The Australian Shepherd is a working dog that has strong guarding instincts. He is a medium sized dog with a fair amount of energy to keep himself busy. The coat is medium length, sometimes a bit wavy on the body and legs and is weather-resistant. In usually comes in shades of blue merle, red merle, red or black. The males stand around 22-23 inches and females around 18-21 inches. They weigh around 50 to 65 pounds, the females being a little more trim. Loyalty, courage and an easygoing nature characterize the Australian Shepherd's temperament. They do well with children, as they adore playing and goofing around. They are a great family pet! Naturally suspicious of strangers, Australian Shepherds need proper socialization when they are puppies. They are not dog aggressive, and unlike some other breeds, they do not like to bark too much.