If you are looking for the Einstein of the canine world, look no further. Meet the Aussiedoodle — a crossbreed between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle.
The mix of two brilliant purebreds makes Aussiedoodles among the most popular hybrid breeds nowadays. They’re playful, loyal, and excellent companion dogs for any family.
Let’s find out more details about this awesome mix:
- What Is an Aussiedoodle?
- Physical Characteristics
- Personality and Temperament
- How to Groom the Aussiepoo
- The Aussiedoodle Diet
- Health Issues
- Getting an Aussiepoo
Aussiedoodle… Aussiepoodle…What on Earth Is It?
These dogs are known mainly by the name Aussiedoodles, although Aussiepoodle and Aussiepoo are also popular choices. It’s a mixed breed between a Poodle and an Australian Shepherd. Their origins are hard to follow, but it’s widely accepted that they became a target of North American breeders in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
What brought them popularity is their teddy-like appearance, combined with their super intelligent and lovable personality. Aussiepoos are eager to please and very easy to train, so it’s no wonder they’re famous and favored furry friends of families worldwide.
Just like their parents, Aussiedoodles make excellent family dogs that are even more playful and cute. They’re people-oriented and like having company at all times. And that makes these furry pets awesome service and therapy dogs.
What’s more, this Australian Shepherd Poodle mix can sense when its owner is having a rough day. Once they feel it, they’ll be your paw companion you can lean on until you get better.
Before going into details, here are their most important characteristics:
- Aussiedoodle Lifespan: 10–12 years
- Weight: 25–70 pounds / 11–32kg
- Height: 10–15 inches/ 25.4–38cm
- Coat Color: Blue merle, red merle, black and red, black and tan
- Coat Type: Minimum shedding but high maintenance
- Price: $700–$1200
Key Features: Meet the Aussiedoodle — a mix between a Poodle and an Australian Shepherd dog. These affectionate and super friendly dogs can live up to 12 years and the Aussiedoodle price can be up to $1200. They are medium to small dogs and their low shedding coat come in three patterns.
Aussiepoos Characteristics
Both the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd come with great characteristics, so it’s not hard to understand the urge for their mix.
Aussiedoodles are hybrid or designer dogs since they’re intentionally bred for improved temperament, personality, and coat.
Intelligent, playful, and cute are just a few of the Australian Shepherd Doodle positives.
But let’s dive deeper into what makes these dogs so special.
Unpredictable Appearance
One of the many characteristics that distinguish this hybrid is its appearance. You can never be sure what kind of an Aussiedoodle puppy you’ll get. You’ll find out once the dog is fully grown.
What about their height? How big do Aussiedoodles get? They’re small to medium dogs, mainly depending on the Poodle parent (Toy, Mini or Standard). A cross between a Toy or Mini Poodle with an Australian Shepard would result in a smaller puppy.
The same unpredictability follows with the coat and eye color. The most common coat pattern is merle or tricolor, but it can also be blue, red, black, cream, brown, or chocolate. Their fur can be soft but scruffy or shaped in tight fluffy curls.
But are Aussiedoodles hypoallergenic? Generally, yes, but no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Still, these dogs can be an excellent companion to people struggling with allergies. If you’re one of them, we recommend spending some time with Aussiepoos before acquiring one, just to make sure that the dog won’t worsen your condition.
The eye color is also unpredictable. Some Aussiedoodles even have two different eye colors — one blue, one green. The medical term for this condition is heterochromia.
Reportedly, pet owners prefer Aussies with predominant Poodle genes. This type of AussiePoodle is known among breeders as F1B Aussiedoodle — 75% Poodle and 25% Australian Shepherd.
The Aussiedoodle Personality
Aussiepoos tend to inherit the best qualities of their parents. So they’re brilliant, loyal, and playful pets that anyone would love having around. As they have excellent instincts and are quite social, these dogs instantly become an awesome addition to the family that loves to participate in any activity.
Their eagerness to please, combined with their intelligence, makes them very easy to train. This mix doesn’t need many repetitions and can even learn simply by observing.
They’ll always seek the attention of their family members. But if left alone for hours, the Aussiedoodle mix can develop separation anxiety and possibly get destructive.
Due to their high intellect, it’s crucial to keep their mind busy. You can do that by playing fetch or any other game that will let them retrieve objects. You can also get some interactive dog toys to entertain your pet. Their urge to seek comes from the Poodle parent, best known as a retriever dog that was once used extensively by hunters.
Aussiedoodle Temperament
Aussiedoodles are more energetic than other dogs. Aside from the need for mental activity, they require a great amount of exercise, too. Reportedly, they’re excellent hiking companions and love to swim and run. So keeping these dogs indoors isn’t sufficient to burn their high energy.
Walks in the park or anywhere else are a must. Overall, these dogs are suitable for active families that like frequent outdoor activities. If you’re more of a laid-back person, the Aussiedoddle isn’t the right breed for you.
Despite their high energy, these dogs can adapt well in a house with a yard or a small apartment. Since they’re quite social, they’d rather stay inside than be left alone outside.
Regardless of the Aussie poo size you get, they’ll always love to be lap dogs and stay by your side. They’re cuddlers, too, making them excellent service and therapy dogs.
When it comes to children, Aussiedoodles love being around them and will most probably act like them. But due to their Australian Shepherd genes, they might try to herd the children or any smaller pets. So it’s essential to socialize and train them from an early age. They’re fast learners, and it should be easy to mute these instincts to a minimum.
Aussiedoodles are good watch and guard dogs, too. Plus, they don’t show any aggressive tendencies.
Key Features: Aussiedoodles can surprise with their looks, as there are no strict guidelines for their features. The good thing is they are hypoallergenic. Plus, they are happy to make new friends and adapt well to apartments or new surroundings. They make great companions for active families, but they also love to cuddle under the blankets.
Aussiedoodle Grooming
Even though Aussiedoodles don’t shed much, they have a high maintenance coat, especially if the Poodle genes prevail.
Suppose the Aussie pup reaches adulthood, and its coat looks more like the Australian Shepherd. In that case, we recommend daily brushing or at least twice a week. Also, be prepared for more shedding in spring and autumn, thanks to the Australian Shepherd and its double coat.
If your dog is more like a Poodle, the Aussiedoodle shedding will be minimal, almost nonexistent. But the coat maintenance is much more complicated as those curls can start matting without regular brushing. Also, it’s best if you take your dog to professional grooming once in 10 to 12 weeks.
The Aussiedoodle Diet
The Australian Poodle should eat high-quality, well-balanced kibble, appropriate for their size and weight. Also, these dogs would benefit from the best wet dog food.
The Aussiepoo can develop bloating and digestive problems, so giving your pet yogurt might be a good idea. You can add a teaspoon of it to their raw food to get all the benefits of yogurt for dogs. It acts as probiotics and eases digestion. But first, check if your dog is lactose intolerant.
According to the Aussiedoodles breed standards, the dog should get 3 cups of food per day, broken into two meals. Still, this mostly depends on the Aussiedoodle size, weight, and daily activities.
Overeating is a massive problem for dogs these days, so be careful with that. It can cause obesity and potentially lead to diabetes or other health problems.
Aside from food, remember that these dogs are very active and need 90 minutes of exercise per day to stay in good shape.
Health Issues
Like all crossbreeds, Aussiedoodles are less likely to develop health disorders compared to their purebred parents and are healthier.
Here are the most common health issues for AussiePoos:
- Hip and eye dysplasia
- Hereditary eye defect
- Epilepsy
- Addison’s disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Bloating
- Food and environmental allergies
It all depends on their parents’ health, but the genes are hardly predictable.
Key Features: Aussiedoodle’s low-shedding coat comes with high-maintenance grooming, and that includes daily brushing and doggy baths every three to four months. Aussiedoodle’s diet should consist of three cups per day. The most common health issues to watch out for are hip & eye dysplasia, hereditary eye defect, epilepsy, Addison and Cushing’s disease, bloating, and allergies.
Getting an Aussiedoodle
Since so much depends on genes, it’s crucial to know the Aussiedoodle breeders or buy a puppy from a reputable one. Even responsible breeders can’t promise a 100% healthy dog, but their reputation brings some assurance of the dogs’ health.
Since Aussiepoos aren’t purebred, don’t expect any papers when adopting or buying one. That’s why it’s vital to ask the breeder as many questions about the puppy’s parents and their health as possible.
Reportedly, the healthiest Aussiedoodles are the F1 Aussies — 50% Australian Shepherd and 50% Poodle.
Aussiedoodles in Brief
If you want a teddy bear that loves to cuddle, walk, and hike, the Aussiedoodle is the right breed for you. Their lovely temperament makes these dogs an awesome addition to any active household.
Whether you live in an apartment or house, this dog will bring you all the joy and happiness. Since they’re highly intelligent, Aussiedoodles will adapt to your moods. So when you’re down, they’ll be your couch buddies. In contrast, whenever you feel like an adventure, this breed will stay by your side all the way.
Keep in mind that they’re very active. Although they’ll tune to your moods, try to provide enough daily exercise for their high energy. Last but not least, the Aussiedoodle dogs are great with children and don’t bark much. Who wouldn’t want one?