Aussiedoodle…. Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

You may be surprised to learn that even if you’ve never heard of anyone refer to their dog as an “Aussiedoodle”, there’s probably a good chance that you’ve seen one, you just weren’t aware of it.

This is because…

Over the past 10 to 20 years, this “designer dog” or “hybrid dog breed” has been growing in popularity.  This is primarily because mixing an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle (be that a Standard Poodle or a Miniature Poodle) actually creates a wonderful puppy.

That said however…

It’s probably safe to say that an “Aussiedoodle” isn’t going to be the right dog for everyone, which is why in this article we want to take a moment and discuss some of the pros and cons of owning an Aussiedoodle, so that you’ll have a better idea of whether or not owing an  Aussiedoodle we be a good fit for you.

You see, here at…

IndulgeYourPet, we believe that the first step in understanding whether a particular dog breed is going to be right for you is to understand the origin of that particular dog breed.  This way, you’ll have a better understanding of “why” a particular dog breed was created so that you’ll also have a better understanding of some of his or her “instinctual drives”.

Because while its…

True that each dog will have his or her own unique personalities, there are some things that you can safely assume about a particular breed given their instinctual drives.

For example:  Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are going to like to swim, Greyhounds are going to like to run, and Australian Shepherds are going to like to chase!

Aussiedoodle Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  United States… “Probably”

Original Purpose:  Companionship

Height:  14 to 23 inches

Weight: 25 to 70 pounds

Life Expectancy:  10-14years

Dog Breed Class:  Yet to be “officially” recognized

Origin of the Aussiedoodle.

An Aussiedoodle is just one example of a new “type” or “breed” of dog that is commonly referred to as a “designer dog” or “hybrid dog”.  And while this trend to cross-breed two totally different dog breeds together may at first seem a bit strange, the result can actually be quite beneficial to both individual breeds.

You see…

Do to irresponsible breeding throughout the years and/or centuries, certain dog breeds have been “selectively bred” to highlight features that may or may not be in the best interest of that breed.  As a result, characteristics that may have naturally disappeared on their own due to natural selection, have instead been able to persist, and in some cases even enhanced (think Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with their small heads).

As a result…

Many purebred dog breeds today are at an increased risk for suffering a wide variety of medical conditions that they simply wouldn’t be at risk for had “natural selection” been able to occur naturally.

This is why…

Some breeders, in an attempt to “capture” the positive characteristics of certain breeds without also “inheriting” many of the health risks as well have chosen to combine different well loved dog breeds in an effort to create a healthy combination of some of our favorite dogs today.

And we here at…

IndulgeYourPet feel that the Aussiedoodle represents one of the best examples of this “new” trend.

Now with that said…

You’re probably wondering what it’s like to own an Aussiedoodle and what you’re Aussiedoodle is going to look like.

Ausiedoodle Dog Breed Appearance

Asking what your ausiedoodle’s appearance will look like is a great question. But the problem is, it’s also a tough question to answer.

You see, what you’re basically going to get is a mix of these two historic breeds, and most of the time you’re not going to get a 50/50 split so the looks and behavior of your Aussiedoodle will likely depend on which way your Aussiedoodle “leans”.

Is he more Poodle?  Or is he more Australian Shepherd?

Either way, one thing that we can tell you is that your Aussiedoodle is going to be smart.  So smart, that this dog is often referred to as the “canine Einstein”.   Which is great, because this is going to make training your Aussiedoodle a piece of cake!

Size of an Aussiedoodle

The average size of an Aussiedoodle can vary greatly depending on which breed of Poodle is used.  Standard Poodles will result in a larger Aussiedoodle while the use of Miniature Poodles will create miniature Aussiedoodles or a Mini Aussidoodle.

But be warned, regardless of the size of your Aussiedoodle, he or she is going to have a lot of energy and is going to need to get a lot of exercise

Aussiedoodle Temperament

While the personality and temperament of your Aussiedoodle will in part be inherited, the environment that they are raised in will also play a major role in their development.

Which is why you’re going to want to make sure that your Aussiedoodle puppy is “socialized” at a very young and if you aren’t able to socialize them with other dogs, because puppies aren’t able to be fully vaccinated, then you should socialize your Aussiedoodle puppy with other people.

The good news…

Is that these little guys are going to be SO…. CUTE that it’s going to be nearly impossible for you to keep your hands off the little guy and also impossible to keep anyone who sees him or her from trying to pick him or her up!  (Yes Aussiedoodle puppies are that cute).

