of this breed. 

Australian Shepherd Growth and Development with Pictures

As an owner, you may be concerned about how your dog is developing, what kind of food he is eating, or how much exercise he is getting to build a healthy body weight.

In the following section, we’ll show you whether your puppy is growing appropriately for its age.

0- to 4-week old

During the first two weeks of your dog’s life, he should double his birth weight.

But that said, your Aussie Shepherd’s birth weight is not a cue for how big he will be as an adult as birth weight is affected by various factors, such as your dog’s placement in the uterus. 

That means you can’t expect the biggest or smallest puppy in the litter to eventually be the one that will be the biggest or smallest as an adult. 

Aussie Shepherds can have nine puppies in one litter but most litters consist of six to seven puppies.

These puppies will be able to sense taste and touch from birth but their eyes will still be closed and their sense of hearing will not be fully developed.

They are dependent on their mother for food and warmth.

4-week-old (1-month-old)

From four weeks old, your dog’s eyes will begin to open and his hearing will develop. Your dog will also begin to socialize with the other puppies in his litter.

This is also the stage where your puppy will start to wean off his mom’s milk and transition to solid food. 

8-week-old (2-month-old)

By the time your pup is two months old, his teeth will have developed, and he will be able to wag his tail and bark.

By eight weeks old, your puppy should be fully weaned onto puppy food and is now ready to leave the breeder and start a new life with his forever family. 

12-week-old (3-month-old)

At three months old, your pup is ready to be socialized with other dogs and humans. This is also the right time to try and start house training your dog.

He will also be ready for his first vaccinations at three months old and can start eating three regular meals a day.

16-week-old (4-month-old)

Your puppy will now start to take on some of his adult features. At four months old, you will also see what your Australian Shepherd’s ears will look like as an adult.

The breed standard says that these dogs should have floppy ears but some Aussie Shepherds will have ears that stand up. 

20-week-old (5-month-old)

A five-month-old Australian Shepherd should be receiving puppy training and going on short walks.

Males will weigh around 39 pounds (18 kg) while females will weigh 27 pounds (12 kg). 

Meet Oakley, a five-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy getting some training in this video: 

6-month-old

At six months old, your Australian Shepherd will weigh between 30 and 35 pounds (13.6 and 15.8 kg) if she is a female, and between 40 and 46 pounds (18 and 20.8 kg) for male dogs.

This is about two-thirds of his final adult weight. 

Your dog is considered to be an adolescent at this point. He will have his adult coat and newfound independence.

However, he can also develop anxiety at this point as well as a disobedient streak if not properly trained. 

1-year-old

At one year old, your Australian Shepherd will have reached his full adult height or be very close to it, although he is not done growing yet.

From here on, your puppy will fill out some more until he reaches his adult weight at around 16 months old.

If your dog’s paws still look oversized in comparison to his body, it’s likely he still has some growing to do.

What are the Factors that Impact the Australian Shepherd’s Growth?

As your Australian Shepherd grows, its size will depend on a variety of factors.

Even though the above growth charts provide an estimate of how big your puppy will be when it is fully grown, there are many other factors that can influence the size of your dog.

The largest influence on the size of your Australian Shepherd is genetics, with the size of the parents playing a large role. 

1. Genetics and Common Health Problems

If you purchased your Australian Shepherd from a breeder, then he or she will be able to tell you more about your dog’s parents, grandparents, and previous litters.

With this information, you can better determine exactly how big your dog will get as genetics have a significant role to play in the final size of your dog.

Australian Shepherds are prone to developing a number of health problems such as cataracts, cancer, epilepsy, and elbow dysplasia.

Many of these are genetic issues that puppies can be screened for when they are born. 

Buying a dog from a breeder with these health certificates can save you a lot of money in the long run as just treating cataract surgery for example could set you back between $2,700 and $4,000.

2. Neutering

Australian Shepherds that have been neutered or spayed will typically grow up to be taller, bigger dogs as their growth plates will not close.

Male Aussie dogs that have been neutered can also be more food-driven which can cause them to put on weight after the surgery.

3. Feeding Habits

An Australian Shepherd needs to eat about two and a half cups of food each day. This food can be split between two meals.

Dogs should have food that has been specifically formulated for active breeds while they should also be fed puppy formula when they are still under one year old.

Dogs that are fed the incorrect food or the wrong amount of food could grow too quickly or too slowly. 

Don’t miss out: Best Dog Food for Australian Shepherds

4. Physical Activities

Australian Shepherds are high-energy dogs that need plenty of exercise in order to stay healthy.

These dogs will love to run, participate in dog agility challenges, play dog sports like frisbee, and swim.

You want your Aussie Shepherd to be thin and trim as too much extra weight could strain the joints, particularly when your puppy is still growing.

It’s however not to overdo exercise when your dog is still young as his bones and joints are very vulnerable and too much exercise could be detrimental to his growth.

Good activities to do with your puppy include playing with toys and socializing with other dogs and people.

How Do I Make Sure My Australian Shepherd is Healthy?

We, of course, want our furry family members to lead the longest life possible.

One way to ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible is through frequent vet checkups, bearing in mind that prevention is always better, and cheaper than treatment. 

Routine vet visits will enable you to prevent and pick up any diseases before they become a potentially bigger problem. 

1. Healthy Diet

Your dog needs a high-quality diet to stay healthy. Pups that suffer from malnutrition may have internal parasites that can stunt your pet’s growth.

The better quality food you can give your dog, the more he will thrive. 

Your vet will be able to advise on the best time to transition your dog from puppy food to adult food but this is typically done when your pet is between nine and twelve months.

Be careful also not to spoil your dog with too many treats or scraps off your plate as this could lead to obesity.

2. Appropriate Exercise

Australian Shepherds are active dogs that need plenty of exercise to stay healthy. These dogs, originally bred for herding, want to be on the go all the time.

However, you should be cautious about overexercising your dog when he is still young. 

Puppies younger than nine months should not run or jump on hard surfaces as this could damage their developing bones and joints.

Long hikes or runs can also put too much pressure on the soft cartilage growth plates and negatively affect your dog’s growth.

3. Manage Stress

As mentioned, too much exercise could put additional stress on your dog’s joints that could impact growth.

You may find that your dog will tend to overeat or undereat when he is anxious or stressed. 

If you want your puppy to remain stress-free throughout his life, expose him to a wide range of situations, people, dogs, and environments as early as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Australian Shepherds grow too fast?

Yes, Australian Shepherds that put on too much weight too quickly will put a lot of strain on their joints and this could lead to health problems later in life.

Exercise and a proper diet are key to managing your dog’s growth rate. During the first year of a puppy’s life, your dog should eat puppy food.

Overfeeding your puppy or giving him an inappropriate diet could lead him to gain too much weight and put too much pressure on his bones and joints while they are still developing.

If this isn’t addressed, he might have serious skeletal problems in adulthood.

How to properly weigh and measure a dog?

When you bring your Aussie dog to the vet for a checkup, the vet will have a pet scale and will measure your furry friend.

A simple solution to weigh your dog at home would be to weigh yourself first without the dog and then hold your dog on the scale. 

The difference in weight would be the weight of your pup.

Why is my Aussie so small?

As with all dogs, some individual canines can be bigger or smaller than the average.

This can particularly be the case with Aussie females who can weigh as little as 35 pounds (15.8 kg).

In the event that your canine is a couple of centimeters or inches more than the figures referenced above, there is no great reason to be worried as each little guy is unique.

Notwithstanding, in the event that there are massive contrasts between your doggy and the above averages, it may be worthwhile consulting your vet.

There might be a fundamental medical condition that is contributing to diminished development.

Is the Australian Shepherd bigger than American Shepherd?

Australian Shepherds are sometimes confused with American Shepherds but these are two different dog breeds.

The American Shepherd was originally known as the mini Australian Shepherd because they look like a miniature Aussie. 

Miniature American Shepherds are quite a bit smaller than Aussie Shepherds, weighing just 20 to 40 pounds (9 to 18 kg) when fully grown and standing between 13 and 18 inches (33 and 46 cm) tall.

A female American Shepherd will typically weigh the same as a male American Shepherd. 

To measure the height of your Aussie, measure your dog with a tape measure when he is standing.

You need to measure from the ground to the withers, the uppermost point on his shoulder blades. 

Conclusion: How Big Will My Australian Shepherd Puppy Grow Into?

Now you know a bit more about Australian Shepherds and precisely how large your puppy will be as he grows up.

Precisely how big your Aussie will get is not set in stone and will depend on his genetic qualities, diet, exercise, and obviously, what sort of Australian Shepherd you have.

Both sizes of this breed grow a great deal in their first year, with most of them arriving at their full grown-up size when they reach sixteen months old although they may still take some more months to fill out.

How big is your Australian Shepherd? If it’s not too much trouble, go ahead and let us know all about your dog in the comments underneath.