Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Meet This Smart and Speedy Hybrid Dog

The Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix is what is known as a hybrid dog breed. This essentially means the breed is early in development and evolving.

Interestingly, so many of today’s well-known purebred dog breeds – including the Australian Shepherd breed – came to be through a quite similar process.

It can be hard to know which parent dog will most influence a hybrid puppy.

In this case, your puppy could grow up to be more like the Australian Shepherd dog parent or more like the Greyhound dog parent.

Because we can’t know for sure in advance, in this article we provide you with a comprehensive look at all possible outcomes based on studying both parent dogs in depth.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix

The Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix is an interesting hybrid because you are basically crossbreeding the oldest dog breed on the planet, the Greyhound, with the original “cowboy dog,” the Australian Shepherd.

This pairing guarantees your puppy is going to be interesting and unique no matter which parent dog’s DNA dominates!

See an Australian Shepherd and a Greyhound Playing

As this YouTube video so clearly illustrates, both the Greyhound and the Australian Shepherd dog breeds are about as high energy as a dog can come.

If you like to stay active and want a canine companion who can join you in your outdoor life, an Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix might be the perfect dog for you.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Dog Breeds History

Both the Australian Shepherd and the Greyhound dog breeds have unique and interesting histories.

Studying the parent dog breed histories can give you some very useful clues about your Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix dog’s drives, instincts, needs, and more.

Australian Shepherd history

The Australian Shepherd’s breed name makes sorting out the breed history confusing at best.

Interestingly, these dogs actually do not come from Australia at all.

In fact, as the Australian Shepherd Dog Club of America explains, Australia was just a mid-point in the breed’s development, sandwiched in between their origins in Europe and destination in America.

Australian Shepherds are herding dogs that have been employed for centuries to help herd and protect livestock, especially sheep. They are incredibly athletic and agile as well as very brave.

Greyhound history

According to Animals Australia, the Greyhound may just be the original dog breed. These sighthounds were first recorded in 8 A.D.

References to a sleek, swift dog that greatly resembles the modern Greyhound appear in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians and in print amongst writings from the Celtic Europeans.

Could any more venerable and amazing dogs exist on the planet? Greyhounds have long been revered for both their keen vision (unusual for most dog breeds) and for their absolute beauty.

As sighthounds, they have always been and are today hunting dogs extraordinaire.

That being said, Hound breeds are considered to be some of the ‘dumbest’ dog breeds due to their stubborn independent natures.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix history

As you can see, the Australian Shepherd Greyhound hybrid dog is going to be happiest when they have some sort of regular daily activity or even a “job” to do. These dogs are not lapping dogs!

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix Personality & Temperament

What kind of personality and temperament might you expect to see in an Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix dog?

This is a difficult question to answer, especially when we are dealing with first-generation hybrid litters.

The reason is simple: there is no statistical way to know for sure how much DNA from either parent dog a puppy might inherit.

For example, one hybrid puppy might get the Greyhound coat and the Australian Shepherd’s body size. Another puppy in the same litter might get exactly the opposite traits.

But we can look at the typical temperament and personality for each parent dog to get a better sense of the types of traits your dog might inherit overall.

Australian Shepherd personality and temperament

The Australian Shepherd is an incredibly popular purebred dog breed right now.

In fact, the American Kennel Club (AKC) lists these dogs as the 17th most popular pet dog out of 196 purebred dog breeds in America right now!

However, Aussie Shepherds (as fans call this breed) are not considered to be suitable pet dogs for first-time or inexperienced dog owners.

These dogs are confident and can become aggressive if they don’t get early and ongoing appropriate training and socialization.

The Aussie Shepherd is also what you might call an “all go, no stop” dog breed. They don’t seem to ever get tired!

It takes a lot to meet an Aussie Shepherd’s activity needs and this is not a task for every dog owner.

Greyhound personality and temperament

The Greyhound personality and temperament is known to be gentle yet independent. Some historians have called the Greyhound “haughty,” but this is actually far from the case.

Rather, these dogs are simply rather reserved. They are not prone to laying all over their people but want to be nearby.

The Greyhound is considered to be the fastest dog breed on Earth according to the Greyhound Club of America.

Not surprisingly, Greyhounds simply love to run – so much so that offering another Greyhound playmate and companion who can keep up with them is a good idea.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix personality and temperament

The Australian Shepherd Greyhound hybrid dog is going to be an active companion canine – very active.

Unless you have the time, energy, and interest to provide suitable athletic pursuits and exercise for this hybrid dog breed, you will likely find a very destructive dog on your hands.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Size, Height, and Weight

The Australian Shepherd dog is distinctive mostly for its long tail-colored coats. The Greyhound, on the other hand, is unmistakable for their body type.

