Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd

Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are both medium-sized herding dogs with a mix of black, white, tan and merle coats, so photos get mislabeled all the time. They come from different places: the Aussie was developed in the United States, in California, despite its name, while the Border Collie is a sheepdog bred for tenacity and control.

Breed standards separate them on a few features. The Aussie may have a naturally short tail and a wider range of eye colors, and it carries a moderately long, slightly wavy double coat with a mane. The Border Collie is smoother in outline with oval eyes. Merles occur in both, so color alone proves little.

Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd side by side

Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.

When you are looking at which

Border Collie

• The tail is moderately long, low-set and not carried over the back.
• The eyes are oval and brown, even on a merle-patterned dog.
• It crouches and stares intently at livestock as it moves them.
• The coat is sleek to rough but without a pronounced mane or wavy feathering.

Australian Shepherd

• The tail is naturally short or bobbed, or follows the croup line.
• One eye is amber, marbled or blue on a dog that is not a merle.
• The coat is slightly wavy with a visible mane around the neck.
• The dog is a bit reserved with strangers and weighs over 55 pounds.

How this works

This page compares the two breeds on origin, size, coat, tail, eyes and temperament, using the breed standards published by the Royal Kennel Club and a breed reference entry. The quiz asks five questions about features you can see in a photo or in person.

Neither breed has a single decisive trait, and mixes of the two are common, as are herding crosses that match neither. Treat a split result as a reason to look again. For a pedigree, rely on registration papers, not appearance.

Where these numbers come from

The figures and defaults on this page are based on:

• Royal Kennel Club: Border Collie breed standard, Border Collie height, coat, tail, eyes and temperament (checked October 2026)
• Royal Kennel Club: Australian Shepherd breed standard, Australian Shepherd size, coat, bobtail, eyes and temperament (checked October 2026)
• Wikipedia: Border Collie, Border Collie weights, coat, energy, lifespan and herding style (checked October 2026)
• Wikipedia: Australian Shepherd, Aussie origin, weights, colors, temperament and lifespan (checked October 2026)

Field-identification guide based on breed standards. Mixed-breed dogs may not match either description.