Plus…

Aussiedoodles come from two separate dog breeds that have been historically great family pets that are typically good with children of all ages and other animals including dogs and cats for the most part.

So…

Generally speaking, because both of the breeds that make up an Aussiedoodle are friendly dogs who are completely devoted to their “pack” whether it is one person or a whole family.

This breed is definitely a companion dog and should not be an “outside only” dog.  They are very intelligent and very social.  If left alone they can act out and start to exhibit negative behaviors (digging, chewing, etc.) as they are trying to keep themselves occupied.

Which is why…

You’ll want to start your obedience training with this dog as young as possible, usually before they are six months old, otherwise you will probably have a very headstrong adult Aussiedoodle on your hands.

Aussiedoodles make great family dogs

Aussiedoodles love to play with children of all sizes.  Because your dog is half Australian Shepherd they may try and herd your family to keep all of the people together.

This may be seen by bumping people or kids to keep them in a group or lightly ‘nipping’ (not aggressive) family members . . . the ‘nipping’ is not a wanted behavior though and should be stopped ASAP.  That is why you need to train your Aussiedoodle puppy early.

The good news is…

That Aussiedoodles are very smart and respond very well to positive reinforcement so for the best results, you should only use positive motivation and positive reinforcement.

Do Ausidoodles have hypoallergenic coats?

Some consider the Aussiedoodle’s coats to be ‘hypoallergenic’, as poodles are often thought of in that respect since they do not shed.

But this is a misnomer because people aren’t allergic to the hair/fur of an animal but to the dander, dead skin cells (thank dandruff on people), that flake off of the body.

This is why…

If you do suffer from dog allergies, we would recommend that you spend a “siginifcant” amount of time with an Aussiedoodle before you decide to adopt an Aussiedoodle puppy or Aussiedoodel rescue dog.

Aussiedoodle grooming and bathing

Aussiedoodles require a HIGH degree of maintenance, just like any type of “doodle”. An Aussiedoodle will have to be groomed every six to eight weeks, with baths every few weeks, as they do have hair which continues to grow and not fur which is shed when it reaches are certain length.

And while we…

Would love to tell you what color their fur may be, the truth is, their coats can come in just about any color you can imagine including: Black, brown, white, or any mix of the two.

Health Concerns for the Aussiedoodle

As we mentioned before, due to over breeding, certain dog breeds can have an increased risk for suffering from certain medical conditions.  And in the case of both the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle (Standard and/or Miniature) this is certainly the case.

The good news is…

That often times, the genetic trait that causes a particular dog to suffer from a medical condition is often a recessive gene.  Which means that when you mix two different dog breeds that don’t share common risk factors, the resulting puppy will often have a much greater chance of being completely healthy.

And this is…

Generally, the case when we examine the Aussiedoodle “breed” on a whole.  And while it is true the Aussiedoodle will “potentially” be at risk of all of the medical conditions each of his or her parents are also at risk for, in general, most if not all of these conditions won’t present themselves.

That said however…

It’s only prudent for us to list some of the conditions that could arise so that you can get an idea of what to look out for, as well as be able to ask your dog breeder about so that you can be sure that the parents of your Assiedoodle are in fact healthy themselves.

Common health issues that could affect Poodles and Australian Shepherds:

• Epilepsy – (Scary!) The cost of the medication to treat epilepsy in your dog can be dependent on severity and can run anywhere from $200-$5000 a year.
• Hip-Dysplasia – The cost of surgery can range from $1500-$6500.
• Cataracts – Treatment can cost anywhere between $1500-$6500 depending on the age that they are discovered and the severity.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (RHA) – The retina is a thin lining in the back of the eye and this condition can cause blindness in both eyes with the cost of treatment being $1500-$2500.
• Autoimmune Thyroiditis – The initial test for thyroid problems can be $150-$300 with follow up monthly prescription medications costing $32-$55 a month.
• Sebaceous Adenitis – This is an inflammatory skin disorder and medicated shampoo is $30-$60 a container and your dog may also need other prescription drugs as well.

Now if you noticed….

In addition to listing some of the medical conditions your Aussiedoodle could theoretically be at risk for, we also listed some approximate costs for treating those medical conditions.

We did this because, if you’re just now thinking about adopting an Aussiedoodle puppy, this is a perfect time to also take a moment and research what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy so that you won’t need to burden these costs on your own!

For more information about who we feel currently offer the “Best” pet insurance policies, we would recommend that you check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies.