Australian Shepherd Growth Chart & Puppy Weight Calculator

Did you get an Aussie puppy and wonder how big he will grow? The weight of full-grown Australian Shepherds ranges from as little as 35 pounds for a small female to 65 pounds for a big-boned male. Use our puppy weight predictor to find out your pup’s full-grown size!

Australian Shepherd Weight Calculator & Growth Chart

Table of Contents

australian shepherd

How big is a full-size Australian Shepherd?

The AKC calls for Australian Shepherds to grow up to reach:

  • 18-21 inches at the shoulder and 40-55 pounds in weight for females
  • 20-23 inches at the shoulder and 50-65 pounds in weight for males

However, as with any dog breed there can be especially small and especially big dogs. Some Australian Shepherd females may stay very small and light and just weigh 35 pounds.

If your Aussie is considerably smaller than the above ranges, chances are that he is not a full-blood Australian Shepherd, but a Miniature American Shepherd.

How long until Australian Shepherd is full grown?

Australian Shepherds finish growing around 15 months of age. However, their growth slows down a lot after the first 10 months of life. Your pup will grow most rapidly until then. After about 10 months his growth will slow down considerably and eventually taper off.

Intact male dogs tend to fill out until they are about 2.5 years in age. This means that they continue to gain muscle mass, their chest broadens and their coat grows. They get an especially impressive coat around their neck, like this:

australian shepherd

How big should my Australian Shepherd be at 6 months?

At 6 months your dog will weigh somewhere between 25 and 40 pounds depending on his gender and genetics. You should not worry that your growing puppy’s weight is problematic unless he is unusually skinny or lethargic. Puppies go through different growth spurts, and simply being light does not mean that anything is wrong with your Australian Shepherd pup.

Australian Shepherds are highly athletic dogs that will exert a lot of energy running around, playing and exploring every day. They love to play frisbee, do dog agility or swim! It is normal that they appear slender and lean as pups. In fact, you want a 6 month old puppy to be trim – weighing too much puts a lot of strain onto growing joints and can lead to problems later on.

Around the age of 4-8 months, an Aussie will also show his final ear set. The standard asks for them to have floppy ears, but an Australian Shepherd’s ears can also stand up!

Factors influencing growth

Your dog’s growth is determined by several factors. Let’s look at the most important ones:

Genetics

Genetics are strong – your puppy is likely to grow up to be about the same size as his parents, aunts and uncles. Sometimes size can skip a generation or two as well – it may be that your Australian Shepherd puppy had an unusually tall grandparent, normal-sized parents and himself is unusually tall.

The weight of a puppy until about 12 weeks of age is not a clue for how tall and heavy he will get. Birth weight is determined by factors such as uterine placement and will rarely be a predictor of adult weight. The smallest puppy of a litter may grow up to be the largest and the largest may end up with the smallest adult size!

It is impossible to predict the final weight in very young puppies beyond their genetics.

Gender and alter status

Of course, females tend to be lighter and smaller than male dogs. The dog’s alter status (whether you spayed or neutered early in life) also plays a role.

While our intuition usually is that an intact dog should grow up to be taller, that is not true! Performing a pediatric spay or neuter causes the dog to not close the growth plates in their joints early. This means that they end up growing for longer and become taller and thinner dogs.

If you neuter or spay your dog after about 1 year of age, he or she is more likely to be a bit smaller and heavier.

Especially males tend to become less active and more cuddly and food-driven after being neutered. Take care that your Aussie does not pile on the pounds after his neuter surgery by feeding him a balanced diet and keeping him in athletic condition.

Health & Nutrition

Of course, your Australian Shepherds needs to be in good health and receive adequate nutrition in order to grow well. If your dog is suffering from malnutrition or intestinal parasites, his growth will be stunted.

If you have any doubts about your dog’s health or diet, consult with your veterinarian. They will happily assist you in ensuring the health and wellbeing of your puppy, so he can grow up to be a stunning Australian Shepherd!