Red Tri Australian Shepherds are affectionate dogs with tri-color coats formed by receiving two copies of red recessive genes from the parent breeds. Red tri Aussies are among the rarest and different from Red Merle Australian Shepherds. Also called Aussies, the coat includes three solid colors – red (liver), white, and copper/golden. The difference between Red tri Aussies and Red Merle Australian Shepherd is that the former has three solid coat colors, and the latter has undefined spots with marbled patterns on the coat. It is a common belief that no two Aussies have the same pattern in their coats.
Australian Shepherds are believed to have originated from the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. They initially herd sheep and cattle in rugged terrains. They are loyal and brilliant dogs. These dogs got their name as they migrated with the shepherds from Australia to the United States.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are rare to find because of their controlled recessive genes. However, the AKC does not accept the red tri-color, while Red Merle is included in the Standard colors of AKC. Australian Shepherds are quick-witted, fun-filled pooches that promise to bring new energy and happiness into your soul and home.
Red Tri Australian Shepherd Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Loyal and friendly
Overprotective
Hardworking and intelligent
High maintenance
Excellent companion
Destructive Behavior
Table of Contents
Red Tri Australian Shepherd Basic Information
Name: Red Tri Australian Shepherd
Height: 18 – 23 inches
Weight: 40 – 65 pounds
Coat: Double-layer, medium length with a curly or wavy texture
Color: Tricolor pattern: Red, white, and copper/golden
Energy: High
Activities: Companion, sports, obedience, and agility
Other names: Spanish Shepherd, Pastor dogs, BobTails, Blue Heelers, New Mexican Shepherds, California Shepherds.
Australian Shepherd vs. Red Tri Australian Shepherd: Comparison
Features
Australian Shepherd
Red Tri Australian Shepherd
Image
Origin
United States
United States
Height
18-23 inches
18-23 inches
Weight
40-65 pounds
40-65 pounds
Size
Medium
Medium
Group
Herding
Herding
Children Compatibility
High
High
Family Compatibility
High
High
Pets Compatibility
High
High
Barking Level
Medium to High
Medium to High
Shedding Level
Medium to High
Medium to High
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming Needs
Medium to High
Medium to High
Overall Health
Medium to High
Medium to High
Energy
High
High
Exercise Needs
High
High
Trainability
High
High
Activities
Companion, Sports, Obedience, Agility
Companion, Sports, Obedience, Agility
Complication in breeding
No
No
Litter Size
6-7 Puppies
6-7 Puppies
Lifespan
12-15 years
12-15 years
Other Names
Spanish Shepherd, Pastor dogs, Bob-Tails, Blue Heelers, New Mexican Shepherds, California Shepherds
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Red Tri Australian Shepherd Personality
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are Aussies with a tri-colored coat – red, white, and copper/golden, known for their gorgeous shiny coats and appearance. The coat color is due to the recessive gene and must be carried by both parents. They are rarer as red is the recessive gene. Red-Tri Australian Shepherds are taller, grow up to 18-23 inches, and weigh about 40-65 pounds.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are double-coated with long, wavy, medium-length fur. The outer coat is the weather-resistant dirt-proof coat that carries the coat color and “guard hair” protecting your pet from extreme weather and environmental factors. The undercoat is thick, fluffy, and white. The guard hair from this layer sheds a lot and demands grooming attention during its shedding cycle and season.
The hair is short on the face, and the back legs are well-feathered. The ears are floppy and triangular. The tail is bobbed and short. The base coat color of Red Tri Aussies ranges from pale cinnamon to a dark liver. Their eyes can be of various shades, from amber to blue. Some can even have heterochromia where each eye can be of a different color- one in amber and the other in blue. Red Tri Australian Shepherds are as excellent and gorgeous as the other Aussies, with healthy and muscular bodies.
