The Australian Shepard is a smart, work-oriented and exuberant dog who is categorized in the herding group of dog breeds. They come in a variety of colors consisting of blue merle, red merle, red, tri-color (white, black, and tan), and black. The breed does shed year-round, but more heavily during spring as he loses his winter coat. The Australian Shepherd is traditionally a medium-sized breed with a height ranging from 20-23 inches for males, and 18-21 inches for females. They have an average weight of 50-65 pounds for the males, and 40-55 pounds for the females. Their life expectancy is 12-15 years.