Both dogs are easy for most people to name on sight, even if the person is not a dog owner.

But what will a hybrid version of an Australian Shepherd and a Greyhound look like? Let’s find out.

Australian Shepherd size, height, and weight

The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog breed that typically weighs anywhere from 40 to 65 pounds and stands 18 to 23 inches tall (paw pads to shoulders).

Males usually are taller and heavier than females in adulthood.

These dogs will grow up quickly but take longer to fill out. They are lean when provided with appropriate daily exercise.

Greyhound size, height, and weight

The Greyhound has an iconic elongated body that makes these dogs look bigger than they actually are.

Adult Greyhounds typically weigh between 60 and 70 pounds and stand 27 to 30 inches tall (paw pads to shoulders). Males may slightly outweigh females and stand a couple of inches taller.

As hounds renowned for their speed, being light and slender is a huge plus.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound size, height, and weight

An Australian Shepherd Greyhound is going to be a unique looking dog regardless of how the parent dog traits may combine for a given puppy.

Overall, you are looking at a medium-sized dog in terms of weight.

But if your puppy inherits the greyhound length or height, the amount of space your dog needs could spill over into the large dog category.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Training and Exercise Needs

How much exercise and training does an Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix dog need? This is a pretty easy one to answer even before you know much about this mix – a lot!

Australian Shepherd training and exercise needs

The Australian Shepherd dog has been described as quite simply tireless.

These dogs are famous for appearing in many traveling circuses because they love to do tricks and cannot seem to get enough of running and chasing and playing.

As Canine Perspective points out, an Australian Shepherd that does not receive enough early and ongoing socialization and training that is strict yet positive can quickly develop problem behaviors, including aggression.

As herding dogs, they have a habit of nipping at the heels of their “herd,” including their people. This can be especially distressing for young children and may also cause injury.

There is a saying that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, and this absolutely applies to the Australian Shepherd dog. The more exercise these dogs get, the fewer problem behaviors tend to crop up.

Greyhound training and exercise needs

The Greyhound may be all go when they are racing (coursing) or running, but these dogs really do know how to rest when the work is done.

This leads some people to describe these dogs as “all go, all stop.” When they are not running, they turn into surprisingly sedentary canines.

But the urge to run is so strong with these dogs that they need to do it daily.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound training and exercise needs

You never ever want to let your Australian Shepherd Greyhound off the lead in an unfenced area. And you will want to ensure your backyard is utterly secure before giving your hybrid dog unsupervised access.

This includes providing a dog-proof gate latch or lock and a dig-proof, jump-proof fence.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming

When it comes to coat type, the Australian Shepherd and Greyhound simply could not be more different.

Australian Shepherd coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Australian Shepherd has a long, thick, double-layer coat that needs daily brushing and grooming and will shed all year long.

Greyhound coat care, shedding, and grooming

The Greyhound has a short, neat, flat coat that sheds mildly and doesn’t need much if any maintenance.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix coat care, shedding, and grooming

Here, the coat type your mix puppy might inherit could be drastically different, an important consideration if you are sensitive to dander from shed dog hair.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Longevity & Health Issues

Interestingly, the increase in known genetic health issues among many purebred dog breeds is a big reason why more breeders are turning to hybrid breeding today.

When you add back genetic diversity to a troubled breed line, you often get healthier dogs in future generations.

However, this only works if the breeder takes all precautions against passing along the serious genetic issues each parent dog breed is known to suffer from.

This is why you need to learn about known health issues for each parent dog breed.

Australian Shepherd longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Australian Shepherd breed has developed these heritable serious health issues.

Be sure your breeder has pre-tested for these issues before committing to a puppy!

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Eye issues (including Collie eye anomaly)
• Sensitivity to drugs (including anesthesia)

The Australian Shepherd typically lives between 12 and 15 years.

Greyhound longevity and health issues

According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Greyhound breed can inherit these serious health issues that get passed from parent dogs to puppies.

Here again, be sure your breeder provides you with clear test results from the parent dog before committing to a hybrid puppy.

• Cardiac issues

The Greyhound has a typical life span of 10 to 13 years.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix: longevity and health issues

By understanding the known genetic health issues your hybrid puppy could inherit, you can guard against committing to a puppy that may inherit expensive, distressing, and life-limiting health issues.

Australian Shepherd Greyhound Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?

These smart, sensitive, speedy hybrid dogs are not going to be the right fit for every owner.

But if you love to stay active and enjoy leading an outdoor lifestyle with your dog, you might discover the Australian Shepherd Greyhound mix is quite simply the perfect canine!