She was the runt of the litter, and I first held her when she was a week old. LIFE SPAN: 12-15 years. The Australian Cattle Dog is known for having one of the longest life expectancies. Australian Shepherds are resilient, and can still live a full, happy life with a few extra safety precautions and some patience from their owner. It's a debilitating and progressive disease that is most often a genetic occurance, with high instances in some lines. These working dogs need a lot of regular exercise to avoid becoming bored and destructive in the house when left alone. Life Expectancy. Breed Name: Australian Shepherd. Collie. by Debra Watson (Eden, NC) We lost our beautiful red dog, Abigail, a couple of days ago. Average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd dogs is between 12 and 14 years. But it varies depending on various factors: proper nutrition, love and care, exercise, and health issues. Australian Shepherd Lifespan. The Miniature American Shepherd was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 2015. The median Australian Shepherd life expectancy is 9 years, but some do live significantly longer. The Australian Shepherd dog, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, is prone to minor health issues such as iris coloboma, nasal solar dermatitis, hypothyroidism, Pelger-Huet syndrome, canine hip dysplasia , and Collie Eye Anomaly . How old is your dog and what breed is it? However, the only longevity-specific study which included the Australian Shepherd was one conducted in the late 1990s by John B. Armstrong PhD of the University of Ottawa. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of food. (Average human life expectancy in Japan is 83.1 years and the dog breed Akita has an average lifespan of 12) If you own a Rottweiler in The United States, then your dog’s 1 year equals your 8.7 years (Average human life expectancy in the US is 78.74 years and the dog breed Rottweiler has an average lifespan of 9 years) Although there are many theories about the origin of the Australian Shepherd, the breed as we know it today developed exclusively in the United States. I dread that day. My Australian Shepard has just surpassed 15 years. However, there’s still lots Aussie owners can do to secure their dogs some extra years. The average lifespan for Australian Shepherds is 11 to 13 years, with 12.5 the most common, assuming that no other health issues (such as hip dysplasia) are present. The Australian Shepherd was registered by the AKC in 1991. Hypoallergenic: No. The Australian Shepherd, the cowboy’s herding dog of choice, is a medium-sized worker with a keen, penetrating gaze in the eye. Popularity (2019): #13. Intelligence: #42. How much a mature dog eats depends on it’s size, age, build, metabolism and activity level. Australian Shepherds are expected to live 12-14 years barring any accidents or unforeseen health problems.