Note: Avoid purchasing Aussies with white ears as they are susceptible to deafness.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium to High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
Medium to High
Pet-friendly
High
Stranger-friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
Low
Good to new owners
Low to Medium
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold-tolerance
Medium to High
Heat-tolerance
Medium to High
Red Tri Australian Shepherd Temperament
Red Tri Australian Shepherd shares the same temperament and characteristics as the other Aussies except for the coat color. They are excellent watchdogs and companions to their humans. They are protective of their owners and bark to alert their families. They are loyal, energetic, and patient. They can also be used as therapy dogs, rescue dogs, police dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs, and drug detectors. They are intelligent, hardworking, and require plenty of exercise. Lack of activities makes them bored and leads to destructive behaviors like barking, chewing, and digging. They have the instinct of flocking birds so that they may chase cars and herd children. However, they are obedient and well-behaved.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds also help one with the household chores like picking dirty laundry off the floor. They are affectionate and love to stick around their human pack. They get along with children and other pets, although they should be kept away from cats. However, no child should be left unsupervised with any dogs. Their overall temperament includes:
Loyal
Obedient
Protective
Affectionate
Patient
Alert
Intelligent
Hardworking
Red Tri Australian Shepherd Training
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are intelligent dogs and easy to train. They are naturally friendly and social and make a good candidate for obedience training. Red Tri Australian Shepherd is always eager to please; training does not take hard work. They can be trained in various commands, skills, sports competitions, and any task one would want to teach their dog.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds need early socialization and puppy training classes like other dogs. The activity requires patience and consistency during the period. They are sensitive to adverse reactions and need positive reinforcement while training. They are active and look forward to the training sessions, playing fetch, hide and seek, and frisbee, which helps in training regarding behavioral corrections.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds do not respond to harsh commands, and lots of praises, cuddles, and treats work wonders during the training. Obedience training and socialization help behavioral correction and bring out the best in any dog. Red Tri Australian Shepherds have high energy levels and become bored quickly; hence it is necessary to keep the training interesting. Their activity can include the following:
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are muscular, energetic, and have high exercise needs. Enough exercise helps them to keep their body in shape without exerting it. A daily walk of 30-40 minutes will be ideal. The daily activities can include 30-60 minutes of running, frisbee game, or agility exercises. Red Tri Australian Shepherds live a healthy and long life with the right amount of exercise and activity. Above all this, they are happiest when around their human friends. They excel in canine activities like agility and flyball.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are delighted with indoor games and puzzle toys that keep them mentally stimulated. They enjoy running, walking, hiking, agility, and indoor games. A proper exercise routine helps the dog with the following benefits.
Social interaction
Weight Control
Stress Relief
Behavioral Corrections like excessive chewing, persistent barking
Red Tri Australian Shepherd are heavy shedders and require frequent grooming. They have medium-length coats and are not hypoallergenic. However, their coats are water-resistant and double-coated, which helps them to resist cold and hot weather conditions.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are high-maintenance dogs, and the coat needs brushing every couple of days. The hair at its paws has to be trimmed to avoid the floor getting dirty. They are easy to groom, and the coat needs to be brushed 2-3 times per week. They may need extra brushing during their shedding season. Brushing helps remove clump hair and pull out the loose fur during shedding.
One of the essential parts of grooming is bathing which keeps the dog clean. However, frequent bathing causes dry skin and itches. Instead, bathe your dog using pH balanced shampoos for dogs. Pet wipes keep your dog’s coat fresh, clean, and shiny. You can also wash once a week. However, daily brushing helps to keep the fur from knots and tangles.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are prone to collect ear wax quickly. Hence,Ears should be cleaned and regularly checked as they are prone to ear problems. Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and other dental problems. Never brush the teeth with a stiff brush as it will harm the gums and teeth. Also, make sure to use dog-friendly toothpaste.
Also, clean their eyes and trim their nails as a part of everyday grooming needs. You must check their toenails weekly as longer nails may harm and injure the dog. You can cut the toenails with a commercial dog nail trimmer or with the help of a vet or professional groomer.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are generally healthy dogs. Still, like any other dog breed, they are also prone to specific health conditions.
