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InsightHorizon Digest

Are Australian Shepherds rare

Author

Isabella Turner

Updated on April 06, 2026

With the red gene being recessive, and solid-colored Aussies being the rarest, solid red Aussies are the rarest of them all. It’s a cause for celebration if you meet one!

How common are Australian Shepherds?

From the late-20th century the Australian Shepherd has increasingly been seen in conformation shows and it has become an extremely popular companion dog, in 2019 it was ranked by the American Kennel Club as the 15th most popular breed of dog in the United States.

Are Aussie Shepherds expensive?

The average price of the Australian Shepherd ranges from $650 to $850. However, an Aussie can cost anywhere between $300 to $1,800+ USD depending on breeder reputation, coat colors, pedigree and location. Australian Shepherds are not the cheapest dog breed available, but they’re not terribly expensive either.

What is the rarest Australian Shepherd color?

Red merles are far less common than blue merles because the red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning both parents have to have it for their offspring to inherit the coat. Red is the rarest color in Aussies generally, although the red merle coat is one of the more common red-colored coats in the breed.

Are yellow Australian shepherds rare?

Yellow is probably the second most common nonstandard color in the Aussie breed. Inherited as a recessive at the E locus, it restricts the dog’s body pigment and will obscure the tan point pattern if present.

What is the rarest type of Australian shepherd?

With the red gene being recessive, and solid-colored Aussies being the rarest, solid red Aussies are the rarest of them all.

Are Aussies cuddly?

While Australian Shepherds can be very affectionate, loving, and cuddly dogs with their family members, they may not act the same way at all with someone they don’t know. This dog will enjoy snuggling with the people he trusts.

Are Red Merle Aussies rare?

Red is a recessive gene, so that means it is a rarer coat color than the other Aussie colors. Aussies can inherit one of two coat patterns.

What is a mismarked Aussie?

What is a mismark? A mismark is a simply a dog that has markings that are outside the desired boundaries. The sketch included with this post shows a “Max White” aussie- one that has the most possible white without being a mismark. Notice the dog still has color over the eyes, ears, and saddle area.

What is the most expensive dog?
  • Dogo Argentino – $8,000. …
  • Canadian Eskimo Dog – $8,750. …
  • Rottweiler – $9,000. …
  • Azawakh – $9,500. …
  • Tibetan Mastiff – $10,000. …
  • Chow Chow – $11,000. …
  • Löwchen – $12,000. …
  • Samoyed – $14,000. Coming in at the #1 overall spot for the most expensive dog in the world is the Samoyed originating from Siberia.
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How much is a mini Aussie?

How Much Does A Mini Aussie Cost? You should expect to pay between $1500-$3000 for a Mini Australian Shepherd puppy. The more expensive puppies tend to come from show winning bloodlines and will be known as shown quality.

Is there a black Merle Aussie?

The American Kennel Club writes that Aussies can only be “blue merle, black, red merle, red-all with or without white markings or tan (copper) points.” … In layman’s terms, it means that their base color can be blue, black, or red, and specific white and tan markings are acceptable.

What is red factor in Australian shepherds?

A black dog, on the other hand, may produce puppies of either color if it happens to carry a liver version of the gene, referred to as ‘red factored”. Those with no liver version will never produce liver colored offspring.

What is Red Merle?

Similar in their markings to the blue merles, red merles have mottled patches of liver and cream. They may also have patches of white or copper. They have a merle gene that can change their eye color to either pale blue or odd-colored eyes. The most famous of the Australian Shepherd color combination is the blue merle.

Are Australian shepherds a good first dog?

This makes them a poor choice for first-time or timid owners. Like many herding dogs, Australian Shepherds are by nature loyal to their family but standoffish with strangers. They need early socialization — exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences — when they’re young.

Do Aussies bark a lot?

Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot, making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the ‘speak’ command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.

Are Australian Shepherds good off leash?

Its heritage as a herding breed makes this dog suited to an active lifestyle. A dog with energy to spare, the Australian Shepherd has both the stamina and smarts to excel at off-leash activities.

Are Aussies loyal?

Australian Shepherds are loyal, dependable, easygoing companions. When it comes to their love of play, they never really outgrow the puppy stage. … Australian Shepherds will bark when strangers approach the house, and they’ll sometimes run a few laps around the house for good measure.

Do Aussies choose one person?

The Australian Shepherd is not one of them. They, like some other animals, have their one chosen person, which is probably you if your dog sits on you all the time. When the Australian Shepherd chooses their person, they begin to exhibit loyalty towards you, even to an extreme degree.

Do Aussies like to swim?

It can be exhausting swimming for long periods of time. However, Australian Shepherds seem to do it with little problem. It’s part of the reason why so many Aussies love swimming.

What color Aussie is the most popular?

1. Black Tri Australian Shepherds. The black tri Australian Shepherd is one of the most common and basic colors combination of this dog.

What is the smartest dog?

  1. Border Collie. Smart, Energetic Dog: This breed is notably known for being high-energy herding dogs. …
  2. Poodle. A Friendly, Active Breed: A Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds. …
  3. German Shepherd Dog. …
  4. Golden Retriever. …
  5. Doberman Pinscher. …
  6. Shetland Sheepdog. …
  7. Labrador Retriever. …
  8. Papillon.

Can you breed 2 Blue Merle Australian Shepherds?

If you don’t want to produce homozygous merles in your litters, it’s easy to avoid doing so: Don’t breed two merles together.

Is blindness common in Australian Shepherds?

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease in which the eyes are genetically programmed to go blind. Unfortunately, Australian Shepherds are a bit more likely than other dogs to have this condition.

What is a Harlequin Australian shepherd?

HARLEQUIN PATTERN. Harlequin is a dominant modifier of the merle pattern. When present, it allows the merle patches to vary in color from lacy pale blue or red to mid ranges of gray (or red in a harlequin red merle).

What is a lethal white Australian shepherd?

The original breeders of Australian Shepherds were ranch people with horses and dogs. The lethal white term refers to certain Paint colts that are born with a defective intestine and are unable to digest their food. These white foals with blue eyes generally die of colic within hours or a few days of birth.

Can an Aussie be blue and red merle?

Aussie Breed Standard Colors The official Australian Shepherd dog breed standard specifies that these colors are solid black, solid red (also called liver), blue merle and red merle. All four colors may also include white or tan (copper) markings (ticking or points). Black ticking is also possible.

Do all Australian shepherds have blue eyes?

Not all Australian shepherds have blue eyes: they can also be green, amber, hazel or brown, or two different colors. Sometimes, the dogs will have marbled eyes, meaning each of their eyes will be a mix of two or more colors.

What is a blue merle Australian Shepherd?

A blue merle Australian Shepherd is a term used to describe a specific coat color of the Australian Shepherd breed. For the most part, the blue merle Australian Shepherd has a combination of blue, grey, black and white in his fur. … Other coat colors include: Merle. Red merle.

What is the meanest dog breed?

  • Chow Chow.
  • Doberman Pinscher.
  • Dalmatian.
  • Rottweiler.
  • Jack Russell Terrier.
  • German Shepherd.
  • American Staffordshire/Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Siberian Husky.

What's the most rare dog breed?

  • Norwegian Lundehund. Dating back to the Ice Age, the Norwegian Lundehund is recognised as one of the rarest dog breeds on the planet due to its unique characteristics, which aren’t shared by any other breed. …
  • Lagotto Romagnolo. …
  • Azawakh. …
  • Otterhound. …
  • Mudi.