Breed guide
Australian Shepherd Breeding Guide: Litter Size, Whelping, Puppy Weights and Health Testing
Updated September 6, 2026 · 6 min read · By the BreedBloom team
Australian Shepherds combine a working herding heritage with striking coat genetics. Both create breeding obligations: proving temperament and structure, and understanding merle inheritance well enough never to produce a double merle.
Australian Shepherd at a glance
Typical litter size
5–8 puppies (average around 6–7)
Birth weight
10–14 oz (280–400 g)
Adult weight
40–65 lb (18–29 kg)
Gestation
About 63 days from ovulation (57–72 from breeding)
Whelping
Typically efficient whelpers. Merle-to-merle breedings must be avoided: double-merle puppies are frequently deaf and/or blind.
Breeding and whelping notes
MDR1 mutant dogs react badly to ivermectin and several other common drugs. Test every breeding dog and tell families the puppy's status; it can be lifesaving.
Cryptic merles look solid but carry merle; a "solid × merle" breeding can be a merle × merle in disguise. Test.
Hereditary cataracts (HSF4) and CEA are common enough that DNA testing is standard.
Puppies are active early; socialization to novelty, sound and handling matters for this sensitive, intelligent breed.
Health testing before breeding
•
Hips: OFA or PennHIP
•
Elbows: OFA
•
Eyes: annual CAER exam
•
DNA: MDR1 (multidrug sensitivity), HSF4 (hereditary cataract), CEA, prcd-PRA, DM, CMR1
•
Merle (M locus) testing when a dog's merle status is not obvious (cryptic merle)
Keep the paperwork attached
Test results are only useful when they travel with the dog. Keep certificate numbers and dates on each dog's record and include copies in every go-home packet.
Tracking a Australian Shepherd litter
Enter the ovulation or tie date and BreedBloom builds the Australian Shepherd litter timeline: ultrasound window, X-ray count reminder, temperature checks, the day 3–16 ENS/ESI schedule, deworming and vaccination tasks, and per-puppy weight curves you can compare against the whole litter. Families follow along in the BloomPetz portal, and the go-home packet is assembled from the same records.
About these figures
Figures on this page are typical ranges drawn from breed club and veterinary references; individual lines vary. Confirm health-testing requirements with your breed's parent club, and whelping plans with your reproductive veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
How many puppies do Australian Shepherds have?
Typically 5–8, average 6–7.
Why can't you breed two merle Aussies?
Puppies inheriting two merle copies (double merles) have a high rate of deafness, blindness and eye malformations. Responsible breeders breed merle only to a DNA-confirmed non-merle.
What is MDR1 in Australian Shepherds?
A mutation that makes the dog sensitive to certain drugs including ivermectin, loperamide and some chemotherapy agents. About half of Aussies carry at least one copy. DNA testing tells you the status.
Run your program on BreedBloom
Dogs, litters, puppy weights, ENS/ESI tasks, waitlists, contracts and go-home packets in one connected record, with a family portal built in. Free for up to 3 dogs.
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