Health Overview
General health
Low
Weight gain tendencies
Medium to high
Size
Medium
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is outwardly a painful disease that occurs when the bones of the back legs do not fit properly in the joints. While some dogs will exhibit symptoms, the majority of canines will not. Hip dysplasia is primarily genetic, although other causes such as accidents, excessive weight gain, and inappropriate training can also cause it. Even though this disease is fatal, therapies range from medicine to hip replacement surgery. This condition causes defects or damage to the hip bones and joints and worsens without treatment. To avoid this problem, avoid breeding dogs with hip dysplasia parentage and get annual examinations.
Progressive renal atrophy: An eye disease that causes blindness from losing photoreceptors. It can be diagnosed earlier. Dogs with this disorder can survive for many years since they have other senses to compensate.
The gradual deterioration of the eye’s retina marks the progression of this disease. As a result, affected dogs exhibit night-blindness symptoms, slowly progressing to complete vision loss. However, most affected dogs adapt well to their limited or lost vision if they continue to reside in the same environment.
Collie Eye Anomaly: CEA is an inherited developmental condition usually seen in breeds like Australian shepherds, Border Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, etc. This disorder leads to blindness.
Deafness: Some dogs are born deaf, and others may acquire it with age. While hereditary deafness is due to genetic defects, acquired deafness results from decreased blood supply to the cochlea of the inner ear resulting in the loss of hair cells necessary for sound transmission. Deafness may present unilaterally (deafness in one ear) or bilaterally (deafness in both ears). Bilaterally deaf dogs require some special considerations. To get to know your pet better, you can subject your pet to the BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response), which helps you detect deafness in dogs.
Epilepsy: Red Tri Australian Shepherds suffer from a higher rate of epilepsy. Although the exact cause is unknown, a genetic base is often suspected. Epilepsy is a sudden spike in the brain’s electrical activity resulting in malfunctioning. Some of the signs to look for include:
Symptoms of epilepsy:
A stiffening of the neck and legs
Stumbling and falling over
Uncontrollable chewing
Drooling
Paddling of the limbs
Loss of bladder control
Defecating
Vocalizing
Violent shaking
Trembling
Cataracts: When your dog experiences a thickening lens, it results in cloudy vision due to age. This condition is treatable either through medications or surgery.
Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia occurs when the elbow joint bones don’t align properly. This misalignment causes abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing and severe osteoarthritis.
Symptoms:
Mild to moderate pain
Lameness in the forelimbs
Although the symptoms begin to show as early as four months, some dogs will not show these signs until later in life. Further, it involves both elbows, of which one may be heavily affected.
Osteochondrosis Dessicans: Osteochondrosis Dessicans is an inflammatory condition to the cartilage’s abnormal development, leading to its separation from the underlying bone. Although it most prominently affects the shoulder, it may be prevalent at the elbow, hip, or knee.
Symptoms of OCD:
Limping in the affected leg
Extremely painful when the affected leg is manipulated
Swollen or warm joint
Treatment follows a strict rest schedule, medications, supplements, and surgery, if necessary.
Allergies
Food-based allergies: This can be treated by following an elimination diet that eliminates suspected ingredients to which the dog may be allergic.
Contact allergies: These allergies are caused due to the adverse reaction of a dog’s immune system when it comes in contact with a topical substance such as bedding, flea powders, dog shampoos, and other chemicals. Removing the cause of the allergy reduces the symptoms.
Inhalant allergies are caused when your canine accidentally inhales airborne allergens like pollen, dust, and mildew. Treatment for these allergies depends upon their severity. Often, these allergies are accompanied by ear infections.
