Group 1 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is an energetic, clever herding dog with a striking, often merle coat and a strong bond with its family. It needs plenty of exercise and training and feels at home with active people or in dog sports.
Health
These examinations come from the official breeding programme for the breed Australische Herder by Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen (Animal Welfare Flanders). They apply to the puppies’ parents.
In short
Both parents must have 10 examinations:
- 7 DNA tests
- 2 X-ray examinations
- 1 eye examination
The breeding programme also recommends 4 further examinations.
A sample for DNA tests can be taken either with a mouth swab or by a blood sample. To carry out the examinations, the breeder uses a vet or a laboratory. For each examination below, you can see from what age and how often it must be done. Ask the breeder for the results of both parent dogs.
Mandatory examinations (10)
-
Collie eye anomaly (CEA)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- NHEJ1: c.588+462_588+8260del
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- SOD1: c.118G>A
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Elbow dysplasia (ED)
X-ray Once at least 1 year
Official description
- Method
- X-ray (CT may be recommended, but is not mandatory)
-
Hereditary cataract – HSF4-related (HC / HSF)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- HSF4: c.971del
- Inheritance
- autosomal codominant
-
Hip dysplasia (HD)
X-ray Once at least 1 year (laxity views: at least 6 months)
Official description
- Method
- X-ray: VD view and laxity view (Vezzoni or PennHIP)
-
Merle colour test (PMEL)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- PMEL: SINE insertion (200-280 bp)
-
Multidrug sensitivity (MDR1)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- ABCB1: c.228_231del
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Progressive retinal atrophy – cone-rod dystrophy 4 (cord1-PRA/crd4)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- RPGRIP1: c.142_143ins[A[29]; GGAAGCAACAGGATG
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- PNPLA8: c.1169_1170dup
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Eye disorders
Eye examination Valid for 2 years at least 1 year
Official description
- Method
- General eye examination
Recommended examinations (4)
-
Canine multifocal retinopathy 1 (CMR1)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- BEST1: c.73C>T
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 6 (NCL6)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- CLN6: c.829T>C
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Progressive retinal atrophy – progressive rod-cone degeneration (Prcd-PRA)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- PRCD: XM_022422503.1:c.5G>A
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
-
Von Willebrand disease type 1 (VWF1)
DNA test Once from birth
Official description
- Method
- DNA test
- Gene variant (for the laboratory)
- VWF: c.7437G>A
- Inheritance
- autosomal recessive
The breeding programme also contains the breeding advice for each examination and general rules on inbreeding, the number of matings per stud dog and the use of frozen semen. You can find these in the official document.
Source: breeding programme Australische Herder, Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen, last updated on 18/07/2026.
View the official breeding programme (PDF, in Dutch)
A breeding programme reduces the risk of hereditary conditions, but does not offer a 100% health guarantee.
Translation of the Dutch breeding programme by Puppymakelaar. In case of any difference, the official document prevails.
This breed profile is not a breed sheet within the meaning of the Flemish Breeding Decree (Fokkerijbesluit). The legal rules for breeding this breed are set out in the official breeding programme.
Considerations when buying
In Flanders, the Australian Shepherd (in the breeding programme: Australische Herder) has a breeding programme approved by Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen (Animal Welfare Flanders). It requires ten mandatory examinations for both parent dogs: DNA tests for CEA, DM, hereditary cataract (HSF4), the merle gene (PMEL), MDR1, PRA (cord1/crd4) and SCA, X-rays of the hips (with a laxity view according to Vezzoni or PennHIP) and the elbows, and a general eye examination that is valid for two years. Ask for the results of both parents and compare them with the overview above. With this breed, the colour of the parents is also a health question. According to the breeding programme, at least one parent in every mating must be free of the merle allele: two merle parents together are subject to a breeding ban. MDR1 stands for multidrug sensitivity. Pass the parents’ MDR1 result on to your vet, so they can take it into account when choosing medicines.
Questions for the breeder
- What is the PMEL (merle) result of both parents, and is at least one parent free of the merle allele?
- Have both parents been DNA-tested for CEA, DM, hereditary cataract (HSF4), MDR1, PRA (cord1/crd4) and SCA, as the breeding programme requires?
- What are the hip scores (with laxity view) and elbow scores of both parents?
- Do both parents have a general eye examination that is less than two years old?
- Will the puppy receive a Flemish pedigree from a recognised breed registry association?
Breed-specific challenges
The Australian Shepherd is a herding dog with plenty of energy, intelligence and drive to work. It needs physical exercise and mental stimulation every day. A bored Aussie will find its own job: herding children or cyclists, nipping at heels, barking or destroying furniture. The breed is also often reserved with strangers and can be watchful, which makes good socialisation from an early age important. The breed’s popularity, partly due to its striking colours, means that puppies are also offered from parents that have not been examined according to the breeding programme. A puppy with a Flemish pedigree comes from parents that have undergone the mandatory examinations of the breeding programme. If you want an Australian Shepherd, choose a breeder who can show the results of both parents and is honest about how much time this breed needs.
More background
General guides that help you understand this breed information and choose well.
