If you’re looking for a courageous, loyal and extremely intelligent dog with stunning looks, you should consider getting yourself the Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix.
What is an Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix? The Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix is a stunning hybrid dog breed that is a result of crossbreeding the highly popular German Shepherd with the Australian Shepherd. This breed can also be referred to as the Australian German Shepherd.
Before bringing this doggie breed to your home, you definitely want to know all there is about the breed. In this article, we’ll give you a complete guide to the breed, including its life span, common health problems, its temperament, grooming requirements, how much it will cost you, and whether it’s a safe family dog. Before that, however, let’s start by taking a look at the appearance of the Australian German Shepherd – what does it look like?
What Does An Australian German Shepherd Look Like?
Appearance
The Australian German Shepherd gets its looks from both its parents. Very often, the Australian German Shepherd will have the long pointed face of the German Shepherd, though in some cases, the mix might inherit the round face of the Aussie.
The Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mix will typically have the long pointed ears of the German Shepherd, though they will sometimes have a slight droop. Some mixes will have a frill around their neck, inherited from their Aussie parent.
Being a crossbreed of working dog parents, the Australian German Shepherd has an agile and athletic body with strong, muscular legs and shoulders.
Size
Before bringing this fido to your home, you definitely want to know how big the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix will get.
The size of the hybrid will fall between that of its parents. The mix is typically larger than the Aussie, but smaller than the German Shepherd.
On average, a fully grown Australian German Shepherd stands at a height of 19 to 26 inches, and weighs between 45 to 80 pounds.
Generally, males are bigger and heavier than the females.
Coat And Colors
Both the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd have medium-length double coats, and therefore you can expect that the hybrid will also have a similar medium-length double coat.
Since both the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd come in multiple colors, the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix also comes in multiple colors. The color of your pup will depend on the color of its parents.
How Long Do Australian German Shepherds Live?
Lifespan
Both the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd are very healthy dogs, and therefore, the hybrid is also a very healthy dog.
The average German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Despite being a healthy dog, however, it is still vulnerable to some of the health conditions that affect its parents. Some of the common health problems for Australian German Shepherds include:
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
These are developmental disorders that affect the hip and elbow joints of your canine buddy, making movement difficult and painful. These conditions are more prevalent in German Shepherds than Australian Shepherds.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a condition that is caused by lack of the clotting factor. Pooches with this condition to bleed inappropriately and for prolonged periods. This condition is also more common in German Shepherds than in Australian Shepherds.
Collie Eye Anomaly
Collie Eye Anomaly is a condition that affects the eyes of Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mixes and prevents them from developing normally. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to blindness.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is a health condition that affects the spinal cord of the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix. It starts by causing loss of coordination in the hind limbs. Ultimately, it affects all limbs and leads to paralysis, making it impossible for your doggie to walk.
Other Common Health Problems
Some other common health problems that affect the Australian Shepherd German Shepherd Mixes include Coloboma, which affects the eyes, epilepsy, and pancreatic insufficiency, which is a condition that results in inability to digest food.
How Much Is An Australian German Shepherd?
Buying Cost
Money is a factor that affects all purchases, and therefore, before buying this hybrid doggie breed, you definitely want to know how much you’ll spend.
The price of the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix will vary depending on the quality of the breeder, the health of the pup, age, as well as their current demand and availability in the market. This means that there is no standard price for Australian German Shepherd pups.
Generally, you can expect to get an Australian German Shepherd pup at a price of anywhere from $300 to $1,000. Sometimes, the price can go as high as $1,500.
Medical Expenses
Before bringing the new furry member of your family home, you should also keep in mind that keeping your canine buddy healthy is going to cost you some money.
On average, you can expect to spend anywhere between $480 and $600 per year on medical expenses. These expenses will go towards vaccinations, blood tests, deworming, tick and flea prevention, deworming, and so on.
Before putting your signature on the sales paperwork, you should make sure that the pup you want to buy has a general health certificate from a registered vet and that the pup is up to date on all vaccinations. You can even have your own trusted veterinarian check out the pup before you make the payment.
Other Expenses
On top of medical expenses, you will spend an additional $500 to $600 per year on other expenses, such as pet insurance, training, food, pet license, treats, toys, and so on.
Are Australian German Shepherds Good Dogs? Temperaments Of German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mixes
Intelligence
Both the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd are very intelligent working dogs, and therefore, you can expect the mix to be equally intelligent.
The Australian German Shepherd is very easy to train and learns commands very quickly, without the need for lots of repetition. Because of their intelligence, however, they can get bored quickly, which means you’ll need to constantly keep their mind stimulated.
Loyalty
The Australian German Shepherd is a very loyal dog. It gets this trait from the German Shepherd side of the family. No other dog breed comes close to German Shepherds when it comes to loyalty.
It’s good to note, however, that the Australian German Shepherd won’t give you its loyalty automatically. You’ll need to earn its trust for the fido to reward you with loyalty.
Is The Australian German Shepherd Safe?
Despite their above average size and build, the Australian German Shepherd is a very safe family dog, even for families with small children. They enjoy being part of a family, and will be at their happiest when playing with the family or going out on long walks or hikes.
Energy Levels
Both the German Shepherd and the Aussie are working dogs, and therefore the German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mix has the high energy levels of its parents. As a result, Australian German Shepherds require lots of exercise and thrive in the outdoors.
When confined to a space where they can’t get enough exercise, the Australian German Shepherd will express its frustration by chewing, scratching and lots of barking.
Do Australian German Shepherds Shed? Grooming Tips For German Shepherd Australian Shepherd Mixes
Shedding
The Australian German Shepherd has a medium-length double coat inherited from both parents, and is therefore a moderate shedder. If you have a pet allergy, this means that the Australian German Shepherd is not a suitable dog for you.
Due to the constant shedding of the Australian German Shepherd, you’ll need to constantly vacuum your house. To make this easier for you, I recommend that you purchase the iRobot Roomba i3+.
This robotic vacuum cleaner vacuums your floors on its own, which means less work for you. The best part about it is that it has unique brushes that are designed to collect pet hairs, as well as an allergen filter.
Grooming
To prevent the coat from matting, you will need to brush your canine buddy regularly, say about once or twice per week.
The Australian German Shepherd has two shedding seasons, during spring and fall when their shedding increases considerably. During these shedding seasons, brushing should be done more often. If possible, brush them daily.
When it comes to brushing your four-legged buddy, I recommend that you use the Furminator Undercoat Tool. The Furminator undercoat tool is easy to use and allows you to brush your pooch without cutting its skin.
To avoid irritating your doggie’s skin, bathing should not be done very often. When giving your pooch a bath, use the Seamus Cherry Blossom Whitening Dog Shampoo. This shampoo has a mild yet effective formula that will help keep your pooch clean without irritating the skin.
Related Questions
Is There A Mini Australian German Shepherd? Yes. You can get a mini Australian German Shepherd by crossbreeding a mini Australian German Shepherd and a mini German shepherd. The mini Australian German Shepherd will have the same characteristics as the standard Australian German Shepherd, with the only difference being their small size.
Which Is Better German Shepherd Or Australian Shepherd? Both the German Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd are good dogs for a family setting. They are both loyal, intelligent, and good with kids. They are also low-maintenance dogs. However, both are medium shedders and are therefore not a good choice if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog.
Do German Shepherds And Australian Shepherds Get Along? Yes. German Shepherds and Australian Shepherds get along quite well. Both dogs have almost similar personalities and are almost similar in size, though the German Shepherd is a bit bigger. They also have similar levels of energy and love lots of activity. This makes them a great match for each other.
