The Average Price of Australian Shepherd Puppy in 2023
Last Updated on February 25, 2024
Wondering what’s the average price of Australian Shepherd puppy this year? The Australian Shepherds are great herding animals, family pets and police dogs, and the Australian Shepherd’s cost ranges between $800 – $2500.
If you are planning to add this fantastic pet to your family, you should know the price of Australian Shepherd puppy and how much you will have to pay for the puppy.
The breed has become extremely popular all over the world. It’s also important to note that Australian Shepherds continue to gain popularity daily.
Let’s dig deeper to find out what factors may influence the price of Australian Shepherd puppy and whether it is worth buying from reputable Australian Shepherd breeders.
Table of Contents
1. The Colour of Your Australian Shepherd Puppy and the Price
Purebred Australian Shepherd puppies usually come in four officially recognised colours:
- Black
- Red
- Blue merle
- Red merle
Merle Australian Shepherds are more popular among dog owners. That’s why the cost of Australian Shepherd puppies is higher than that of other Aussies. The puppies may also have white markings or copper points on the chest, face and legs. Black Australian Shepherds are less desirable. So, the price for these puppies is lower. Plus, female Australian Shepherd puppies are usually less expensive than males.
As you can see, tri-colour Australian Shepherds are more expensive just because they are higher in demand. You may think Aussies with less common coat colours may also be more expensive. However, that is not always true for the puppies of this breed.
The Australian Shepherd puppies that have non-standard coat colours are typically less valuable. That’s why they can be purchased at a lower price. Have you ever seen a yellow Aussie? Such puppies are produced occasionally, even though Aussies have not officially recognised this colour.
Both parents should carry the recessive gene to produce yellow puppies. These puppies are also adorable. Keep in mind that the colour of the Aussie has nothing to do with its character and temperament. Yellow Australian Shepherds are still active and highly intelligent.
When choosing a puppy, listen to your heart and follow your preferences even if the appearance of the Aussie you like does not meet the breed standards.
2. Why You Should Avoid Buying the White Australian Shepherd
White Australian Shepherd puppies result from breeding two merle dogs and can be very striking. Unfortunately, these puppies often have serious health problems, including blindness and deafness. Breed registries do not recognise white Australian Shepherd puppies as these organisations do not want to encourage breeders to produce unhealthy puppies. Please remember this if you see a white Australian Shepherd puppy priced lowly.
Undoubtedly, life can be challenging for a blind and deaf dog. Unfortunately, the defects that white Aussies usually have cannot be cured or improved by surgery. It would be best if you never bought a white Australian Shepherd puppy because it is cheaper. Remember that a dog with disabilities will need extra care for the rest of his life. It’s worth mentioning that Aussies can live up to 13 years or even longer.
3. Pedigree of Your Australian Shepherd
The pedigree of your Australian Shepherd puppy is its family history. All dogs from reputable breeders have pedigrees. Your puppy will be more expensive if it has championed in its line. The more champions the puppy has, the higher the price.
The Aussie dogs must be registered with a Kennel Club. But the registration itself doesn’t prove dog quality. The breeders have to pay to register the puppies.
It’s interesting to know that pedigree can tell you so many things about your puppy’s origin and its ancestors. Knowing how to read your Aussie’s pedigree is crucial indeed. It will help you find a puppy with specific characteristics. So, if you want your Aussie to be an excellent herder, ensure it has a line that shows outstanding herding abilities.
An experienced breeder will undoubtedly help you find the puppy that meets your needs and requirements. However, it would be best to remember that puppies with an immaculate pedigree can be very expensive. Think well if you are ready to make this type of investment.
4. Buying Your Dog From a Reputable Breeder
Like any animal breeder, some breeders are in the business for profit, and others are in it for the love of the breed and a desire to produce quality puppies. Reputable breeders spend large amounts of money to produce high-quality, healthy Australian Shepherd puppies. Some of these expenses might include the following:
- Breeding stock
- Housing
- Genetic screening
- Health checks and vaccinations
- Deworming
Responsible breeders buy healthy parent dogs. They provide the dogs with a comfortable, clean, and safe environment. Professional breeders know that it’s essential to perform genetic testing before breeding the dogs. Screening tests help breeders check the genetic status of parent dogs and ensure that the dogs can produce healthy puppies that will not have serious health problems. All puppies must be vaccinated and dewormed before moving to their new home.
Buying an Australian Shepherd puppy is so exciting. It is a life-changing decision. If you want to become the owner of a happy and healthy puppy, you should find a reliable breeder who will help you make the right choice. The best way to communicate with the breeder is to meet him in person. A trustworthy breeder who cares about the puppies and wants to find perfect homes for them will never refuse to do that.
During the meeting, you should watch the breeder and the dogs closely. Try to answer the following questions. Is the environment clean and odour-free? Does the breeder demonstrate a true passion for parent dogs and puppies? How do the dogs react to the breeder and strangers? Are they friendly and non-aggressive? Remember that the dogs and their puppies should not be afraid of visitors.
