GetBuddy Logo
Australian Shepherd dog

Australian Shepherd Dogs for Adoption in Memphis, TN

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

Australian Shepherds fit Memphis best when their people can get them out to Shelby Farms most days. The Outback's 100-plus acres of open fields and ponds give an Aussie room to run and swim, and the Greenline starts in Binghampton for those who'd rather log miles on a leash. Aussies are smart and watchful, so a small house in Berclair with a fenced yard works well, though a Harbor Town row house can too with enough training. Summer afternoons are best spent indoors with puzzle toys.

2833 Australian Shepherds available in Memphis and nationwide

Bring home an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds Available for Adoption Near Memphis

About the Australian Shepherd breed

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

Many Aussies are intelligent, devoted and tireless, happiest with a job to do. They tend to bond closely with family and can be reserved with strangers. Without daily exercise and mental work, that drive can turn into herding children, chewing or barking, so they suit active adopters who enjoy training. Expect moderate to heavy shedding, and remember that each dog's energy and temperament vary.

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 Memphis

Having an Australian Shepherd in Memphis

Aussies pair a quick mind with an athletic body, so the match depends on how much activity and training you can offer. In Memphis, that also means planning around hot summers, wet springs and storm season.

Temperament

Aussies are usually loyal and affectionate with family and watchful with strangers, which can mean barking at passersby on a busy Midtown block. Herding instinct may show up as nipping heels or circling children. Early socialization and steady training help, though every Aussie differs, and an adult dog's behavior is easier to read than a puppy's.

Exercise Needs

Plan on an hour or more of vigorous activity daily, plus training or puzzle work. In Memphis, that could be fetch in the Outback at Shelby Farms, where dogs can run off-leash, or long leashed walks on the Greenline. A walk around the block won't do, and bored Aussies tend to invent their own jobs.

Health Considerations

Aussies can inherit eye disease, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and MDR1, a gene variant that makes some common drugs dangerous. A veterinarian can test for MDR1 and check eyes and hips, and every vet should know the result. Memphis's warm, wet climate makes steady heartworm prevention a smart habit.

Living Space

An Aussie can manage an apartment if vigorous exercise happens daily, but a securely fenced yard makes life easier. Fencing matters in Memphis, where dogs must be leashed or fenced at all times. Aussies often bark at noises, so thin walls and busy hallways take some training.

What it costs to own an Australian Shepherd in Memphis

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Adoption fee$200, one time$200 in year one
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*$540 to $1,390 per year$540 to $1,390
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,845 to $3,880
First-year total (with adoption fee)$2,045 to $4,080

Adoption fee is the fee on Australian Shepherd listings in Memphis on GetBuddy today. Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, the yearly Memphis dog license, toys and bedding, and regular brushing for a heavy seasonal shed.

Australian Shepherd dog

Adopt an Australian Shepherd in Memphis.

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 Memphis with Australian Shepherds Available

Memphis's rescue community includes a city shelter, a nonprofit humane society and volunteer foster-based rescues. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Memphis area where you can find Australian Shepherds and other dogs available for adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, an Australian Shepherd can fit Memphis life if you're active and home often enough to provide daily exercise and training. The city offers big open spaces and a long outdoor season, but summer heat and spring storms call for planning. Aussies left alone for long days or short on mental work often turn to barking or chewing, so a flexible routine matters most.

Yes. Memphis has no breed-specific rules, and its dangerous-dog rules are based on a dog's behavior, not its breed. Tethering is allowed only within safety and length limits, and tethered dogs must be spayed or neutered, which is a poor fit for a herding dog anyway. A fenced yard or reliable leash routine is the practical goal.

The Outback at Shelby Farms is the top pick for off-leash running and pond swims. For leashed miles, the Wolf River Greenway has about 14 miles open, and the Shelby Farms Greenline runs nearly 13. Overton Park's Old Forest offers shaded walking in Midtown, with dogs leashed outside Overton Bark. Bring water, since shade and fountains vary.

Yes, with precautions. Memphis averages about 72 days a year at 90°F or higher, and July and August often top 20 each, so a double-coated Aussie needs shade, water and indoor rest in the afternoons. Move runs to early morning or after dark, since nights stay warm, and ease off intense fetch when heat and humidity build.

Yes, if you can meet an Aussie's needs outside the apartment. Plan on a long daily outing, training and puzzle toys, and teach calm alone time so barking at hallway noise doesn't become a habit. A ground-floor unit near a park helps. Make sure the lease allows a dog that may weigh 40 to 65 pounds.

Expect brushing a few times a week, and daily during the heavy spring and fall sheds. Memphis humidity and muddy spring trails mean towel-drying and checking the feathering for burrs and mats. Skip shaving the double coat. Grooming falls in the Other cost line, which runs about $540 to $1,390 a year along with prevention and dental care.

Possibly, but confirm first. MATA runs 24 fixed bus routes, and its published rider rules don't mention pets, so check current rules with MATA before boarding with an Aussie. The streetcar trolleys have been suspended since August 2024. For a medium-sized dog headed to Shelby Farms, driving is usually simpler.

An Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized, athletic dog with a moderately long, slightly wavy double coat, feathered legs and a mane around the neck. Colors include blue merle, red merle, black and red, often with white and copper markings. Many have blue, amber or mixed-color eyes, and the tail is naturally bobbed, docked or left long.

We have 1 rescue with Australian Shepherds available: Tails of Hope Dog Rescue. 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 Memphis.

Expect roughly $1,850 to $3,900 a year for an Aussie in Memphis, counting food ($35 to $70 a month), insurance ($55 to $100 a month), routine vet care ($225 to $450 a year) and other costs ($540 to $1,390 a year). Heavy shedding and eye or drug-sensitivity checks can push you toward the higher end.

Find Australian Shepherds in Nearby Cities

Expand your search to find Australian Shepherds available for adoption near Memphis.

Explore Other Breeds in Memphis

Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Memphis.