Hypothyroidism: A dog’s metabolism is slowed due to insufficient thyroid hormone production. Symptoms are:
Lethargy
Gaining weight
Reluctance to work out
Hair Loss
Distichiasis: Distichiasis is prevalent in dogs. It results from the abnormal growth of eyelashes. It occurs when eyelashes emerge from the eyelid margin instead of its skin. Most dogs don’t experience any adverse symptoms due to soft hairs. However, other dogs experience discomfort due to eye irritation. In severe cases, this condition can lead to corneal ulcers.
Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM): Before the birth of canines, specific blood vessels are involved in nourishing their eye lens with nutrients. When these blood vessels don’t disappear after birth, they develop into strands of eye tissue known as persistent pupillary membranes. However, most dogs don’t experience any symptoms due to it.
Drug Sensitivity: Most herding dogs react adversely to certain medications due to a mutation in the MDR1 gene. Consequently, they experience enhanced sensitivity to certain medical drugs like antiparasitic, antidiarrheal, and anticancer drugs.
Cancer: Cancer in dogs is treatable if detected early. Although certain dogs show no symptoms initially, some of the warning symptoms to watch out for include:
Nasal Solar Dermatitis: Nasal solar dermatitis is a congenital condition that results from abnormal skin sensitivity to sunlight. This disorder worsens with exposure to sunlight and affects the skin, nose, eyelids, trunk, and limbs. However, its exact cause is not yet known.
Detached Retina: Retinal detachment in dogs occurs when the retina isolates itself from the back of your dog’s eyes. This happens due to underlying medical conditions such as glaucoma, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism in dogs. It is a medical emergency as it can lead to blindness in dogs without immediate treatment.
Spay or Neuter: In spay, the ovaries or uterus in females is removed, and in the neuter, the testicles of the male dogs are removed. It eliminates the possibility of pregnancy or fathering unwanted puppies and decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancer.
Recommended Tests for Red Tri Australian Shepherd
X-Rays
CT Scan
Eye Examination
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Red Tri Australian Shepherd Diet and Nutrition
Red Tri Australian Shepherds are high-bred dogs and need a large quantity of high-quality food. They should eat 1-2 cups of food every day. Each puppy is distinctive, and the correct amount and quality of food depend on age, weight, activity level, health, and more. You can split the meals into two 2 cups daily. Red Tri Australian Shepherd pups can be given dry food, wet food, or both. High protein dog food helps the dog stay fit and healthy, improves digestion, and maintains a shiny coat. The dog lives a long, healthy, and happy life by adding nutrients, supplements, and vitamins. They are prone to obesity, and hence overfeeding must be avoided.
Red Tri Aussie pups can be given dry food, wet food, or both; ensure the diet contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, chondroitin, and glucosamine. You can also feed them with fruits and vegetables that give carbohydrate energy. Never hesitate to consult a vet to meet your pup’s dietary requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Red Tri Australian Shepherds love to be around their humans. They are not apartment-friendly and need homes with bigger spaces or big yards. They have a high prey drive and should be leashed or kept safe in a fenced area. The fence should be such that it doesn’t allow them to dig deep or leap over to escape. They love outdoor activities like walking, running, playing, and hiking. They love the attention of their owners and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. Lack of activities makes them prone to destructive activities like barking, chewing, and digging. They are fond of playing with kids and other pets. Red Tri Aussies can tolerate heat and cold temperatures equally as they have weather-resistant coats to handle both hot and cold temperatures.
Adding Red Tri Australian Shepherd to Your Family
Things to remember before adding a Red Tri Australian Shepherd to your family
Getting a Red Tri Australian Shepherd from a reputable breeder is best to prevent unavoidable circumstances like health disorders and provides you with vaccination certificates. It is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure his health and happiness. Always remember the following red flags to avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills:
Puppies are available around the year.
You can choose from a variety of litter that is always available.
One will be promised any puppy they want.
We recommend you visit the puppy and his parents and then get health clearance and vaccination certificates, to avoid purchasing a weaker puppy.
Cost of a Red Tri Australian Shepherd Puppy
Red Tri Australian Shepherd puppy costs around $600 to $1800.
