• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

I Dream of Doggies

  • Home
  • Behavior
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Shop

Can Australian Shepherds Have Short Hair? (Yes, and It’s OK)

May 28, 2020 by Jason Jensen

I was doing some research the other day, and I noticed there are quite a lot of people posting on forums who are concerned about their Australian Shepherds having “short hair.” Many of these owners also expressed concern that their Aussies fur is not fluffy enough.

One of the defining characteristics of the Australian Shepherd is their long, thick, fluffy coat; so it’s understandable why so many owners become worried when they realize their Aussie has a short coat, and it isn’t getting any longer.

This phenomenon is more common than many people realize, however. No two dogs are ever 100 percent the same, even if they are the same breed, and Aussies are no exception. While most Australian Shepherds have the iconic long coat, it is typical that some will not, and there is no need to worry about it – i.e., there is nothing wrong with your Aussie.

Continue reading to learn more…

Can Australian Shepherds Have Short Hair?
This Australian Shepherd appears to have a shorter than average coat.

Why Some Australian Shepherds Have Short Coats

The Australian Shepherd is a complex breed that comes from a long line of European herding dogs, including Collies and Border Collies. Whenever a breed descends from several similar but different looking dogs, you can expect a lot of variety in their appearance.

For example, some Australian Shepherds have blue eyes, while others have brown eyes or even both; some have spots, whereas others have more or less solid colors; and some can get as large as 70 lb, while others won’t get much heavier than 35 lb – that’s a 100% difference in size!

Aussie with different colored eyes.

The same holds true for the length of their fur. Again, most will have relatively long coats, but others will have medium-length coats, and on occasion some sport short coats.

Some owners argue that if an Aussie has a short coat, it is not a pedigree. Others insist that there short haired Aussie is 100 percent pure bred. I could not find any evidence to support the theory that an Australian Shepherd with shorter than usual fur is not pure bred.

Why It Doesn’t Matter if an Australian Shepherd Has Short Fur

The big, fluffy coat most Aussies sport is mainly for appearance. People like the way it looks, so breeders select for it. It’s really just that simple. Nevertheless, genetics are complicated, and selective breeding doesn’t always yield the intended result.

Having a short coat, even if it is not as fluffy as the typical Aussie, does not mean there is anything wrong with the dog. So if your Aussie pup is all grown up now but they don’t have the coat you were expecting, don’t sweat it.

References:

American Kennel Club. Australian Shepherd. Retrieved from: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/australian-shepherd/

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen
Jason Jensen is the founder of idreamofdoggies.com. He is a professional writer, experienced doggy-daddy, and longtime animal rights advocate.
Jason Jensen
Latest posts by Jason Jensen (see all)
  • What It’s Like Owning a Bullboxer Pit: Pros and Cons From a Real Owner - December 17, 2020
  • Why Are Azawakhs So Expensive? Here’s What You Need to Know… - December 9, 2020
  • Are Alaskan Malamutes Good Guard Dogs? (Not Really, But They Can Fake the Part) - December 3, 2020

Filed Under: Dog Breeds

Primary Sidebar

italian greyhound

Italian Greyhound: A Great Apartment Dog!

limber tail

Does Your Dog’s Tail Look Broken? It May Just Be Limber Tail!

Can dogs eat Boursin cheese?

Can Dogs Eat Boursin Cheese?

box of ziploc bags

What to Do if Your Dog Swallows a Ziploc Bag

grain free isn't good for dogs

Why Grain-Free Dog Food Isn’t Good for Dogs

Golden Retriever with a quail in its mouth.

What to Do if Your Dog Catches a Bird

Falafel

Why You Shouldn’t Feed Your Dog Falafel (But Chickpeas Are OK)

Azawakhs running

Why Are Azawakhs So Expensive? Here’s What You Need to Know…

Irish Wolfhound

Are Irish Wolfhounds Good with Cats? (It Depends)

dog eating spaghetti

What to Do if Your Dog Has Eaten Spaghetti Sauce (Symptoms & Treatment)

Footer

Follow Us

  • facebook
  • pinterest

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer

The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNo