The Poodle and the Australian Shepherd are two of the highest-ranking dog breeds in terms of popularity according to the American Kennel Club. It is no wonder that their pairing to make the Aussidoodle designer doggie is still such a hit more than 20 years after the first mix.
The Aussidoodle is a mixed breed dog developed from an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle. The Poodle used can be standard, miniature, or toy-sized but the Standard Poodles are most commonly used.
Due to the major differences in aesthetics and personality traits between Poodles and Aussie Shepherds, it may be difficult to accurately predict what to expect from an Aussidoodle. However, they have been around long enough that their traits are adequately documented.
Let’s take a deep dive into all things Aussidoodle from what they can look like to how to take care of them and coexist peacefully with your mixed pooch.
Are Aussiedoodles Good Family Dogs?
Aussidoodles are fantastic dogs for families and for solo companionship whether you are a first-time owner or have experience raising dogs. Their physical traits contribute largely to this as the dog’s build contributes to their low maintenance needs.
Aussidoodles take after physical traits from both Poodles and Australian Shepherds. Here are some of the possible characteristics you may pick up on with your mixed Aussidoodle pooch.
Size
Aussidoodles are medium-to-large dogs. They range in height from 14 to 25 inches and weight from 25 to 70 lbs.
These wide ranges are due to the fact that different varieties of Poodles can be used to make the mix.
If small varieties like the Toy or Miniature Poodles are used then the Aussidoodle will likely be on the lower end of the weight and height range. Standard Poodles, on the other hand, produce larger Aussidoodles.
Coat Type
The coat type that the Aussidoodle has depends on genetics and chance. They may inherit the Poodle’s dense and tightly curled coat or the longer and wavy coat of an Australian Shepherd.
The type of coat the Aussidoodle has determines not only their aesthetics but also their grooming needs in terms of coat care as you will see shortly.
Colors And Patterns
Aussidoodles are very eclectic in terms of colors and patterns that they may have. If they take after the Poodle parent, they are likely to have single-toned or double-toned coats with colors like black, gray, blue, white, apricot, café au lait, and red.
A lot of these colors are also common in Australian Shepherds. However, Aussie Shepherds also bring the Merle gene into the mix which the Aussidoodle may inherit. This will give the Aussidoodle the mottled pattern that merle Australian Shepherds are popular for.
How Long Do Aussie Doodles Live?
The average lifespan for an Aussidoodle is 10 to 14 years. If the mix is to be with a Toy Poodle, this lifespan can be extended even up to 18 years as smaller dogs typically live longer.
As a mixed pooch, Aussidoodles tend to have far fewer problems than the contributing purebred Poodle and Australian Shepherd dog breeds. However, Aussidoodles still sometimes suffer from a number of health issues usually inherited from both parents.
Here are some of these diseases that you may find in an Aussidoodle.
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Joint dysplasia occurs when the socket in either the elbows or hip joints of the Aussidoodle fail to form normally. This results in an unstable joint that progressively undergoes degenerative changes and could result in arthritis.
Cataracts
Aussidoodles are also prone to developing cataracts. The cloudiness of the lens affects their vision and can eventually result in blindness in the affected eye.
Volvulus
Volvulus refers to the twisting of intestinal structures which can lead to obstruction and even death. In Aussidoodles, the type of volvulus is referred to as gastric dilatation volvulus and affects the stomach of the dog after heavy meals.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy in Aussidoodles is inherited from both the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd lineage. The frequency and intensity of the seizures vary from one Aussidoodle to another, as do the triggers.
Allergies
Aussidoodles are also likely to suffer from a number of allergies. These include food allergies, seasonal allergies, and even skin reactions to contact with some grooming products or fabrics.
One of the most interesting of these allergies that Aussidoodles have is to the drug Ivermectin which is commonly used by vets to eliminate internal and external parasites including mites
How To Take Care Of Aussiedoodles?
For a first-timer, taking care of an Aussidoodle can seem like a daunting task. Do you apply the care practices you would for a Poodle or those you would use for an Australian Shepherd? The answer is a little bit of both.
Generally speaking, the Aussidoodle is relatively low maintenance if you understand their needs. Here are some of these needs as well as pointers on how to raise a happy and healthy Aussidoodle.
Dietary Needs
The best food for an Aussidoodle includes all the major nutrient groups like animal-based proteins, healthy fats, carbs, minerals, and vitamins as well as fiber for digestion.
The food should also be made with high quality ingredients for the Aussidoodle’s long term wellbeing. We recommend Pet Plate dog food which is made from high quality ingredients and using vet-approved recipes that ensure adequate balance for your Aussidoodle’s needs.
Supplementation
Supplements like multivitamins, probiotics, healthy fat extracts, and joint-friendly compounds are very useful for an Aussidoodle’s diet. The supplements add to the healthy diet which may not always have enough of these rare nutrients and compounds.
Exercise Needs
Aussidoodles are very energetic dogs and therefore need a lot of exercise. About 2 hours of intense exercise every day is enough to keep them healthy and adequately mentally engaged.
General Grooming Needs
Aussidoodles need regular grooming like any other dog which includes regular nail trimming, cleaning ears and eyes, and oral hygiene. The last one is particularly important as Aussidoodles are prone to dental health issues like cavities and gum infections.
Something as simple as dental water additives may be all you need to take good care of your dog’s dental health.
Do Aussiedoodles Bark Alot? Temperaments Of Aussiedoodles
Australian Shepherds and Poodles have very different personalities. The Aussie Shepherd is a focused, protective, and affectionate dog while Poodles, especially the standard kind, tend to be more standoffish and reserved.
The Aussidoodle takes after the best of both worlds making it a fantastic dog for any setting whether you want a working dog, a family pet, or a companion for yourself.
Here are some of these winning traits.
Playful
Aussidoodles are goofy dogs that are always down for a good time. They love to play and will find ways to entertain themselves even if you don’t engage them.
Aussidoodles sometimes play rough and can play-bite as a part of their herding instincts which is why it is important to monitor them when they are playing with children.
Energetic
Aussidoodles are hyper dogs and need a lot of activity in their daily schedule to keep them adequately mentally and physically engaged. They are happiest outdoors running around and exploring new spaces.
Intelligent
Aussidoodles take after their Poodle parents in terms of intelligence. This combined with their obedience and eagerness to please makes Aussidoodles very easy to train. This also makes them very adaptable as they can survive and thrive in pretty much any home setting.
Friendly
Unlike Poodles, Aussidoodles are friendly and social dogs. With early socialization, they will get along even with strangers and other pets in the home.
Affectionate
Aussidoodles are affectionate dogs and are very cuddly. They love hanging out and just relaxing with their humans just as much as they like the outdoors and they make for awesome companion dogs.
Why Is My Aussiedoodle Shedding So Much? Grooming Tips For Aussiedoodles
Whether or not an Aussidoodle is hypoallergenic depends on the type of coat that they inherit. If they take after the dense, coarse, and tightly curled coat of the Poodle parent, the shedding will be very minimal in which case you could consider them as hypoallergenic as a dog can be.
However, if the Aussidoodle takes after the longer, wavy coat of the Australian Shepherd, you should prepare yourself for a lot of shedding. They particularly shed heavily around spring.
The type of coat and amount of shedding will also determine the Aussidoodle’s grooming needs. Here are a few coat grooming pointers that should come in handy no matter what coat type your Aussidoodle has.
Brush Your Aussidoodle Regularly
If your Aussidoodle has a minimally shedding coat like that of a Poodle, you could get away with brushing their fur 2 to 3 times a week. However, if your Aussidoodle is a heavy shedder, you may have to brush their coat every day of the week.
Whatever the case, the FURminator Undercoat Tool will come in very handy. With its strong, metallic bristles, it is very effective on both possible coat types that your Aussidoodle may have.
Wash Your Aussidoodle Every 6 to 8 Weeks
Both Australian Shepherds and Poodles are very unlikely to get smelly. This is something that the Aussidoodle inherits which minimizes their grooming needs in terms of washing. You can therefore work with a long washing interval of 6 to 8 weeks.
Just make sure to use a good quality shampoo like Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo. The whitening formula helps keep the coat brilliant and beautiful whether or not the Aussidoodle is white. The gentle cherry blossom scent also lasts very long.
Related Questions
How Much Do Aussiedoodles Cost? Aussidoodles on average cost $2,500. However, they can go for as little as $500 and as much as $5,000. It all depends on where you get your Aussidoodle as well as the mixed dog’s pedigree. The main reason why Aussidoodles are so expensive is because of the popularity and rarity of the Poodle and Aussie Shepherd.
Are Aussiedoodle Tails Docked? Aussidoodle tails are sometimes intentionally docked. This happens if the dog inherits the longer Poodle tail and the breeder or owner prefers the docked tail aesthetic of the Australian Shepherd. However, like Aussie Shepherds, Aussidoodles are sometimes born with naturally short tails in which case docking may not be necessary.
Can You Breed 2 Aussiedoodles? It is technically possible to breed 2 Aussidoodles. However, the resulting generational mixed dog is usually very unpredictable in terms of health status, appearance, personality, and hypoallergenic traits. As a result of this uncertainty, most breeders avoid breeding 2 Aussidoodles but instead prefer to get the mix directly from the Poodle and Aussie Shepherd pairing.