After analysing the situation, ask the questions that concern you. Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you consider necessary. A reliable breeder who knows everything about his dogs will always be ready to give a clear answer to any of your questions. Avoid the breeder who refuses to show the environment where the puppies are born and raised. Remember that the low price of Australian Shepherd puppy should never play a decisive role in choosing a puppy.
5. Why Buying Cheap Puppies Is Not a Very Good Idea
The price of Australian Shepherd puppy raised from a reputable breeder can be expensive. However, buying a low-priced puppy is not an option. If someone offers you an Australian Shepherd puppy at a low price, think twice before buying it. A low price can signal that you are dealing with a puppy mill. Puppy mills are usually run by negligent breeders who exploit dogs to produce hundreds of puppies and make as much money as possible. These breeders keep their dogs in awful conditions. As a result, most puppies born in such conditions are sick. Ensure your Australian Shepherd puppy doesn’t come from such a terrible place.
In most cases, puppy mill dogs end up in pet stores or are sold online. And parent dogs are left behind with the only purpose – to produce more puppies. These dogs feel miserable and abandoned. The unhappy dogs that don’t get love and care cannot produce happy and healthy puppies. Hopefully, you agree with that.
In addition, Aussie puppies that come from puppy mills suffer from various health issues.
- Kidney and heart disease
- Epilepsy
- Blood and respiratory disorders
- Endocrine and musculoskeletal disorders
- Blindness and deafness
The lack of communication with people and other animals will turn these puppies into frightening creatures unable to live in society. If you bring such a puppy home, you will have to work hard to change his behaviour and show him a beautiful world with no pain and fear.
6. How Location Affects the Price for the Australian Shepherd Puppy
No doubt, location is another critical factor that may significantly influence the price of Australian Shepherd puppy. In fact, you can check the prices all over the country and see that they differ depending on the region.
However, even if you find a better option for Buying from reputable Australian Shepherd breeders in another region, you should avoid flying across the country to get a cheaper puppy. The prices are usually surging in those places where the Aussie puppies are higher in demand.
7. How Much Will You Have To Pay for Your Australian Shepherd Puppy
If you have fallen in love with the Aussie breed and want to become the owner of this fantastic dog in the foreseeable future, you need to know how much money you will have to pay. The price of Australian Shepherd puppy starts from $350 and may even reach $1,800. However, the average price for the Aussie is usually $650 – $850.
Plus, maintaining the Aussie will cost you about $130 per month. As you can see, owning an Australian Shepherd can be expensive, especially when buying from reputable Australian shepherd breeders. But is it worth it?
The Aussie is not just a dog. It is a loyal friend and devoted companion. It gives you the love and joy that you need so much. The dog will become an integral part of your life and a family member. Soon you will realise that your dog is more important than money.
The Australian Shepherds are fabulous pets. They are brilliant, affectionate and social. This breed is not very cheap, but it’s worth the price. The Australian Shepherd will become your devoted friend.
8. The Value of Australian Shepherds as Loyal Companions
Australian shepherd puppies from reputable Australian shepherd breeders can benefit not just from having an intelligent dog but also an extremely loyal one, as stated before. These dogs are willing to put their life on the line for the owner and can easily be trained to be more or fewer guard dogs for protecting even private property.
Is owning an Australian shepherd worth it? Yes! An Australian shepherd puppy will always look out for your well-being and will always be with you wherever you go or are planning to go. Due to this, the price of Australian shepherd puppy merely becomes a mere figure in the face of a companion that is ever-trusting!
If you want to know more about the personality traits of Australian shepherds, you can look at Australian Shepherd Facts and Personality Traits.
9. The Importance of Genetic Testing and Health Certifications
The price of Australian shepherd puppy also depends on their health and genetics, mainly; an Aussie shepherd should be bred from relatively decent genetics to ensure they do not become sick in the future or experience a health defect.
Dog pedigrees are especially helpful in knowing the genetic line of your Aussie shepherd. As mentioned earlier, pedigrees are the best indicators of how accurately your Aussie is bred.
In short, someone buying from reputable Australian shepherd breeders should focus on the health of Australian shepherd puppies health and genetics. Mainly, ensure that you can get all the health certificates from the reputable breeder to ensure the Aussies have been vaccinated, microchipped and dewormed along with other reputable breeder practices that should be done.
10. Finding a Reputable Breeder for Your Australian Shepherd Puppy
As one may assume, finding a reputable breeder for your Australian shepherd puppy can be tricky for beginners. They might need to learn about Australian shepherd puppy breeders and the average price of Australian shepherd puppy. In such a case, it can be a good idea to look at sites such as Gumtree, encouraging many breeders worldwide to come and advertise their services and pets.
You may also consult your friends and families for any directions for buying Australian shepherd puppies or go on the Internet and research a bit on various forums. Remember, only when you have found a reputable breeder should you buy the Aussie from them!
Remember, reputable breeders aren’t hesitant about pricing their Aussie puppies on a large scale. However, that should not deter owners from buying the puppy if they want a healthy and fit companion.