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Australian Shepherd dog

Australian Shepherd Dogs for Adoption in Baltimore, MD

Your guide to finding and caring for an Australian Shepherd in Baltimore

Australian Shepherds suit Lauraville and the blocks around Herring Run Park, where a dog can log real miles every day. The park's wooded trails give an Aussie plenty to sniff and climb, and Lake Montebello's 1.3-mile loop in nearby Ednor Gardens-Lakeside works for a quick morning lap. They're smart and watchful, so even a rowhouse can work if you're out walking and training daily. A bored Aussie will invent its own job, and it's usually herding you toward the door.

2921 Australian Shepherds available in Baltimore and nationwide

Bring home an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds Available for Adoption Near Baltimore

About the Australian Shepherd breed

Despite the name, the Australian Shepherd was developed on ranches in the western United States in the 1800s, from Spanish and Basque-type herding dogs and collie types that arrived with sheep shipped from Australia. Aussies are medium-sized, usually 40 to 65 pounds, with a weather-resistant double coat in blue merle, red merle, black or red, often with white and tan trim. Eyes can be brown, blue, amber or a mix.

Many Aussies are intelligent, loyal and happiest with a job to do. They often bond closely with family and may be reserved with strangers. In Baltimore, that job might be a daily trail loop, trick training or a game of fetch. Without it, herding instinct can turn into heel nipping, chewing or barking, so they suit active adopters who enjoy training. Expect heavy seasonal shedding, too.

Weight
40–65 lbs
Height
18–23 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Temperament
Intelligent, Energetic, Loyal, Protective
Group
Herding
Shedding
Moderate to High

Owning an Australian Shepherd in Baltimore

Having an Australian Shepherd in Baltimore

Aussies pair a quick mind with an athletic body, and the match depends on how much you can offer every day. In Baltimore, that means trail time, training and a plan for humid summers, though each dog's energy and quirks still vary.

Temperament

Aussies are often loyal, affectionate and eager to work, and many are reserved with new people. On busy rowhouse blocks, practice calm greetings and reward quiet behavior, since watchful dogs may bark at passersby. Herding instinct can show up as heel nipping or circling children. Early, steady training helps most.

Exercise Needs

Plan on at least an hour of vigorous activity daily, plus mental work. Leashed laps around Lake Montebello or the Herring Run trails cover the miles, and fenced dog parks like Canton's allow off-leash play. Add puzzle toys, fetch or trick training; a quick walk around the block won't be enough.

Health Considerations

Aussies can inherit eye problems such as cataracts and collie eye anomaly, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and the MDR1 gene variant, which makes some drugs risky. A veterinarian can run an MDR1 test and check eyes and hips. Keep rabies vaccination current, since wooded Baltimore parks have had rabid foxes and raccoons, and keep dogs leashed on trails.

Living Space

Baltimore's rowhouses and apartments can work for an Aussie when exercise and training are reliable, and a securely fenced yard, like those in Hamilton or Lauraville, is a bonus. Watchful Aussies may bark at hallway and sidewalk noise. Their herding drive also calls for secure fencing and supervision around young children.

What it costs to own an Australian Shepherd in Baltimore

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$35 to $70 per month$420 to $840
Pet insurance$55 to $100 per month$660 to $1,200
Routine vet care$225 to $450 per year$225 to $450
Other*$535 to $1,380 per year$535 to $1,380
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,840 to $3,870

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* The Baltimore dog license ($10 if spayed or neutered, $30 if not), flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, and brushing supplies for heavy seasonal shedding.

Australian Shepherd dog

Adopt an Australian Shepherd in Baltimore.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Australian Shepherds available.

Rescues in Baltimore with Australian Shepherds Available

Baltimore's shelters and rescue groups place dogs year-round, and the ones with pets listed on this page are shown here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Baltimore area where you can find Australian Shepherds and other dogs available for adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Probably not. MDOT MTA publishes a pet rule only for Commuter Bus, where small pets must ride in closed containers carried by the owner. A 40-to-65-pound Aussie won't fit in a carrier, so check MTA's current rules for the subway, light rail and MARC before planning any ride with your dog.

Yes, with precautions. Baltimore summers are humid, with about 43 days a year at or above 90°F downtown, and an Aussie's double coat holds heat. Walk early or late, choose grass over hot asphalt and carry water. Never leave a dog in a parked car, and watch for heavy panting or a deep red tongue.

Herring Run Park is a strong pick, with a 5.7-mile loop through urban woodland, and the Gwynns Falls Trail and Druid Hill Park's lake path add more miles. All city parks require a leash of 6 feet or less. For off-leash fetch, the fenced Canton Dog Park and Patterson Park dog park have large-dog areas.

Yes. Baltimore has no breed ban, so Australian Shepherds are treated like any other dog. You'll need a city license and a current rabies vaccine once the dog is four months old, and dangerous-dog rules depend on behavior, not breed. Maryland's dog-bite law also applies without regard to breed.

Yes, if you can meet an Aussie's exercise needs every single day. Apartment and rowhouse living works when long walks, training and puzzle games fill the dog's time, though watchful Aussies may bark at hallway noise. Confirm your lease allows a dog up to 65 pounds, since some landlords set size limits.

Yes, for active adopters. Baltimore offers trails, lakes and fenced dog parks that suit an Aussie's energy, and four-season weather keeps outings possible year-round. It's a weaker fit if you're away for long hours, since bored Aussies tend to bark and chew. Plan for daily training, steady exercise and heavy shedding.

Only at some outdoor patios. Maryland lets restaurants opt in to allowing dogs outdoors, so each restaurant sets and posts its own policy, and your Aussie must stay leashed at your table. Dogs can't pass through indoor areas. Practice a calm settle on a mat first, since watchful Aussies may bark at passersby.

Plan on brushing a few times a week, and daily during the heavy sheds in spring and fall. Baltimore's humid summers and cold winters both keep the double coat working, so avoid shaving it. Brushing supplies and occasional grooming sit inside the Other costs of roughly $535 to $1,380 a year, alongside prevention and dental care.

We have 2 rescues with Australian Shepherds available: All Shepherd Rescue and Animal Allies Rescue Foundation (AARF). You can see every rescue with Australian Shepherds available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Australian Shepherds near Baltimore.

Expect roughly $1,840 to $3,870 a year for an Aussie in Baltimore. That covers food at $35 to $70 a month, insurance at $55 to $100 a month, routine vet care at $225 to $450 a year, and about $535 to $1,380 a year in other costs such as prevention, dental care, supplies and grooming.

Find Australian Shepherds in Nearby Cities

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