Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Quiz

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Question of
The Australian Shepherd dog breed originated in
- Australia
- United States
- Canada
- England
Question of
Approximately what percentage of Australian Shepherds are born with naturally bobbed tails?
- 20
- 10
- 5
- 33
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> Approximately 20% of Australian Shepherds are born with a naturally short or bobbed tail, while the other 80% are born with full-length tails. This trait is caused by an autosomal dominant genetic mutation that shortens the tail—and the length can range from a tiny nub to a nearly full-length tail. One important warning: breeding two natural bobtail dogs together is dangerous, as it can cause severe spinal deformities or health issues in the puppies. </div>
Question of
Where did the Australian Shepherd rank in trainability out of 124 breeds, according to the C-BARQ study?
- 9
- 5
- 13
- 16
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In the same C-BARQ study from the University of Pennsylvania, the Australian Shepherd ranked 9th out of 124 breeds in trainability—one of the highest rankings. This means Aussies are generally eager and willing to learn new commands and obey them quickly without getting distracted. It's no surprise—they were bred to herd livestock and work closely with humans, so their intelligence, focus, and desire to please make them one of the most trainable breeds in the world. That's why they excel in obedience, agility, and herding competitions! </div>
Question of
According to the AKC, a solid white Australian Shepherd meets breed standard for coat color.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Question of
According to the book, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, by Stanley Coren, where does the Aussie rank in working/obedience intelligence?
- 30
- 42
- 20
- 9
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In his landmark book The Intelligence of Dogs, Professor Stanley Coren ranked the Australian Shepherd 42nd out of 138 breeds in working and obedience intelligence. So what does that mean in real life? An Aussie will typically learn a new command after 25–40 repetitions and will follow the first command given more than 50% of the time. For context, the brightest dogs (think Border Collies and Poodles) learn the same command in fewer than five repetitions, while the least intelligent breeds may need 80–100 repetitions. </div>
Question of
Australian Shepherds born with a rare double merle coat tend to have many health problems such as blindness and deafness.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> Double merle Australian Shepherds have a high risk of blindness, deafness, and other health problems. This happens when two merle dogs are bred together—each puppy has a 25% chance of inheriting two copies of the merle gene. These puppies often lack pigment in the inner ear (causing deafness) and have improperly formed eyes (causing blindness). Their white skin and fur also make them prone to severe sunburns and skin cancer. Many double merles have mostly white coats, pink noses, and pale blue eyes—though some look completely normal. Responsible breeders never breed two merles together to prevent these lifelong sensory defects. </div>
Question of
In genetic research on modern dog breed development, the Aussie has shown the most common DNA with an ancestor of which of the following breeds?
- Collie
- Corgi
- Brittany
- Cocker Spaniel
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In landmark research on modern dog breed development, the Australian Shepherd has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following breeds: Collie Shetland Sheepdog Border Collie </div>
Question of
The AKC recognizes a smaller version of the Austrlian shepherd as the Miniature American shepherd. It is considered a separate breed.
- TRUE
- FALSE
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> Looking for a smaller Australian Shepherd? Here's where it gets confusing. The AKC officially recognizes the breed as the Miniature American Shepherd (granted full recognition in 2015), not the Miniature Australian Shepherd. These dogs stand up to 18 inches tall and weigh 40 pounds or less. The breed was originally developed in California in the late 1960s by breeding smaller Australian Shepherds together. </div>
Question of
Approximately what percentage of Australian Shepherds carry the MDR1 gene mutation-making them sensitive to certain medications?
- 50
- 17
- 38
- 61
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The MDR1 mutation is highly prevalent in Australian Shepherds. According to the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Lab at Washington State University, the mutation is found in over 50% of Australian Shepherds. This means a large portion of the breed carries at least one copy of the defective gene, which affects how their bodies process certain medications like ivermectin and loperamide. While exact percentages vary between studies and regions, 50% is the widely cited figure for the breed. </div>
Question of
As timed by the AKC in Fast Cat running trials, what is the average running speed of Australian Shepherds?
- 24 mph
- 19.1 mph
- 22.6 mph
- 26.5 mph
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> The AKC Conducts Dog Racing Trials each December in Orlando, FL. called the FastCAT. This is a 100 yard race where dogs run individually chasing a lure. The average time for Australian Shepherds was a little over 24 mph. The fastest recorded time was by a female dog named Stargate's Lady Liadrin at 30.36 mph! </div>
Question of
Where did the Australian Shepherd rank in attention-seeking behaviors out of 124 breeds, according to the C-BARQ study?
- 22
- 11
- 40
- 66
<div class="snax-quiz-answer-explanation"> In the C-BARQ study from the University of Pennsylvania—a large study of over 60,000 individual dogs—the Australian Shepherd ranked 22nd out of 124 breeds in attention-seeking behaviors. That's a high ranking, meaning Aussies crave attention from their owners and may tend to get jealous when attention is given to other dogs or people. So if you have an Aussie, expect a loyal shadow that wants to be involved in everything you do—and might not appreciate sharing your affection with others! </div>

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Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Quiz

The Australian Shepherd dog breed originated in

Approximately what percentage of Australian Shepherds are born with naturally bobbed tails?

Where did the Australian Shepherd rank in trainability out of 124 breeds, according to the C-BARQ study?

According to the AKC, a solid white Australian Shepherd meets breed standard for coat color.

According to the book, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, by Stanley Coren, where does the Aussie rank in working/obedience intelligence?

Australian Shepherds born with a rare double merle coat tend to have many health problems such as blindness and deafness.

In genetic research on modern dog breed development, the Aussie has shown the most common DNA with an ancestor of which of the following breeds?

The AKC recognizes a smaller version of the Austrlian shepherd as the Miniature American shepherd. It is considered a separate breed.

Approximately what percentage of Australian Shepherds carry the MDR1 gene mutation-making them sensitive to certain medications?

As timed by the AKC in Fast Cat running trials, what is the average running speed of Australian Shepherds?

Where did the Australian Shepherd rank in attention-seeking behaviors out of 124 breeds, according to the C-BARQ study?

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