Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback" Compare Australian Shepherd and Australian Kelpie. Which is better: Australian Shepherd or Australian Kelpie or Rhodesian Ridgeback?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Australian Shepherd	Australian Kelpie	Rhodesian Ridgeback
Origins	United States	Australia	Zimbabwe
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Working Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	17	523	41
Reviews	1	2	3
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Other Names	Aussie, Little Blue Dog	Australian Sheepdog, Australischer Kelpie, Kelpie, Barb	African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a Hound breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America	American Canine Registry America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US
Price	$600-$800	$500-$700	$900-$1200

General Appearance - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Size	Large	Medium	Large
Weight	Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg)	25-45 pounds (11-20 kg)	Male: 80-90 pounds (36-41 kg), Female: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg)	35 pounds (15.5 kg)	Male: 85 pounds (38.5 kg), Female: 70 pounds (31.5 kg)
Height	Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm)	17-20 inches (43-51 cm)	Male: 25-27 inches (63-69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm)	18.5 inches (47 cm)	Male: 26 inches (66 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Coat	Feathered	Double	Dense
Colors	Red Blue Merle Black	Blue Chocolate Red Tan Brown Fawn Black	Golden Red White Gray Wheaten
Grooming	Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Australian Kelpie requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Rhodesian Ridgeback requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Australian Shepherds shed moderately.	Australian Kelpies shed moderately.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Temperament	Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective	Alert Energetic Intelligent Robust Eager Friendly Loyal	Dignified Loyal Sensitive Intelligent Mischievous Strong Willed
Intelligent Rank	Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence.	Average: Australian Kelpie's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: Rhodesian Ridgeback's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.	Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed.	The Australian Kelpie is a playful breed.	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs.	Australian Kelpies are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Australian Shepherds are a social breed.	Australian Kelpies need for social interaction is average.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Australian Kelpie rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Rhodesian Ridgeback rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.	Australian Kelpies are one of the best watchdogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.	Australian Kelpies are extremely protective guard dogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks strongly protect their territory.
Biting Potential	Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Australian Kelpie has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Australian Kelpies have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.	Wanderlust potential of the Australian Kelpie is strong enough to escape from home.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
Prey Drive	Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Australian Kelpies have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Australian Kelpies are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Australian Kelpies adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Australian Shepherds do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Stranger Friendly	Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Australian Kelpies are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.	Australian Kelpies are kid-friendly dogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.	Australian Kelpies are average friendly towards cats.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Australian Kelpies are average friendly towards other dogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Australian Kelpie is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Australian Kelpies are usually recommended for elderly people.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets.	Australian Kelpies are generally with other pets.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually don’t get on well with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Australian Kelpies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Australian Kelpie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rhodesian Ridgeback breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Health Issues	The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Australian Kelpies tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Cerebellar Abiotrophy Collie Eye Anomaly Hip Dysplasia Osteoarthritis Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Dermoid Sinus Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia
Life Expectancy	12-15 years	10-14 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs.	Australian Kelpies are high energy dogs.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises.	Australian Kelpies need quite a lot of exercise.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep.	Australian Kelpies don't need too much sleep.	Rhodesian Ridgebacks are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2 3/4 to 4 3/8 cups of a high-quality daily, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Low to Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Australian Kelpie has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Australian Kelpie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Australian Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie vs Rhodesian Ridgeback

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	6-9 puppies, average 7	4-7 puppies	6-8 puppies
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